Turn Your Home Into a Smart Home On a Budget


Turning your home into a smart home doesn't have to be expensive, and the investment that you make will save you both time and money in the future. So what reasons are there not to do it?

How to get started?

One of the first things we consider when deciding on home renovations is the budget. As a young student in Madrid, I decided to find out how much renovating my studio apartment would cost in order to decide whether I would go ahead with it or not. I hope this helps you guys turn your current homes into smart(er) ones.

I want to be invested in the Amazon Ecosystem, because the more devices that are connected to the same ecosystem, the more benefits you get (like having both a Mac, an iPod, and an iPad). This is why the following steps use Amazon products.

So how much would it cost me to make my studio apartment a smart home using IoT? Here are some of the devices that I considered for the renovation.

Voice Assistant

Regular price: 50 euros. On sale: 25 euros.

The first thing we have seen around and which to our grandparents would look like magic or “futuristic” is a voice assistant. Prices start from 25 euros (if you find it on offer) and can go up to 400 euros.

Since I, obviously, am looking for an entry level device, I would go for the Echo Dot. I only have one room, so for me, one voice assistant is enough. However, the number of voice assistant devices required varies according to the size of your home.

Lighting

Minimum 350 euros for me.

You can change the intensity and color of your lights through your smartphone (or by asking your voice assistant to do so). It also helps save electricity costs, because the bulbs are more efficient and you have the possibility of connecting them to sensors.

One option is Philips Hue, which you can read more about here.
  • Bulbs: 300 euros (6 bulbs)
  • Motion sensor (optional): 30 euros per sensor. I personally need a minimum of 2, one for my living room/ bedroom and one for my restroom. I can invest in the kitchen lighting later on.

Universal TV Remote

I’m not particularly interested in a universal TV remote, as I hardly ever use my TV. However, it would be useful, since I have HBO and other channels. So maybe this would be something I would buy in the future. It is definitely a great investment for those who use their TV to watch movies, series or even gaming.

Heating and Temperature

In my case, devices to control heating and temperature is not useful, because I have central heating, which is not controlled by me. However, I have heard wonders about Nest and Tado, which are devices that among other things enables you to control the temperature in your home.

Smart Locks

Price: min. 230 euros.

I loved this idea! Remotely (for instance while in class), I can open the door for my cleaning lady or the parcel delivery man. The same goes if there are any repairs to be done. No need to give my cleaning lady or doorman my keys, I can lock an unlock the door directly from my phone, wherever I am. And what about if you have left your keys inside? Just use IoT and get back in.

For those of you with security concerns, you can refer to our post on the security issues of IoT. However as a student who carries her laptop wherever she goes, I really don’t have much that could be stolen. The only thing is that since I am renting my apartment and I am not very handy, I must consider the costs of installation and uninstallation. As I said, this article is not sponsored, but Amazon Key - not yet available in Europe - is really appealing and a great example of how this technology works.


Total costs

Minimum total cost estimate for a studio apartment: 550 euros
  • Voice Assistant: 25 euros
  • SmartLock: min. 230 euros + installation costs
  • Lighting: min. 300 euros

Am I missing anything? If you agree/disagree or have been through a similar smart home experience, let us know!





Nalini

Nalini is passionate about technology and innovation management. She blogs about the impact of emerging technologies, particularly IoT, on homes and industries. She dreams of applying this knowledge to help overcome important challenges in developing countries.

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