Whether it’s trying to remember to turn on the porch light at night or the constant fiddling with the thermostat in your home, the day will come when you’ll decide, once and for all, to look into all the hoopla about smart homes.

You’ll soon learn that not only does a connected home offer convenience, but, if done right, it can save you money too. Want to learn more? Check out our tips for the three must-haves to get your home on the road to becoming smarter.

Start with a hub

A hub is the boss of all the connectivity devices you add to the home, controlling each one according to your parameters. You can choose from a wide range of hubs, from budget to ultra- expensive.

Our go-to review site, TomsGuide.com, chose several hubs that they claim are the best of the best for 2021:

  • Best smart-home hub for those on a budget – Amazon Echo Dot
  • Best overall smart-home hub – Samsung SmartThings Hub (Version 3)
  • Best for the hardcore techie – Hubitat Elevation Home Automation Hub

Now that you have the hub, it’s time to decide what else you’d like to add to your smart-home arsenal.

No more hitting switches

If you’re like a lot of consumers, you bought or were given a smart speaker, such as the Echo, with Alexa built in.

While getting weather and news reports, lullabies for the kids and reminders for you are some of the conveniences Alexa offers, she (and other voice assistants) is capable of so much more.

So, which smart home gadget do most people buy first?

The smart plug. It’s inexpensive and versatile. While the experts at TomsGuide.com recommend the Wemo WiFi Smart Plug, those at PCMag.com suggest the Wyze Plug.

Plug the smart switch into a wall outlet and use Apple, Alexa’s or Google Home Assistant’s app to control whatever you plug into it. For instance, we have a friend who uses hers to turn on and off the grow light over her vegetable seedlings in early spring.

Plug a lamp into it and then tell Alexa to turn it off or on, at a given time each day. “It’ll let you automate anything you plug into it — lamps, desk fans, crock pots, space heaters, you name it,” says CNET.com’s Ry Crist.

Security

Another popular beginner smart home gadget is some sort of security product.

TomsGuide.com highly recommends the Arlo Q security camera, “… which is one of the best smart home devices designed for giving you peace of mind.”

The doorbell cams are big sellers. Connected to the internet, the systems allow the user to monitor their homes from any smart device.

Video doorbells such as Nest Hello get the nod from TomsGuide.com while the folks at CNet.com choose Arlo Essential Video Doorbell.

On a budget? Check out Ring Video Doorbell Wired, “The cheapest Ring video doorbell — with some compromises,” according to the review at TomsGuide.

Smart door locks follow close on the heels of the security cameras in popularity. Lock or unlock doors remotely and you can choose to access your home either keyless or with keys (depending on brand).

Speaking of brands, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is hands-down the experts’ favorite.

Set up a “scene,” and your voice assistant can put all of these elements together. For instance, say “Alexa, goodnight” and she’ll dim the lights, ensure the thermostat is where you want it while you sleep, and lock the door.

It doesn’t get more convenient than that.

Remember, if you are looking to buy or sell a home here in Marlboro Township or anywhere in Monouth County, i’mhere to help!

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Cori Dunphy is local, she’s a life-long resident of Monmouth County. Why is that important?  Because she has knowledge of the area. Cori Covers all of Monmouth County but has a very strong following with listing and selling homes in also has experience listing and selling houses in Marlboro, Morganville, Manalapan, Freehold, Hazlet, Holmdel, Matawan, Aberdeen, and more. She has a true understanding of the market in Monmouth County.

Cori Dunphy is a Marlboro Township resident.  If you need extensive information about Marlboro Township, Everything from Real Estate, to Restaurants, From Schools to Shopping.  JUST ASK!

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Cori Dunphy is a Certified Pricing Strategy Advisor. This means she can help you determine the most competitive and realistic sales price when listing your home. Relying on your tax assessment or an online estimate just isn’t accurate. A Pricing Strategy Advisor knows how to determine the market value, AND how to help you determine a price that will make your home competitive with other houses for sale.

Cori Dunphy is a Certified Real Estate Negotiator.  This means after you receive an offer on your house, she will use proven negotiating strategies to get you under contract and sold.

Cori Dunphy is a Senior Real Estate Specialist. This means she has the training and experience to meet the needs of the over-55 homeowners who are typically considering retiring and/or downsizing, and whose needs are different than those homeowners under age 55.  Cori currently specializes in the Adult Community of Greenbriar.  www.greenbriarmarlboro.com

Cori Dunphy is a certified e-Pro. This means she uses extensive creative online marketing to get homes sold. Why? Because the majority of buyers find the house they end up buying online! Your house, like most houses for sale, will be found on the thousands of real estate websites showing homes for sale. Cori will extensively market your home on a wide variety of social media platforms. Cori will ensure your house has its own dedicated property webpage, and will also ensure your house is a “featured property”. Ask Cori about the one unique marketing concept she uses that NO ONE else in the area is doing!

Cori Dunphy has proven experience working with home sellers.  Every house Cori has ever listed has SOLD!

Cori Dunphy knows the real estate market.  She knows the average days on the market of homes for sale. She knows the sales price trends. She knows whether it’s a buyers or a sellers market, and can provide the advice to get homes sold!

Do you have a house to sell outside Cori’s area? Cori will connect you with a Realtor® in her network.  Currently, her network includes New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, Las Vegas, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Kentucky.  This network is growing every day!

Curious about the Marlboro NJ market? Hop over to my website and take a look around. www.corisellsnj.com

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