Getty Images/iStockphoto
Our homes are no longer passive shelters that store our stuff and protect us from rain and cold. Instead, thanks to advancements in technology, they are living, breathing entities that greet us when we get home, anticipate our wants and needs, and make sure all the lights are off when we want to go to bed. But getting the automation matrix — the nervous system that gives life to a smart home — just right takes careful planning and execution.
At Home Guru Inc., president Aaron Zon specializes in renovating homes with automation systems in mind. He can set up a seemingly simple act such as opening the front door to trigger a complex choreography of events. "We can do a touch-panel door lock," he says, "so that you have a different code for the mother, father and kids. Depending on who comes home and at what time, different things will happen. When the kids come home from school, their parents get a text message saying they don't have to worry. When Mom come homes late, we can set it up to light a path to her bedroom, where a warm fire will be waiting."
Rambod Nasrin, a professional engineer and founder of Upside Development, a boutique contracting company that builds modern home and additions, is also well-versed in the wonders of home automation ("I love this stuff," he says). He notes that there are two approaches to automation during a renovation. One is the so-called "aftermath" approach, which involves kitting out a space with individual products that are internet-enabled after the renovation is complete: a thermostat, lightbulbs, even a stove you can turn off from your phone.
But his preferred method is to plan for automation from the outset. That way, he says, "you can design it into the bones of the house. In the long run it is easier to do and results in a more cost-efficient system. That's because you don't have to go back and tweak the electrical system or reopen walls. And it ends up with better aesthetics, because you can consider all the details at once, such as the placement of switches and panels, pot lights and speakers."
Neil Jones, an area general manager for Western Canada at ADT, specializes in installing home-automation systems specific to security. With the ADT app, a homeowner can make sure the garage door is closed (or they can open it, so a delivery person can leave a package), see who's at the front door and have a look at what the kids are up to in the play room — all from their phone. ADT can also link into the thermostat, lights and even the fire alarm. In the event of a fire, the system will unlock the doors and turn on the lights to grant first responders easy access.
He agrees that early consultation during a renovation helps for a number of reasons. "Although we can do a drop-in module, I prefer coming in before the drywall goes up. It helps when we have to run any wires. But also when we do come in at an early stage, the beauty of ADT is that we do a security assessment that tells the homeowners what to look out for. And not just from an automation perspective but also holistically. We can tell you if the placement of bushes will create an unsafe place for someone to hide."
Another benefit of a having a single home-automation system, designed while renovations are still underway, is that it can be centralized to a single platform or application. In contrast, buying individual smart products might necessitate a multitude of apps, taking space on the phone away from more important things (Pokémon Go, say, or photos of the grandkids). All those individual apps become confusing to learn and cumbersome to keep up with.
To someone such as Zon, having a single interface means that "even people who aren't tech savvy learn how to use the app quickly." System updates, when there's only one platform to deal with, also become easier, leaving more time to relax and enjoy the new space, instead of spending it futzing with your iPad.
This content was produced by The Globe and Mail's Globe Edge Content Studio, in consultation with an advertiser. The Globe's editorial department was not involved in its creation.