Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this whole “smart home” thing for a while now, and I finally decided to take the plunge and go with a company called Integrated Smart Homes LLC. I gotta say, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, but I’m mostly happy with how it turned out.
The Beginning (aka “Why I Did This”)
First off, let me tell you, I’m no tech wizard. I just wanted things to be a little…easier. You know, like turning off the lights from bed or making sure the garage door is closed when I’m already halfway to work. I kept seeing ads for these smart home systems and figured, “Why not?”
Shopping Around
I looked at a bunch of different options. DIY stuff, big-name brands, the whole nine yards. It was overwhelming! There are SO many choices. I ended up going with Integrated Smart Homes LLC because a buddy of mine used them and had good things to say. Plus, they were local, which I liked.
The Consultation and Installation
These guys came over to my house and we talked about what I wanted. I told them I was mostly interested in lighting, security, and maybe some temperature control. They walked around, took some notes, and gave me a quote. It was a bit more than I initially wanted to spend, but I figured it was worth it for the convenience.
Installation day was… interesting. A couple of guys showed up and started ripping out old switches and putting in new ones. There were wires EVERYWHERE. It looked like a bomb went off in my living room. They were here for a good part of the day, but they cleaned up pretty well afterward.
The Learning Curve
Once everything was installed, I had to figure out how to actually USE it. There’s an app, of course, and it took me a little while to get the hang of it. I’m not gonna lie, I accidentally set the alarm off a couple of times while I was still learning. My neighbors probably loved that.
Living the “Smart” Life (Mostly)
Now that I’ve been using it for a few weeks, I’m pretty happy. Here’s what I’ve been doing:
- Lights: I can control all the lights in my house from my phone. It’s awesome. I even set up some “scenes” so I can dim the lights for movie night with one tap.
- Security: I can arm and disarm the alarm system remotely. I also get notifications on my phone if a door or window is opened. It gives me peace of mind, especially when I’m traveling.
- Thermostat: I can adjust the temperature from anywhere. This is great for saving energy because I can turn the heat down when I’m not home and then warm it up before I get back.
The Downsides
- Some small bugs that are annoying to troubleshoot, sometimes the lights turn on radomly.
- It’s not perfect. Sometimes the app is a little slow, and I’ve had a couple of instances where a light didn’t turn on or off when it was supposed to.
My Overall Thoughts
It was a chunk of change, and it’s not without its quirks. But overall, I’m glad I did it. The convenience factor is huge, and I feel like my home is a little bit safer and more energy-efficient. Would I recommend Integrated Smart Homes LLC? Yeah, I probably would. Just be prepared for a bit of a learning curve and maybe a few unexpected alarm triggers!