Getting the right smart home tech and using it effectively can make your home life a whole lot easier.

We spoke to a smart home tech industry insider to find out what smart homes can actually do, and how to get the most from your investment.

1. What is a smart home?

A smart home is when your lighting, appliances and almost anything that can be controlled by electricity – such as a garage door opener or electric gate – can be operated from a smart phone, voice command or by smart automations.

Smart homes allow you to optimise your home’s comfort settings. Picture: Clipsal

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“The goal of a smart home is to simplify busy lives so we can enjoy more comfort at home, the way we want to enjoy it,” Tim Fant, Offer Manager at Schneider Electric says.

“It allows people to personalise their home and adjust their home controls as their needs change. A smart home should also provide increased peace of mind from added safety and security functions, as well as cost savings through improved energy efficiency.”

2. It will simplify your life

Smart home technology can be operated via remotes, phone apps, switches or voice control.

The all-new Clipsal Wiser™ Smart Home can integrate your garage door opener, an electric gate, lighting, heated towel rails, extractor fans, blinds, split system air-con units – basically anything that is wired in –  through one single app.

Think about how much simpler your life will be, not having to run around the house turning off all the lights – or checking that your kids have turned off the bathroom fan! Through a system like Clipsal Wiser™, this can all be done with the touch of a button.

Clipsal Wiser™ Smart Home can be integrated with home electronics and can be controlled through an app after it’s installed by a professional. Picture: Clipsal

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“[The Clipsal Wiser™ Smart Home functions] can be set up by the homeowner to control multiple devices or appliances all from one wall switch, tap or voice command,” Tim says.

It also offers different options to customise your smart home to work for you.

“For example, you can have an ‘all off’ moment to turn everything off when you leave the house. ‘Movie time’ can dim the lights, close the blinds and turn on the TV and a ‘Welcome home’ moment could turn on your entry and kitchen lights, as well as the aircon.”

3. Improve home comfort without lifting a finger

You may already utilise timers on your heating and aircon, but there are other features of temperature control you may not have previously imagined.

Smart homes can be programmed to open and close your blinds for better light and temperature regulation. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

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“Clipsal Wiser automations can be programmed to be triggered by certain weather conditions, sunrise, sunset, temperature or humidity changes, motion detection in a room, a door or window opening or closing, or a combination of these conditions,” Tim shares.

“For example, your house can automatically close the lounge room blinds and turn on the air conditioning if it gets too hot inside the house. Or if the weather outside is getting windy, your house can automatically close the shutters.”

4. Feel safer and more secure with greater access and control

Some smart security features, such as security cameras and motion sensor outdoor lighting, are well known.

However, Tim says there are now new ways to add to your peace of mind even when you’re not there.

“You can set multiple schedules to turn lights on and off around your house to make it look lived in while you’re on holiday,” he explains.

You can even log in remotely while you are away and make changes to your home.

Furthermore, when it comes to the safety of your home and family, smart devices can detect and even help prevent significant damage, such as water leaks or high moisture in wet areas such as bathrooms.

5. A smart home can optimise your home’s energy use

A major misconception around smart homes is that due to added electrical features, they’re likely to run up your power bill.

Tim suggests that it should technically reduce your bills making them a good long term investment.

You can automate timers, like your pool pump, to ensure your home runs more efficiently. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

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“Smart homes should be less expensive to run, due to some energy saving features such as timers or schedulers to automatically turn off lights, heating or appliances when not in use,” he says.

“You can also schedule pool or spa pumps to run at times of the day that optimises your solar production.”

6. Remember, smart homes aren’t just for the wealthy

Many people think that quality automated systems are out of reach and only for high-end homes. However, they’re becoming more commonplace and accessible.

In fact, if you’re embarking on your renovation journey, factoring in a smart home system like Wiser might be well, a wise idea!

“Smart home technology was traditionally thought of as being for higher-end, expensive homes and only installed by specialist integrators,” Tim begins.

“Hence, it was believed to not be accessible to everyone. Now, with Wiser, it is accessible and can start from as little as one light dimmer right through to an entire home.”

That means if you’re renovating one room at a time, you can add the tech to the system as you go as it’s completely scalable.