The words “smart home” have become popular in the home trend sector. Some compelling reasons to jump on the smart home technology bandwagon include:

Convenience: if many steps can be condensed into just one step, that saves time and effort on our part.
Safety: many accidents can be attributed to poor lighting. If sensors are installed to turn on lights automatically, many unnecessary accidents can be avoided.
Security: a home security system may not be feasible for some households, so smart home tech can provide a reliable alternative to home security.
Savings: when power is used only when needed, this can result in savings on your monthly electrical bill.
Environment: similar to the savings point above, using your appliances and lights only when needed is a smart choice for the environment.
Now that we’ve covered the reasons to have a smart home, there are some things you need to consider asking your electrician to do to prepare for the install. Which wires should you ask your electrician to install? The smart choice would be neutral wires, so ask your contractor to run neutral wires to all junction boxes. Typical smart home devices including dimmers and keypads require a three wire connection which is what neutral wires need. Don’t forget to ask your contractor to install deep junction boxes so they can provide more room to work with and accommodate wall devices more easily.

While you’re asking your electrician to run these wires, think about asking them to install cable conduits whereever you think wires will be needed. It’s good to think ahead in case you want to run network cable, speaker wires or video cable in the future. These conduits would lead into junction boxes where you can install faceplates in the meantime until you would need to access them. Another thing to consider is to install a small wire closet to store distribution and patch panels as well as media servers. This closet would be able to accommodate all the cable conduits and allow the wiring to be lead there.

Now that you have an idea of about the technical aspects of smart home technology, which smart home devices should you consider installing? This is a matter of personal preference, but think about all the areas of your home life that would benefit from it.

Here are some examples of some basic and not so basic devices you can integrate into your home for the ultimate in convenience and security:

smart speakers and displays
security cameras
smart locks and video doorbells
security alarms
smart lighting
smart switches and plugs
smart thermostats
safety monitors and sensors
Some less common smart technology devices can include:

smart decor and blinds
smart gardening
smart garage
Should you consider DIYing some of the Zen Electronics installation? Generally, it is advised to consult with a licensed electrician to do all the wiring and technical installs. Even if you consider yourself handy, making one error may result not only in the device not working, the worst scenario may result in electrical damage or a fire hazard. So it would be “smart” to consult with a professional when you want to incorporate smart home technology into your home.