Just imagine a home that knows when you’re coming, keeps an eye out when you’re not there and can ward off unwanted guests without you even lifting a finger. No, it’s not the plot of a sci-fi blockbuster from the 90s (yes, there’s an actual movie from Disney about that) – it’s the reality of a smart home. Honestly, right now is the perfect time to look into getting a Smart Home, and with the rapid advancements in home automation, what used to be the stuff of futuristic fantasies is now as common as a cup of tea.
In fact, making your house more like a fortress is easier than you may think. But how exactly can it make your home safe, like a fortress? Well, let’s go ahead and have a look!
The smart lock
Gone are the days when a sturdy front door lock was the pinnacle of home security. Technically, with so many locks currently being built so cheaply, it really doesn’t take much to pick a lock. In fact, there are lock-picking kits that you can buy online that can open most locks with a little bit of skill – and there are more than sufficient YouTube tutorials out there, too. But nowadays, there are smart locks that you can use.
Indeed, these offer you a multitude of ways to control access to your home. Whether it’s through your smartphone, a voice command or a simple touchpad, smart locks offer convenience without compromising on security.
Ideally, you should still look into locksmiths to help you out because they will install secure locks (not those cheap kinds you find at hardware stores), but they will combine that with a smart lock. Again, people can hack into smart locks (it’s hard to do, but it’s possible) people can pick locks, but rarely will you find someone who can do both… or will bother doing both (plus, it means that it takes longer to break into your house and most burglars want to try and get in and out quickly).
The power of smart cameras
CCTV cameras used to be something you’d only find in shopping centres or on dodgy street corners. But thanks to smart technology, having eyes on every corner of your property is now an affordable option. Smart cameras do more than just record – they detect, they recognise and they notify.
These cameras can distinguish between a passing car, a wandering cat and an actual human being loitering where they shouldn’t. Some even come equipped with facial recognition, so you’ll know if it’s a familiar face approaching or someone you’d rather not see.
You can monitor your home in real time from anywhere via your smartphone, and if something suspicious happens, you’ll get an instant notification. Some systems even let you communicate through the camera – imagine telling a delivery driver where to leave a parcel or warning an intruder that the police are on their way, all from the comfort of your office chair. Plus, usually, if people see cameras around your house, they’ll rarely bother with trying to break in.
Smart lighting
But why smart lighting, though? Well, you might already know this, but lighting plays a crucial role in home security. For the most part, having a well-lit exterior can be a major deterrent to anyone thinking about a bit of mischief. But flicking a switch isn’t enough – strategically timed and responsive lighting is where the magic happens.
Smart lighting systems allow you to control your lights remotely, set schedules and even have them turn on automatically when you or someone else approaches. Basically, it’s about having lights on outside (so cameras you install see who it is, but also having lights on inside so it looks like people are at home).
Smart sensors and detectors
While locks and cameras are your first line of defence (and they 100% need to be anyway), smart sensors and detectors work in the background to catch what those other systems might miss. Well, for the most part, it depends on what brand or system you use.
When parents try to baby-proof their home, they have sensors on cabinets, windows and doors to make sure their kid can’t leave the house – it’s a similar concept. However, there are some that are focused on deterring burglars rather than keeping an eye on kids.
With these, you place them around doors, windows and other entry points to detect when they’re opened or if they’re broken. For example, door and window sensors can alert you the moment someone tries to gain entry where they shouldn’t. Glass break sensors listen for the specific sound of glass shattering and will send you an alert if they detect something is amiss.
Smart security systems
Technically, these have always been smart home tech, and you could say that these were the first ones. Now, not too much has changed, you’ll still have about one minute to enter a code before authorities are made aware or the company that monitors the system gets notified (depending on the brand). But regardless, these still work.
Alarms have come a long way since the days of simple, loud noises that only served to scare off intruders and anger the neighbours. Modern smart alarm systems do so much more – they’re fully integrated with all the other smart devices in your home, creating a web of security that’s hard to beat. Some of the more advanced systems can even distinguish between different types of emergencies, like being able to tell the difference between a break-in, a fire or a flood, automatically triggering the appropriate response.
Smart home hubs
With all these smart devices in place, you’ll need something to bring them all together – this is where the smart home hub comes into its own. These hubs act as the brains of your smart fortress, allowing you to control everything from a single app or through voice commands. Now, not everything can be in sync together (as annoying as that even is) so you’ll have to keep that in mind too.
But most companies will try to make everything pair up together. But why is this so important though? Well, whether it’s locking the doors, turning on the lights, checking the cameras or arming the alarm system, a smart home hub enables you to do it all effortlessly.
