Many of us grew up with the idea that we’d one day be living like the Jetsons, the family at the center of the 1960s cartoon about life in the future (2062, to be exact).
While we must wait a little longer before closets button our shirts and showers comb our hair, living in Gig City allows residents to truly enjoy available smart home features because of affordable access to the fastest internet in the United States.
Technology has forever changed the way we live in and interact with our homes. Want to save money and time? We all do. Smart technology in homes can do that and help ease anxiety. No more stressing about whether you closed the garage door or if the iron is unplugged – there’s an app for that!
Here are a few ways smart home technology can be utilized:
-- Security: New products allow homeowners to monitor their homes from a distance – even internationally. Owners can lock doors and turn lights off and on from their mobile app or by simply speaking to a smart device that has voice recognition.
It’s not just about keeping the property safe, it’s about keeping homeowners, families and pets safe. Fire, carbon monoxide and gas leak alarms that connect to your smartphone provide peace of mind that everything is safe and sound.
-- Energy savings: Smart thermostats allow homeowners to program their home’s temperature and adjust it even after they’ve left – avoiding needless heating or cooling of an empty house. Also, automated lighting programs allow owners to turn the lights on and off from anywhere in the world.
Smart green features have been in high demand for years now. These products not only help the environment but also bring electricity and water bills down, saving you money.
Looking to buy? See what’s available using our new “Green Features” filter at www.gcar.net/homes.
l Convenience: One of the main appeals of a smart home is that it can make the homeowner’s life easier. A garage door opener connected to your smartphone and a sprinkler system that syncs with the weather forecast so the lawn is never watered when it’s raining are all features that simplify life.
Instead of checking the refrigerator to see if anything is running low, a homeowner can receive a text message from their smart kitchen reminding them to buy eggs.
Although technology provides many benefits, it is important not to lose sight of the risks smart homes can pose to privacy.
As smart technology becomes more common, it becomes even more important that the necessary precautions are taken to protect data and privacy. Ask your Realtor for guidance on a smart home checklist so you can stay in control of the privacy and security of your smart home.
Join us Tuesday, Aug. 14 for the Annual Economic Outlook Luncheon, which Greater Chattanooga Realtors is co-hosting with Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga. We’re going to look at how the Chattanooga region has thrived and changed in the past year and what’s to come.
Tickets go quickly, so purchase yours today by calling 423 698-8001 or emailing info@gcar.net.
Greater Chattanooga Realtors is “The Voice for Real Estate in Greater Chattanooga.” A regional organization with more than 2,000 members, Greater Chattanooga Realtors is one of some 1,300 local boards and associations of Realtors nationwide that comprise the National Association of Realtors. Greater Chattanooga Realtors services Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in southeast Tennessee and Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties in northwest Georgia. For more information, visit www.gcar.net or call 423 698-8001.