Live Alone? Here Are Two Smart Devices You Should Get To Keep You Company

It seems all the television shows and movies feature people living together, so you would be forgiven for not knowing there's been a sharp increase in the number of people living alone (from 5 percent in 1920 to 27 percent in 2013). If you live by yourself, here are two smart devices you should get that will make life safer and more convenient for you.

Smart Video Doorbell

Criminals prefer to break into homes when no one is there. One way they test whether anyone is around is by knocking on doors or ringing doorbells and seeing if someone answers. If no one comes to the door, then they think they have the all clear to rob you.

Purchasing a smart video doorbell can help you fight against this. It senses when someone is at your front door and lets you use your smartphone or tablet to see, hear, and talk to the person whether you're actually home or not. For instance, if you're out grocery shopping, the device will send a message to your phone that someone is standing on your porch and you can talk to the person through the system as if you were actually inside.

The nice thing about a smart video doorbell system is you can set it up so that multiple people can receive alerts about visitors, so your friends can also "answer the door" for you when you can't, giving the impression there are multiple people in the house.

Smart Outlets

Another product you may want to invest in is smart electrical outlets. These devices let you control power to items that connected to them using an app. This can help you in a number of ways.

First, you'll save money by preventing appliances from drawing electricity when it's not in use. Many devices today don't actually shut down when you hit the off button. Instead, they go into standby mode so they can boot up quickly when you use them next. These hidden power drains can add 10 percent or more to your monthly utility bill. Using smart outlets to firmly shut down these energy vampires will make your checking account happy.

Second, you'll be able to turn off appliances and devices you may have left on by mistake when you're too far away to go home and do it yourself. This can prevent fires and other safety issues and ensure you have a home to return to.

For more recommendations on smart home devices you should invest in when you live along, contact a home automation expert, such as at Accucom Intergrations Group.


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