In recent years, smart home technology has been a rising trend in the consumer space – and for good reason. Not only can some of the market’s best new tools make your home feel futuristic, but they can also bring new levels of convenience, entertainment and security to your condo. Plus, if you have tenants or own a condo as an investment property, modern tech upgrades can be a great value add for renters.
One of the great features of home smart technology is customizability. As a condo owner, you have unique needs based on your space. Thankfully, you can mix and match tech to furnish your home however you like. While there are plenty of product options for optimizing your condo, I’ve picked out a few of my personal favourites that I think are perfect for Toronto condo owners.
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Smart Thermostats
Of one the more recent innovations that homeowners are enjoying are smart thermostats. Rather than having to adjust your thermostat manually, smart options allow you to control the temperature of your unit directly from your phone. If you have a virtual home assistant like Alexa or Google Home, you’ll be able to adjust the thermostat using voice commands too.
Not only can smart thermostats offer you extra convenience, but they can also help you cut down on utility bills. Powering down before heading to work can save on energy. Then you’ll have the option to schedule a temperature increase later in the day so your condo is warm when you return home.
Security
Regardless of if it’s your home or an investment property, the security of your condo is of the utmost importance. Thankfully, there are several modern tech options for improving your condo’s security to keep you or your tenants safe.
Smart locks are a fantastic option for anyone who has a habit of losing their keys. Not only do smart locks allow you to block your front door from your smartphone, but they also give you the option to use your fingerprint instead of a combination as an added layer of security. In addition to this, you can also create temporary access codes in case you have a friend or family member checking on your place while you’re away. As they are an external-facing upgrade, make sure to check in with your condo board before installing smart locks.
If you have concerns about intruders or people in your condo while you’re not home, motion video monitoring is a great way to get peace of mind. As the name suggests, smart video cameras begin recording when motion is detected and send an alert to your phone. Some condo owners also use smart video monitoring to keep an eye on their pets while at work.
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Entertainment Options
One of the most enjoyable ways to embrace smart technology in your condo is entertainment integrations. For music fans, there are plenty of smart options for Bluetooth audio systems. At the touch of a button, you can play or pause your favourite song and even enable custom EQ settings right from your phone or by voice command. You’ll have the ability to connect multiple speakers around your condo so you no longer need to move your speakers around or re-connect in another room.
Smart TVs offer a ton of built-in entertainment options too, allowing you to switch between your preferred streaming services with ease. Plus, with smartphone and voice command integrations, the days of searching under couch cushions for the remote are gone.
Looking for more info on furnishing your condo? Explore these resources on my blog.
Programmable Lights
Smart lighting is one of the easiest and best ways to improve the atmosphere of your condo. With smart lights you can control everything from dimness to colour, changing the ambience of your space almost instantly. Like other tech tools, they can be controlled from a smartphone or virtual home assistant for total flexibility.
Smart lights can not only help create an ambience tailored to your mood, but they can also help you save on energy costs in the long term. If you leave your condo before turning off all the lights, you can power them down from your phone.
For the bedroom, overhead lights or bedside lamps can be programmed based on your sleep routine. Most smart lighting products offer sunrise features, which slowly increase in brightness automatically to help you ease into the day naturally.
Ready to move on from your condo? Check out 5 tips for selling your condo in a hurry on my blog.
