Welcome! What's On Your Mind?

Are you building a new home?  Then you already know how much planning goes into every step.  You have probably also realized that looking further into the future and making sure that your home can accommodate the needs of new technology is crucial.  Here are a few features that you need to consider adding to your plan today - before you begin building.

1. Automated Systems, including remote access: Control everything in your home from one convenient device. Control your lighting, audio system, security system, thermostats, door locks, and smart appliances from anywhere in the world. 
2. Energy: Monitor energy usage, integrate solar energy, and add a charging station for your electric vehicle. This can also help you monitor energy usage and save money.
3. Security: Video doorbells, cameras, and lighting are all part of home automation that will help protect you and your family not only from intruders, but also from fire or flooding.
4. Motorized Shades: They come in a multitude of colors and fabrics, but they aren’t just about aesthetics and convenience. You will also benefit from energy savings with the ability to close shades during the hottest/coldest parts of the day.    
5. Pre-wiring and networking: Without having this done correctly, the rest of your home won’t work the way it was planned. Get the backbone of your home mapped out and installed correctly the first time, so walls don’t have to be re-opened after your home is built. 

If you are interested in learning more about making your new home smarter, please contact the experts at Echo Workshop.  We have the knowledge and experience to help you choose what is best for you now and help you plan for the future. 

See Also: IS YOUR PROPERTY PROTECTED FROM INTRUDERS?

WHILE YOU’RE AWAY

The holidays are a wonderful time of year. Not only do you get to enjoy time with your friends and family, but you also get to unwrap lots of fun gifts. Of course, more merriment means more foot traffic in and around your home. You’ll need a way to deter prying eyes from peering through your windows and ruining the festivities for everyone.

Your security system can help keep most potential porch pirates at bay, by merely being present. Most criminals won't target homes with visible security features like cameras and sensors. But your technology can do even more to keep your home safe.

With an integrated Savant home automation system, you can make it look like you’ve never left the house, even when you’re miles away. That is, as long as you have the appropriate smart technology systems installed.

Smart lights and motorized shades can alternate automatically at realistic intervals when you leave the house. All you have to do it tap the Away setting. Unnecessary systems like AV and HVAC will turn off or adjust to appropriate settings, while your lights and shades make it look like you’ve never left. The result is a home that looks occupied, even when you’re away.

See Also: 3 THINGS YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR IN YOUR SMART HOME COMPANY

WHAT IS A SMART DISPLAY?

For fans of home automation, accessing your home's controls is effortless. You can use a dedicated remote, an on-wall touchscreen, or your mobile device. But in the bathroom or gym, where you're more likely to be busy with your hands, you can enjoy the convenience of Séura's Smart Display Mirror.

Rather than an on an independent remote, Séura’s Smart Display shows your smart home controls on your mirror. As you begin your day, you can access the control functions of your entire smart home, simplifying your morning routine.

A personalized digital hub, the Smart Display Mirror can tell you everything you need to know to get started with your day. From apps for weather, traffic, and morning news, you’ll stay ahead of the curve while you work out.

And when you’re done using your electronics? The Smart Display will disappear, and you’ll have a fully functioning mirror with zero electronics clutter in your bathroom.

TOP-NOTCH SECURITY AND SAFETY

Perhaps the most paramount concern that you might have about yourself or a loved one choosing to age in place is safety. Thankfully, home automation addresses many of these concerns. Home automation allows for much more consistent communication and monitoring of a security system than previous systems do, as much of the controls can be handled remotely. The Savant system, for example, can be controlled with the touch of a button on your smartphone, allowing you or your loved one to activate alarm systems, see 24/7 security camera footage of different rooms, and monitor the surrounding neighborhood (and who's on their doorstep) whether you're near or far.  

EASE OF USE WITH ENTERTAINMENT

As people age, it may be harder for them to perform tasks that they have been doing their entire lives. Fidgeting with the knobs and buttons on a radio or television set may become difficult, and with home automation, these finicky things can be a way of the past. Home automation, like the Savant system, allows for voice-controlled media systems, allowing you or your loved ones to turn on the big game, increase the volume when the home team scores, and turn down the volume after the team has won all by speaking it into existence. 

MORE EFFICIENT ENERGY CONTROLS

Home automation controls so much more than security and entertainment. Much of the energy that a home uses can also be controlled remotely or from within the home with the touch of a button. Lighting controlled this way can be particularly useful, for example, if someone wakes in the middle of the night and needs to use the bathroom. Controlled lighting from a nearby smartphone can allow the person to see where they are going and ensure they get there without walking into anything accidentally. Gone are the days of walking completely in the dark and feeling around for a light switch, only to run head-on into a door. 

Aging in place is important as it can be seen as a way to maintain independence and dignity as we all grow older. The safety, security, and ease of use that a home automation system can provide for you and your family are second to none. With home automation, you'll no longer have to worry about consistently checking in with someone who has chosen to age in place. They will be able to continue life as they had already been living it, with some marked improvements. 

To learn more about what a home automation system can do for either you or a loved one in the greater Houston, TX, area, give us a call. We are a family-owned and operated smart home company that has been working with the Houston community since 1999.