Technology has advanced quite a bit in recent years, and you can automate many different processes in your home. Having a smart home with video doorbells, security cameras, smart lights, and more can make using these items very convenient. You can integrate them with a virtual assistant, such as Alexa or Google Home, and you can often control them from any location in the world. Take a look at the top five features of a smart home.

1. Lighting

One of the first smart home features that became widely available was smart lighting. You can automate the lights in your home, which reduces the need for multiple light switches and allows you to control your lighting with your smartphone, a remote, or your voice. You can also program your lights to turn on and off at particular times and even set them for motion detection. If you are out of town, it will still look like you are home, and you can save on your utility bills. Smart light bulbs allow you to choose the temperature and colour of the light, so you can create whatever mood you want in your home.

2. Security

When you have a smartphone, it is important to choose a security system. You can get cameras in any room and around your property to see who is coming and going. You can also connect them to your alarm system and configure it to alert you when someone is on your property. You will be able to control your cameras and your alarm from your smartphone, no matter where you are. It is possible to set the alarm so that your outdoor lights are activated when a break-in occurs, and it will alert you of anything that is happening.

3. Climate Control

Another popular feature of smart homes is a thermostat that allows you to choose the temperature in different rooms in your home. You can program the thermostat to heat and cool your home according to your preferences, and it can sense when someone is home and adjust the temperature to your preferred setting. Outdoor sensors that detect the outside conditions can even adjust your inside climate. The smart thermostat is controlled with an app, or you can use your virtual assistant. Best of all, a smart thermostat will conserve energy and save money on your utility bill.

4. Entertainment Control

Smart TVs and smart audio are also very popular because you can control them all through an app. You can listen to music throughout your home, and it often works with a virtual assistant. With your television, you can choose shows to stream, watch YouTube, or watch recorded programs. You can adjust the volume with your voice, and you can even change to another program. People love having their homes connected with music accessible throughout so they can simply call out and ask for whatever music they want to play. If you are considering a smart home, you definitely should include entertainment.

5. Smart Locks

You can improve your security and gain convenience with a smart lock. People often wonder if they remembered to lock the house, and you can easily check this with your smartphone and lock the door when you have a smart lock. You can also create and remove access for certain people. If you have a house cleaning service, a dog walker, or a friend coming to your house, you don’t have to be home to let them in because this can be managed with your smartphone. In addition, the door will keep a record of everyone who comes and goes from your home.