Smart Homes: To be or Not to be? That is the question.
By: Taz Abbas
Tags: Real Estate, Smart Home, Alexa, Google Home, Airbnb

Smart homes: to be or not be?

That is the multi-million dollar question that drives us every day.

Over the last six to eight years, we have seen the evolution of smart home technology, as well as increasing levels of consumer adoption. But what are investors, builders, developers, and municipalities doing? Will this trend hasten adoption of smarter living, or will regulation and fear hold us back, once again?

In 2021, we are already on the second and third generation of smart technologies. With the recent announcement from smart device manufacturers coming together to cooperate under one protocol, “Matter,” it will hopefully become even easier to buy, install, and manage your smart home from start to finish.

Because, at the end of the day, it truly does Matter…

It matters that your home feels safe.

It matters that your home feels secure.

It matters that your home feels comfortable.

At the end of the day, what Matters is that your home feels like Home.

When did smarthomes really become accessible to consumers?

Smart devices slowly made their way into American homes just like computers, TV, and radio before them. Slowly, but surely, as technology improved with each generation and prices decreased, more people were able to purchase them, one home at a time. In the summer of 2015, Amazon released the Alexa assistant and the pod shaped speakers that would make Alexa a household name around the world. Next came the Google Assistant and Google Home speakers, with devices from Apple and Microsoft not far behind. With the spread of these assistant enabled speakers, the smart home revolution was on its way.

These assistant-based devices also served as hubs, enabling less powerful devices, such as motion sensors and door locks, to connect to the Internet. Other companies soon started making their own devices and hubs. This has been both exciting and confusing for a lot of people. Too many options, too many hubs, too many protocols and technologies… what’s a person to do? Watch what happens next.

In 2021, everything from your locks, lights, kitchen, bathroom and just about about anything else (including the kitchen sink) can be made available with a “smart” or Internet-connected option! Companies like Amazon have taken note of the increased customer interest and partnered with Lennar homes (one of the biggest US developers) to collaborate on the development of Alexa integrated residential smart homes that are practically move-in ready.

Following suit, several other large scale residential developers have started working on their own smart home/community projects. So, what has changed since then?

More connection methods, protocols, and manufacturers.

We’re all familiar with Wi-Fi. After that came Bluetooth, when mobile devices and their accessories became popular. Since then, many other connectivity technologies have joined the party, such as ZigBee and ZWave (LoRa may be less recognizable than the heavyweights). Then came on the onslaught of off-brand manufacturers on Amazon, eBay, and the like. All of this has left consumers sometimes overwhelmed with choice, and other times looking for help in getting things to seamlessly work together.

2. Smart devices, in more aspects of our lives, accessing and gathering more data.

Where do we initially put our smart speakers and assistant devices? In common areas, such as bedrooms, kitchens and offices, to name a few. Today, smart devices may be in every room of our home, doing more and getting better at helping you over time. You may have a smart TV in the living room with connected speakers, a smart fridge and dishwasher in the kitchen, smart shower and mirror in the bathroom, and more. The opportunities for connecting your home are limited only by your imagination.

3. Where do things seem to be headed with smart homes after the recent announcements by Google, Matter, etc.?

One thing is for sure: smart homes, cities, and living environments are a part of our future! Smart technologies, like their predecessors, have the opportunity to improve and enrich the quality of our lives. One of the ways we can do this is through automations (for example, Alexa routines and Google actions). With rapidly-evolving routines and actions, it’s also becoming easier to integrate digital assistants into your day. One example would be setting up basic automations for some of our more daily routines. Saying, “Good Morning Google!” can begin a sequence of events that starts with your bedroom curtains opening to let in the morning sun and finishes with a freshly-brewed, hot cup of coffee in your hand.

That’s where Punjj comes in!

How do we at Punjj help you set up your smart home and stay ahead of change? We design and build out the smart home of your dreams. Are you a rental, property, or a community manager looking to secure and simplify your portfolio?

Are you a new homeowner looking for peace of mind?

No matter your circumstances, we’re here to help!

Maybe you’re a retired professional living independently in your home, or parents with school age children. We’ll help you stay in the know with family and loved ones. We’ll also help you figure out what you equipment you’ll need to make your vision a reality, as well as troubleshoot and maintain your system when it steps out of line.

We work with you to plan and implement updates and upgrades, as your needs change and grow.

Most importantly, we’ll take away the confusion and figure out what’s best for you!

Ready to get started? Contact us at hello@punjj.com