Smart home technology is not exclusive to homeownership. Even if you’re renting an apartment, there are plenty of gadgets that can be added to your rental home in order to improve daily life. From making you feel safe to reducing utility costs or aiding in daily chores, smart home innovations are great to take into consideration even if you’re renting a place. If you are curious about how to transform your rental apartment into a smart home, keep on reading.
Wasted energy is reflected in the electricity bills you receive each month. Smart outlets can help to monitor how much energy is being used, and indicate which appliance is consuming the most. You can control standby power when you’re not using a plugged-in electronic and program automatic settings for energy usage when you are not home to monitor it yourself. This comes in handy, especially when you leave your rental and forget that something is still plugged in.
Through smart thermostat systems, you can turn the heating or air conditioning on just in time for your arrival home as opposed to having it run all day. They can also be programmed to keep track of patterns and adjust your apartment’s climate automatically according to your preferences. These small adjustments eventually lead to energy savings and play a huge role in ensuring personal comfort within your rental.
Smart lighting allows you to decide when to turn a light on or off around the apartment and also use the least amount of energy through smart bulbs. They can be controlled from your phone regardless of where you are, as well as programmed to turn on and off by themselves. Choosing LED light bulbs is also a smart move because they save energy and last longer than regular light bulbs.
Your apartment’s safety and security is crucial. Smart security now allows you to monitor your home through surveillance cameras, motion detectors, door and window sensors and more, directly from your phone, regardless of your location. Depending on what areas of your rental you want to monitor, these devices can be installed both inside and outside to keep tabs on the person who delivers the mail, or check in on your dog when you’re not there.
Unlike old fashioned smoke detectors, smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors charge themselves. That means you don’t have to deal with the hassle of making sure they are working properly or climbing a ladder to replace the batteries. Not only do modern detectors inform you of a hazard immediately, they can also pinpoint the source of the problem and send that information to your phone, regardless of your location. They can also detect issues with the heating system, and be set to shutdown the system in order to avoid hazardous situations until the problem is properly addressed.
Smart locks provide enhanced security on some of the largest entry points in your apartment, thanks to their touchpad enabled system. These systems can lock automatically, as well as allow you to control the locking and unlocking features from your phone. This comes in handy if you misplace your keys or forget to give a spare copy to the dog walker or babysitter. The great perk of smart locks is that you can regulate exactly who enters your smart home, and you eliminate the possibility of someone duplicating a tangible key.
In addition to offering stronger, more well-rounded security, it is important for a rental to feel as homey as possible. With the addition of personal assistant devices, you can order groceries or play songs on various devices without ever leaving your chair. You can even program these devices from your phone while outside to have music playing when you return home.
Smart gadgets and the Internet of Things are paving the way to increasingly connected smart homes. Nonetheless, it is important to note that not all security gadgets and features can be implemented without the approval of the landlord. So, before you invest in any smart devices, ensure that they can be easily set up without making any permanent alterations to the apartment.
Guest Post Written by Sanziana Bona
Sanziana is a marketing content developer for RENTCafé. She has a B.A. in International Relations and Spanish from Michigan State University, a LL.M. in International Business Law, Contracting and International Relations, and a strong passion for the dynamic real estate market.
