Did you know that not all smart homes are created equal? It all boils down to how your home is controlled: through IoT app control or full home automation with a centralized hub!
Each has pros and cons, but which is right for your needs? That's up to our experts to explain and for you to decide! Let's take a closer look at how each setup can fit your lifestyle!
IoT App Control
When you go with IoT app control, your home's smart features are managed through separate apps on your phone or tablet. This setup is perfect for homeowners who want to try out smart technology without diving into a fully integrated system (up to 57 percent of U.S. smart homeowners rely on these systems!).
The IoT smart home systems are beneficial if you only want to automate a few things in your home, like your locks and thermostats. This system won't anticipate your needs but will still smooth the way for their required purposes!
Pro Tip:
Juggling multiple apps can get tricky — contact a custom integrator (like our team) about custom voice control with artificial intelligence to make handling your system much smoother. That way, you don't have to physically open each app yourself!
Full Home Automation
In contrast to IoT-based control, which requires separate apps for each device, full home automation offers a centralized platform that connects everything into one easy-to-use app. This way, each system can communicate to initiate protocols or "scenes" customized to your needs!
For instance, when you leave home, your system will activate and automatically lock the doors, turn off lights, lower the shades, and adjust the thermostat!
The Experience of Living with Each System
Your daily interaction with a smart home will vary depending on your chosen system. Let's look at what life with each setup might feel like.
- IoT App Control: If you like being in the driver's seat, IoT gives you individual control over each device. For example, you might wake up and use your phone to adjust the thermostat, open another app to switch on your morning playlist, and maybe another to check the security cameras while you're out.
- Full Home Automation: Waking up to the perfect temperature, lights slowly brightening, and your shades rising without lifting a finger? Done! Your home knows your routines and adjusts accordingly.
Customization & Integration
The whole point of a smart home is how it tailors to your needs, which IOT and fully automated systems excel at. However, how they handle growth and integration is quite different.
- IoT Systems: You can add new devices over time. Want to try out a smart security camera? Mix and match gadgets as your needs evolve. However, as your home fills with more devices, you may end up managing multiple apps that don't always communicate smoothly with each other.
- Full Automation: In contrast, full home automation is built to be a unified system from the start, but when you plan your smart home with a custom integrator, we'll leave in wiring for future upgrades and make sure your tech is still up to date!
Remember, the more you include your custom integrator in the planning process, the more we can customize your automation to suit you!
Cost, Scalability, and Aesthetic Considerations
A luxury smart home comes with a luxury price tag — or does it? It depends on the system's extent and how much customization you require.
- IoT App Control is generally more affordable up front, especially if you're only sticking to a few key areas to automate. But the downside is the more devices you add, the more disjointed things you can feel, and the more it might clash with your home aesthetic (we're talking wires everywhere!).
- Full Automation requires a larger initial investment, especially if you're covering a whole home, but it's designed to scale easily. Everything is neatly integrated, and much of the tech is hidden from view, keeping your home's design clean and uncluttered.
Working with a custom integrator can help you create a plan that fits within your budget and aligns with your home's overall design!
Which Smart Home Setup Fits Your Lifestyle?
At the end of the day, the decision between IoT app control and full home automation comes down to how you want to interact with your home. If you like being the master of the help and only want to invest in a few quality products, IoT is the way to go. But if you prefer the convenience of a smart home adjusting to you, rather than you constantly changing it, an all-in-one fully home automation system that grows with your needs is just the thing.
But no matter which you pick, don't forget to loop in the experts at Member Name! We can help you plan and create a cohesive system perfectly adjusted to YOU. Call and set up an appointment today!