6 ways to make your home smarter

Now that the kids are back to school, many homeowners are helping their homes to become “smarter,” too.

According to Coldwell Banker’s annual smart home report, 32% of Americans surveyed said they have smart home products in their homes, representing a 33% year-over-year jump.

A smart home won’t set you back as much as a college degree. In fact, Consumer Reportssays a total investment of a little more than $1,000 can make a big difference.

Here are 6 clever ways to up your smart home game.

Smart thermostats: You’ll love a thermostat that can adjust temperatures throughout the day and seasons when the result is more money in your pocket. For even more savings, ask your local utility company if they offer rebates for this energy saving upgrade.

Smart lighting: This is the cheapest, easiest fix for any homeowner. Control your lights from anywhere and cut your energy costs with smart LED bulbs.

Smart doorbells: In addition to the peace of mind knowing exactly when a package has been delivered, these wi-fi enabled doorbells serve double duty as home security. No one will know for sure if you are home or away since you can talk to them from your smartphone.

Smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: No more guessing when the batteries need to be changed. This upgraded version lets you know when the battery is low. It also notifies you when smoke is detected while you are away from home so you can alert authorities and potentially reduce damages.

Smart locks: Never worry about losing a key again because you can create temporary electronic keys. You’ll always be sure you locked the door because most include an auto-lock and unlock function. Your favorite virtual voice assistant can also control the device.

Smart outlets: With a remote outlet you can cut off power to anything that’s plugged in right from your phone … like that iron you may have left on. That peace of mind when you are traveling, at work or at school is priceless.