How Much Money Can Home Automation Save Me?

by Judy Szablak 05/23/2021

There are a lot of numbers thrown around when it comes to the marketing of home automation devices. It can be a bit confusing to sort through all of the claimed savings percentages. How much money you save will ultimately depend on a variety of factors, some of which you can control, and others that are out of your hands.

When you think about what kind of home automation technology to buy, you might try to apply the company's formulas to your own home. We'll look at how you might reframe the problem to get a better sense of the opportunity behind smart home automation.

Direct Costs

This is often the benefit that people are most interested in. For instance, a smart thermostat is purported to save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, and a smart sprinkler system is said to pay for itself in two years.

These numbers might prompt you to do a little math while thinking about your utility bills and how long it will take to pay off the device. Those who want to take it a step further might wonder how long it will be before they have to replace the device and what kind of maintenance will be required of it during the time they own it.

Indirect Costs

Smart home devices can undoubtedly save you money on utilities by controlling for a variety of factors. For instance, you don't have to run the water for your garden if there's a storm on the horizon, nor do you have to heat a room up if no one's in it.

Homeowners might not want to put all of their stock into the marketing numbers though, as every home is different and every homeowner will have different preferences. Those who like a very warm house will inevitably spend more than those who want it cooler.

The real benefits of a smart home are often some of the less obvious benefits. If your home insurance company knocks a hundred dollars a month off your insurance bill for installing a security system and a smart smoke alarm, this is worth taking into consideration. Or if you're more likely to actually turn the lights off if you have an easy way to do it, then you're better off investing in the technology.

Hypothetical Costs

These costs are a little more abstract, but they're also worth considering. A smart carbon monoxide detector could save your family's life, but this is presuming that a regular carbon monoxide detector wouldn't be enough. While this one is rooted in potential situations, it's worth running a few scenarios before you decide if home automation systems are worth it.

For the most part, it's unusual for homeowners to regret investing in home automation. These devices improve every year with user benefits as the highest priority. As these devices become that much more attuned to customer behavior, they become more efficient at conserving your resources. You might find that it's not only good for your wallet, but for the environment as a whole.

About the Author
Author

Judy Szablak

With over 30 years in the industry, Realtor Judy Szablak has been on national television for her real estate expertise on the HGTV Network, featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio "Morning Living” , NPR radio as an expert real estate panelist, It’s Relevant News channel, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal for her in depth knowledge of Fairfield County Connecticut real estate.

She was also on the local NPR radio station (WSHU) as a Fairfield County CT real estate expert. Judy has provided multiple online respected news sources with her real estate expertise including The Daily Easton, The Daily Weston, The Daily Fairfield, The Daily Stamford and The Daily Greenwich, as well as in print in the New York Post. She is a weekly Real Estate Columnist for WestportNow.com, another real estate column "Real Estate With Judy” is syndicated through Hearst CT Media Online and seen in The Connecticut Post, The Danbury News-Times, The Stamford Advocate, The Greenwich Time, The Hour, Fairfield Citizen, Westport News, Darien News, New Canaan News and the Wilton Villager.

 Judy is also the author of the book, The Art of Buying or Selling a Home, available at all major book retailers. Additionally, Judy has been nationally recognized in a number of national real estate trade magazines, some with distribution to over 1 million members. She was featured in Real Estate Today as early as 1994 for her commitment to, and implementation of technology in real estate. Judy appeared in the Certified Residential Specialist Magazine, as she provided advice on marketing strategies and ethics in the article titled "Marketing Makeovers.”

 Judy was also featured in REALTOR® Magazine, regarding image enhancement for Realtors. She was again featured in REALTOR® Magazine, in an article on "Achieving Flow” and operating at optimal peak performance. In another article in the same publication, Judy offered guidance to fellow real estate professionals as she explored the topic of implementing and maintaining personal websites. She has appeared in The Council of Residential Specialists Magazine, which featured her ideas regarding technology. Additionally, Judy authored an article on marketing and technology for the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Online Magazine. On two occasions, in 2015 and 2017, she appeared as a featured agent in Top Agent Magazine. I have a few other websites- www.TheCtrealtyBlog.com www.CtHomesAndRealEstate.com www.BestWestportHomes.com www.ThePetitePowerhouse.com www,SzablakConsulting.com