Imagine your fridge performing an automatic inventory review every time you close the door. You then get to view its contents on your smartphone from wherever you are, before you head out to get groceries.
The promise of intelligent homes with digitised fixtures and energy-saving appliances has arrived!
We now live in an age of motion sensors that can control lighting, temperature, kitchen appliances, home entertainment, and much more.
So, What Exactly Is A Smart Home?
Smart Homes are essentially living spaces with technologies that are connected to each other.
Initially, the introduction of Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) took a while to mature, but broke ground in the early 1960s.
Since then, designers of Smart Home technology took decades to make wireless products fully available and affordable for homeowners.
Smart Homes are friendlier to the environment, more energy efficient, and contributes significantly to the health and well-being of everyday consumers, especially aging residents and those with special needs.
The Most Common Smart Home Features
Owners and residents of Smart Homes get to control and pre-programme home appliances and features with a smartphone. Today, devices that can be controlled by wireless technology includes:
- Air-conditioning and heaters
- Wireless home entertainment systems
- CCTVs
- Smoke detectors
- Lighting
- Locks
- Refrigerators
- Water detectors
- Curtains
- Home entertainment systems
- Robots
You might have to navigate a relatively steep learning curve to get familiar with various systems. However, once you get used to how things work, a Smart Home can greatly enhance your home experience.
What Is The Cost Of Making Your Home Smart?
Depending on the type and brand of systems you choose, expect to pay anything from RM240 to RM13,600 a month.
It could also cost you between RM120 and a few thousand Ringgit per item for replacements; a reliable home automation system could cost you at least RM400 a year.
Some of the most popular home automation systems in Malaysia are Amazon Echo, Google Home, VYROX, and Samsung.
Professional installers will be able to advise you on the initial installation costs, which could go up to about RM6,000 per home, inclusive of labour cost. However, the good news is that such costs are just one-off.
Should You Jump Onto The Smart Home Bandwagon, Or Not?
If you’re thinking of adding permanent fixtures to your home or renovating it, it might be a good time to think about turning it into a Smart Home.
A Smart Home can prove beneficial for elderly and disabled residents by automating certain tasks.
This includes shutting off water flow before a tub overflows, sending medical reminders, or even switching off the stove when someone wanders off for too long.
Some devices can also be a lifesaver, by detecting natural gas and smoke in the home, monitoring for unexpected motion, or keeping a close watch on kitchen temperature.
Automatic lighting, doors that unlock as you approach them, and automatic cooling/warming of rooms are some of the other benefits.
If you’re a homeowner keen on increasing your property’s valuation, equipping your home to be Smart is one way to do so.
How Do I Turn My Home Into A Smart Home?
Begin with smaller items like a lighting starter kit and security features, since these are home essentials. You can then add other Smart Home features later on when your budget permits.
Hiring a technician to rewire your home – whether during or prior to renovations – is a smart move, as this can save you money later on.
Once the wirings are in place, it’ll be easier for you to install Smart window shades, home entertainment systems, toilets, lighting systems, and other appliances.
If your modem and router are old, upgrading it at this point to cover a wider range is also another wise investment.
But, Where Should I Start?
The sky’s the limit! The choice of technology to implement in your Smart Home will basically depend on your lifestyle and needs.
The best person to speak to is your interior designer or a Smart Home Planner. Such consultation is best done before the renovation process or the installation of your first device.
Smart Home designers are also sprouting up all around Asia, and they may be in the best position to help you decide and take the next step.
Disclaimer: The information is provided for general information only. PropertyGuru International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd makes no representations or warranties in relation to the information, including but not limited to any representation or warranty as to the fitness for any particular purpose of the information to the fullest extent permitted by law. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in this article is accurate, reliable, and complete as of the time of writing, the information provided in this article should not be relied upon to make any financial, investment, real estate or legal decisions. Additionally, the information should not substitute advice from a trained professional who can take into account your personal facts and circumstances, and we accept no liability if you use the information to form decisions.