Upgrading Your Home to a Smart Home

Published on: 26 November 2018 Last Updated on: 13 December 2021

It seems like a thing of the future; something reminiscent of sci-fi films set on spaceships, complete with large, omniscient motherboard computers. But having a smart home controlled by virtual voice command technology is very much a thing of the present. With the release of Apple’s Siri technology in 2011, the virtual assistant game was changed. The ability to give commands verbally to an in-device personality, Siri, opened the door for easier, more productive living. Now with Amazon and Google joining the race, and other companies following suit, there’s suddenly a whole heap of new virtual assistant options.

Moving away from purely phone/tablet based assistants, the market now includes home-based alternatives. Google Home or Amazon’s Echo (complete with assistant Alexa) allows users to turn their space into “smart homes”, wherein with a simple verbal command, they can instruct their assistant to perform all kinds of tasks around the home, such as turning lights on and off.

There are also some things you should be careful about. According to Lendi smart home can be targeted by hackers since the whole house is connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Some of the best things include While upgrading Smart Home:

Controlling lights
Changing a home’s temperature
Playing music
Opening/closing garage doors

There are loads more options you can choose from, and third-party capabilities you can put in place (Amazon’s Alexa can perform over 10,000 tasks!), like creating lighting sensors, or scheduling changes to your lights, alarms, and thermostat.

Virtual voice assistants also signal a massive change in the lives of people living with disabilities or illness. The chance to utilise voice commands to perform everyday tasks removes the barrier that mobility issues and physical impairment create. For able-bodied people, virtual assistants are a cool new way to increase productivity and promote convenience. Consider then the massive improvement this technology can make in the lives of people living and thriving with disabilities. The extra support can be life-changing. All in all, another point scored for the virtual assistants’ pros list.

So, the basic gist is that having your house properly set up as a smart home is awesome and opens you up to a heap of benefits. However, setting the system up can be confusing.

You’ll largely need to consider two things:

Choosing your assistant:

The main players that hold the monopoly on the smart home/virtual assistant market are Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Google’s Assistant. They all have their pros and cons, and your choosing which one suits you best is ultimately a matter of personal preference. They all offer easy-to-use voice commands, but there are several different things to consider when deciding on an assistant:

Price
Capabilities (what can you do/control?)
Compatibility with Android or Apple products
Ease of set-up (how long and difficult is it to get running?)
Ease of use (Is it perceptive and easy to talk to?)
Assistant’s intelligence (How easily and well it can answer questions.)

Choose your hardware:

After deciding on your virtual assistant, you’ll need physical hardware to support it. Each different assistant offers different options, like the Amazon Echo. They too have their pros and cons. There are also different models of each hardware device, so there are multiple cost, sound and utility options. Your hardware largely depends on which assistant you choose, so that will also narrow down your options.

The last important thing to think about when considering the purchase of a virtual voice assistant is your internet’s performance. If you’re having to use your phone’s personal hotspot at home because your connection is slow and temperamental, perhaps think about changing your home internet’s carrier or plan. You’ll need to choose a reliable broadband connection to run and use your assisting device, and you may need to research bandwidth, and how this affects how well your devices stream content and perform commands.

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How Cleaning Helps Us Feel Better and Why We Don’t Do It

From the moment you wake up in the morning until you go to bed, your days are filled with mostly routine stuff with preferably less out of the blue moments that force you to leave your comfort zone. No matter what you expect or hope to do this day, it is very important to have a plan and be organized, to set small task you know that can be done, and feel satisfied and happy afterward. This sort of task-reward plan helps you feel more in control over your life and more confident to try different stuff. No matter how good it feels, people easily fall out of that habit and return to their aimless daily grind. We talked to guys at Happy Cleans to try to understand how cleaning, as a form of organization, can make us feel better. Hoarding: It is in our society’s DNA to continuously buy and consume products. We just want more stuff and we don’t really care if there’s enough room at home or if that particular item is really necessary. One day you realize that you are surrounded by a bunch of stuff you don’t know what to do with, yet there’s this emotional attachment that just won’t let you let go. You feel relieved when you get rid of things you no longer need because cleaning has therapeutic properties as well. Maybe it’s an old vase that’s been sitting in the corner gathering dust, boxes of old magazines, or old clothes you haven’t touched in years. Whatever it is and however you choose to dispose of it all, there is always the feeling of a restart. You’d be giving your home, and indirectly yourself, a fresh start and more room to breathe. Lack of time: This is the most common excuse people grasp for when facing their filthy home when they leave for work in the morning. Cleaning is not an easy task. It takes a decent amount of time and energy, but excusing yourself with the lack of time is not the solution you are looking for. Work, family, hobbies, these are all prioritized over cleaning, but being well organized by spending an hour, thirty minutes or less every day doing some cleaning, will show great results and the feeling of accomplishment of working towards a clear goal every day will help reduce stress and make you feel better about yourself. Laziness: It’s a great feeling when you are finally able to sit down in your clean home and just enjoy the sight. Don’t let that wave of good emotions trick you into remembering old habits. Before you notice, your home will return to that undesired state of neglect you worked so hard to change. What you can do is just keep the trend of doing less cleaning but more frequently. This should be your new routine, you could also start doing dishes right after a meal or not leave dirty socks on the floor to camp for a few days, etc. Don’t fall into passive state where you feel like you keep hitting a wall, so you choose to rather not do anything. Start with your home, the energy you spend there will boost your physical and mental health. This flow of positive energy will come in handy when dealing with the rest of your daily tasks and smile about it, which consequently means that you’d be eager to do some more cleaning and feel rewarded for your effort. It’s a circle of positive energy and a way forward. Read Also: 6 Tips For Keeping Your Home Clean (With Pets And Kids) Home Hacks: Stuff You Can Clean In One Hour Or Less Feature Image: Source

