When it comes to buying a home, there are endless factors you have to consider. One of the most important is the location. Is it near your office or is it in a good school district? Then, there’s the size. Is it big enough for you and your family in case you want to have more kids later on? But because of technological advancements over the years, there’s a new question that has emerged: should you buy a smart home or stick to an old-fashioned house?
Before you make a decision and take out a VA loan or a big mortgage, here are some factors you should think about:
1. Cost
Real estate agents would probably list all the advantages of home automation. You will hear a lot about the fancy features, the convenience, and the time it can save you. But, it’s important to be swayed by it. Like every other digital product, the value of smart home devices decreases over time. The devices in the house might have cost the owners thousands of dollars at the time of purchase. But it’s almost definitely not the same currently. Plus, there’s the possibility that there might be better and cheaper versions of the product now.
So before you commit to a smart home, take a look at the other houses on the market. There might be a similar property nearby and compare their features. It may be a cheaper house with the same number of rooms but without the automation devices. It might be a better investment since you can always buy the products and save yourself some money.
2. Data Collection
One of the biggest reasons not to buy smart home devices is the data privacy issue. From smart assistants to refrigerators and lights, these gadgets work by following your voice commands. It means that they’re listening to your conversations at home. You might think that this isn’t a concern because you’re not doing anything wrong. But there are risks of getting your data in the wrong hands. In fact, billions of records have been breached back in 2019. It includes information like passwords and email addresses. This is a serious issue if you’re among the majority of people who use the same passwords for other accounts. It means that hackers can use your accounts on bank sites and stores and steal your money.
The great news is that there are plenty of precautions you can do to limit the data collected while still enjoying the benefits of home automation. First, avoid leaving devices on all the time. It usually means that they’re waiting for your command, so they’re listening to all your conversations. To maximize your privacy and save electricity, only switch on a gadget when you’re going to use it. Second, change your passwords regularly. There’s a reason why websites nowadays ask you to update your passwords after some time. It’s better to act as if you’re going to be hacked so you’ll be more careful. It’s also crucial to avoid disregarding update notifications. These software updates are vital to keeping your device secure from the latest hacking strategies.
3. Compatibility
If you’re going to get a home outfitted with all sorts of home devices, check if they’re compatible with your phone and other gadgets. There are some products that only work with Apple phones and others that only work with Android. It would defeat the purpose if you can’t control the features using a single controller. It would also be expensive and impractical if you have to buy a new phone or tablet just for the house’s devices.
Whether it’s a smart one or not, buying a home is an important decision that should not be taken lightly. Make sure you consider all angles and cover your bases.
