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Buying or Building a Smart Home? What You Need to Know

The growing popularity of smart homes makes it more likely that you may purchase one in the near future. If you don't buy an existing smart home, you may decide to have one built to your specifications.

Buying or Building a Smart Home? What You Need to Know

Make a List of the Home's Smart Devices

You may not immediately recognize the smart devices in your new home, so it makes sense for you to get a list of devices from the seller or builder. Some of the most common devices that you will find include:

  • Security systems with video cameras and sensors that connect to your smartphone
  • Thermostats that you can program and control from your computer or mobile phone
  • Wireless speaker systems that can play music from a centralized location
  • Hubs that let your smart devices communicate with each other

Without a complete list of your home's smart devices, you could miss technology that adds to your security and comfort.

Get Administrative Access to the Smart Home Devices

If you're buying a smart home, you need to get administrative access to the devices so you can prevent the previous owners from accessing them. You'll also need administrative access to change the settings to match your personal preferences.

Ideally, the builder or previous owner will give you the login information that you need to gain administrative access. If you don't have the required information, use the factory reset so you can make devices behave like they're new.

Review the Warranties and Support Policies of Your Smart Devices

Most smart devices come with warranties and customer support. How long the warranties and support policies last, however, varies by the company that manufactures or sells the product.

If you have a home built, then you can typically assume that your products are still under warranty. Ask the builder for information about each smart device in your home. If the builder doesn't have this information, you can contact the manufacturers for accurate information.

If you purchase a smart home from another person, then some of the warranties and support policies may have already expired. The former owner may have this information to help you.

When you can't find the information that you need, contact each product's manufacturer to get details about your warranty and support services. Make sure you write down the model and serial numbers of each device before contacting the companies. They will likely need the numbers to give you accurate information.

Buying a smart home can add security and comfort to your life. Just follow these tips to make sure you can safely use your new smart devices as intended.

Sources:

http://fortune.com/2017/02/17/smart-home-tech-internet-of-things-connected-home/

https://www.cnet.com/pictures/resetting-your-smart-home/

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