Top 7 Home Security Mistakes That Homeowners Need To Avoid Making

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These actions are taken in haste and should be avoided, especially when you live alone or have kids in the house. 1. Leaving The Windows Unlocked To ensure full safety when you leave, you should carefully check all the house doors and windows, especially the bolts of the window and the backdoors. This is a mandatory measure for all the valuable items that are locked in your house. Especially if you have left your kids alone with a babysitter who isn't quite well accustomed to the map of the house, checking the windows is a must before you exit, but sometimes windows do break in because the material is mostly glass. This is why you need a strong alarm system that will prevent breaking and entering. Click https://smiththompson.com/security-systems-san-antonio/ to get the best home security services for installing an alarm system today. 2. Not Locking Garage Door This is one of the biggest mistakes, which is so common that it is scary. We have all heard horror stories about stalkers and intruders easily entering the house with just an open door. There is a door in your garage that leads to your house, at any circumstance that should be locked with a proper locking system unless someone opens it from inside. Unfortunately, this door is the biggest attraction for people for breaking and entering. A garage should also have installed a security system, proper lighting, and most importantly, an ironclad door that cannot be opened from outside. 3. Keeping The Garage Gate Open When Not Needed This is again another mistake that happens very often. The garage is mostly opened from the inside, even when it is not used. Even if there is a need to use the garage, one could enter from the gate inside the house. Avoid keeping the garage gate open at night; this is probably the easiest and the biggest entrance for the intruders and stalkers out there. Instead, an excellent suggestion is to put an intrusion alarm inside the alarm or motion sensors to detect anyone’s presence, even if you are in the other corner of the house. 4. No Perimeter Security When we talk about security, if you are going to have a strong security system inside your house, then the same should be given to the outside part. This is something that should be considered if you are getting a professional to install your security equipment. General people forget to get proper lights for the porch or the long drive—even a camera for the space outside or a motion sensor for the backyard. The interior of your house is not the only place that you need to protect, but the entire exterior until your property lasts. The lack of outside security can also fail to intimidate the burglars or intruders waiting to commit a crime. 5. Leaving A Ladder On The Side Of The House Leaving a ladder outside your house is literally inviting suspicious break-ins. You have to be careful about these tools and equipment, which can easily give anyone access to enter some of the most private areas of your house. Every time you work with them, do not keep them in places that can allow people to use them. Instead, this equipment should be kept inside the house, locked in the basement or attic. 6. Leaving Places For The Intruder To Hide When was the last time that you cut those ‘human height’ hedges from your backyard, or since when have you kept that equipment room outside the main house unlocked? These are very easy hiding places for the people waiting to intrude, open your valuable belongings, or even you. You cannot be careless because it is only through your strong preparation for security, the intruders will get intimidated. Just like a garage (which is also another excellent hiding place for burglars), you should always keep your utility room, garden room, greenhouses locked. Plus, get some help and cut those hedges today. 7. Hiding A Key Outside The House This might be the last one on our list, but that doesn’t make it any less important. In fact, it is the most important one since it is so common. Forgetting your keys is like an everyday habit for some people, and in order to fight them, we always find new and innovative ways to hide a spare outside our house. This is not only dangerous because the literal weapon of entering your private property is left unattended, but every intruder can anticipate all the hiding places. So, take your keys! But, if you are prone to forgetting, then you can keep a spare with your neighbors. But, seriously, stop keeping your keys underneath the mat. Final Note Home security should be our first priority when we own property. Besides these few common and big mistakes, we should also stop sharing our whereabouts on social media. This just lets people know that you aren’t at home. Installing a proper security system is essential. Although some might be a little on the costlier side, it is an excellent investment for the long term. Read Also: WiFi Security: Mediocrity To Excellence The Guide to Understanding Your Home Value 3 Home Upgrades to Make Your Property Unique

