The BEST Way to Plan Your Smart Home! | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Reid shares his steps for setting up a smart home, including choosing automations, selecting a hub, and deciding on compatible devices.

Key Insights

• 👪 Brainstorming automations based on tasks you dislike doing manually can greatly improve your smart home experience.
• 👣 Using a spreadsheet to document automations can help keep them organized and track any issues for improvement.
• 😀 Selecting a platform or hub allows for consolidation of smart home apps and enables devices to work together for seamless automations.
• 👨‍🔬 Researching device compatibility and strategically placing motion sensors can optimize the effectiveness of your smart home setup.
• 👪 Repurposing less expensive smart home devices to areas with less usage can save costs and increase the overall functionality of your smart home.
• 🧑‍🦽 Having manual control options, such as smart buttons or dashboards, ensures accessibility and convenience for all users.
• 👪 Creating a 3D render of your house and importing it into your smart home setup can enhance control and visualization.

Transcript

hey what's up this is reid now that i've just moved into my house i'm about to set up lots of smart home devices everywhere and it could get chaotic quickly so i came up with a plan to help it go smoother i'll share with you my steps that you can implement yourself whether you're just getting started or you're continuing to build out your smart hom... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How can brainstorming automations help with setting up a smart home?

Brainstorming automations allows you to identify tasks that you don't want to do manually and come up with solutions to automate them, making your home smarter and more convenient.

Q: Are all smart home devices compatible with every hub or platform?

Not all devices are compatible, so it's crucial to research compatibility before purchasing. However, there are workarounds available to make incompatible devices work together.

Q: How can strategically placing motion sensors help with automations?

Placing motion sensors strategically in different rooms can allow you to control multiple automations with just one sensor, such as activating lights, adjusting the thermostat, or sending alerts when no one is home.

Q: What are some options for controlling smart devices manually besides using voice assistants or apps?

Smart buttons or dashboards are ideal for manual control by anyone, including guests. Examples include inexpensive Ikea buttons or smart light switches that can run scenes and control smart light bulbs.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Reid suggests brainstorming and writing down automations that can make daily tasks easier, such as turning on porch lights or activating the exhaust fan in the laundry room when doing laundry.

• He advises using a spreadsheet to document automations, including their purpose, any issues, and ideas for improvement.

• Reid mentions the importance of selecting a platform or hub to consolidate smart home apps and recommends starting with a simple solution like an Echo Dot.