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ASK THE EXPERT rea estate HOME TECH FOR YOUR HOLIDAY WISH LIST Smart home features have been making the news and gaining popularity for several years. WiFi-enabled outlets, thermostats, locks, doorbells, cameras and more are already being used by many homeowners for enhanced security and automation, and additional products are being added to the market all the time. Looking for some new or lesser-known home tech to fill out this year’s wish list or seeking unique gift ideas for others? Here are some of our favorite finds: 1. SMART SHOWER HEAD – In the ultimate smart bathroom, you can even start the shower with your voice (or phone). Wall-mounted smart shower controllers work with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant to let you turn on the water and set it to your preferred temperature with voice commands or via an app. 2. AUTOMATED BLIND CONTROLLER – Don’t want to lift a finger to raise or lower your blinds and want to avoid replacing perfectly good window coverings with pricey custom automated ones? You can switch from a hand-pull system to motorized blind controls for your most commonly used blinds and window dressings with this simple home tech item upgrade and start controlling them with the click of a button! 3. SMART GARAGE DOOR OPENER – Whether your garage serves as a storage area, a workshop, a party zone, or a place where you actually keep your car, there’s plenty of tech available to make it smarter. Smart garage door openers let you view the state of the door (closed or open, and for how long), and control it from your phone - even when you aren’t home. Some are even compatible with Amazon’s in-garage delivery service, “Key”, which can give you peace of mind if you’re worried about porch pirates. 4. WHOLE-HOUSE FILTRATION SYSTEM – If you’re tired of having to filter all of your tap water through pitchers or other devices, consider a home water filtration or reverse osmosis system. This home tech item will make sure all water is clean, safe to drink, and tastes fresh. Even better? This is a feature that could be a selling point for future buyers if and when you sell your home. 5. SMART LIGHTBULBS – Some of the earliest smart home accessories included outlets that enabled homeowners to turn on lamps through an app or using their voice. But what about ceiling fixtures and recessed lights? Try smart bulbs! You can turn them on and off at a distance and set schedules for them (a major plus for lowering your electric bill), and even change their color. 6. SMART SMOKE DETECTORS – You should be replacing your smoke detectors every few years anyways. Why not replace them with a WiFi-enabled version? Not only will these smart detectors alert to the presence of both smoke and carbon monoxide, but they can also conduct regular tests automatically and send reminders via an app when the battery runs low. 7. WIFI-OPERATED OUTDOOR PLUGS – Smart outlets for indoor use have been around and widely used for years, but now you can get outdoorrated versions! Perfect for holiday lights during the winter months and ponds/fountains in the warmer seasons, these plugs are weatherproof and allow you to control any outdoor electronics with your voice or phone. Plus, you can schedule them to turn on and off at the same time every day. 8. DIGITAL SPRINKLER CONTROLLER – While this control system won’t drag the sprinkler out into the lawn and hook it up for you, it’s still an amazing addition to pre-installed irrigation systems. And the home tech hub allows you to monitor, control and save water all from a mobile app. You can even set it to adapt to weather conditions to avoid overwatering during rainy periods. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ellie Kowalchik, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Pinnacle Group, leads <strong>Cincinnati</strong>’s top-ranked Move2Team. A multi-million dollar producer and company sales leader, she holds the advanced designations of Seller Representative Specialist, Certified Residential Specialist, as well as e-Pro with a focus on technology. She has also been named one of America’s Best Real Estate Agents by RealTrends for the past 6 years. Have real estate questions you’d like to see answered in a future edition of Ask the Expert? Give Ellie a call at (513) 616-2323 or email her at Ellie@Move2Team.com. IBCI1123.016
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