7 Important Factors You Must Consider Before Renovating A Commercial Roof

The roof is important for any commercial building. If your roof is broken, it exposes precious belongings that incorporate certain expensive commodities. In most of the commercial buildings, roofing projects often stand out. It is necessary for your home to be protected from the harsh elements. For this, all you need is a reliable roofing company that can offer you these required services. It is important to remember that remodeling and renovating your home is an intensive undertaking with several potential pitfalls. Before you can think of renovating your commercial roof, there are a few considerations to make. This article will emphasize factors you should consider before renovating a commercial roof. Top Considerations Before Renovation Of A Commercial Roof Here is a list of guides to help you fix your commercial building roof. 1. Roof Ponding Before you can contact a roof contractor, you need to inspect your building to see if there is any ponding. Therefore, you need to observe if there is an act of accumulation on the roof. This will indicate you have an issue and might also face certain drainage issues. Excessive ponding might also lead to algae growth. This causes permanent harm to the rooftop. Ponding indicates the right sign your roof is getting damaged, and it is time that you get into reroofing. 2. Determine The Material That Fits The Best Thinking of renovating the commercial space is a great way to look functional. But at the same time, it is also expensive and time-consuming if you do not pay attention to the included material. Before initiating the renovation, create a plan outlining the materials you need and the purpose. This will help you delegate the project effectively. Researching the materials in advance will help you renovate appropriately, last longer, look great, and cost much less. Not only will certain materials dictate aesthetics, but they will majorly reflect attributes in the home’s new design. When you are taking on home renovation projects, make sure you choose the right materials. 3. Consult An Insurance Company If you need to replace the roof, it might be due to bad weather, so ensure it from an insurance provider first. There are certain contractors who are more happy about helping one another during the time of processing the claims. So look for an insurance provider who can clear your doubts and get you all the valid information required to proceed with the claim. In addition to that, they will try to get the insurance company to pay according to the damages. Similarly, you might also get a new roof without spending as much. 4. Prepare A Contingency Plan Renovating your home is an exciting undertaking. It requires thorough planning and research. Similarly, knowing if you can prepare a contingency plan for any potential issues is vital. An unforeseen issue might occur throughout the course of the renovation process. Thus, your contingency plan should include details about what you would need in certain cases, what can go wrong, the material required, and design decisions. Hence, a comprehensive contingency plan can equip you and assist you in tackling unanticipated issues instantly. Moreover, you might not have to cause much of a disturbance in your renovation timeline. 5. Check The Paperwork When you are dealing with something as vital as your roof, you do not wish to leave anything else to change. For any contractor, it lays out how much you would need to pay and how much time they need to install a new roof. In addition to that, the paperwork can include all pertinent details on what permits you would need to make the new roof within your community. In the end, you should also receive a letter from the contractor’s insurance providers and communicate exactly what is under the business liability plan. Commercial Roofers, similarly, can also help you with the renovation process and install a new roof. 6. Anticipate The Budget Determining and setting the right budget is important before you can contact any roof contractor. You might develop a limit or have an expensive amount, so consider your decision. Thus, setting a budget makes you plan about every attribute in the renovation project. Dreaming about a luxurious change that might increase your home's value is easy. Therefore, create an estimated labor charge, material and decoration costs, and a contingency fund. Build up a detailed calculation and cost breakups that will keep you on the right track and assist you in saving time and resources. Furthermore, keep all your expectations in check today. 7. Obtain The Right Permit Before you can start with the major renovation, it is vital to know about the local areas and obtain the necessary permits. This could be acquired for a permit from the country or city before you can begin the construction process. This is a specified requirement if you are undertaking any work affecting the home structure, plumbing, or electrical system. Thus, by doing so, you need to protect the roof in the long run and save resources while ensuring that renovation will be handled professionally. Furthermore, obtaining the right permit can avoid legal issues with the local authority, and it is worth going through the entire stage. Hire The Best Roofing Contractors Thus, finding a listed contractor is an integral factor. This is because it would ensure your home is in tip-top condition. If you know business owners who offer commercial roofing repairs, research before hiring contractors. When you finally consider the essential requirements before renovating a commercial roof, you must hire the best contractor. You must look for contractors with the expertise and skills to install and replace a roof. Ensure they carry their material and tools as well. Therefore, a roofing contractor can offer significant advice on roofing installation and repair. Make sure that roofing projects are conducted properly with qualified materials. Furthermore, roofing contractors carry liability insurance, so you only need to protect yourself if any mashup or accident occurs. Thus, roofing contractors offer invaluable skills and knowledge regarding roof installation and repair and valuable protection from damage. Read Also: Choosing A Siding And Roofing Companies In Delaware What To Know About Commercial Greenhouse Flooring Why You Must Use A Residential Roofing Company For Your Home

Upgrading Your Home to a Smart Home

Some of the best things include While upgrading Smart Home:

Choosing your assistant:

Choose your hardware:

How Cleaning Helps Us Feel Better and Why We Don’t Do It

Las Vegas Electricians Share Fun Lighting Ideas for Your Home

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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Related

How Cleaning Helps Us Feel Better and Why We Don’t Do It

Top 7 Home Security Mistakes That Homeowners Need To Avoid Making

7 Important Factors You Must Consider Before Renovating A Commercial Roof

Upgrading Your Home to a Smart Home

Some of the best things include While upgrading Smart Home:

Choosing your assistant:

Choose your hardware:

Share this Article

How Cleaning Helps Us Feel Better and Why We Don’t Do It

Las Vegas Electricians Share Fun Lighting Ideas for Your Home

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

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