Here today gone tomorrow. Give me a device that has an iOS app and I am good. Tech changes so rapidly you'll be chasing the latest and greatest for ever. Friends have invested 10's of thousands of dollars in systems only to tear them out 18 months later due to compatibility issues etc. Good luck and you'll need deep pockets.

I spoke with someone the other day who sets up this stuff professionally. He also does automated blinds. I have an older house, but I think I will be using him to at least get all the ac units, motorized blinds, alarm system, a couple lights and temp control on an ap. I think it's several hundred dollars to set up, including equipment.

I regret not doing a bit more than I did. At least I should have wired for exterior cameras. We're gone a lot.

As for the other stuff, yeah, I visited a new build with a prospective contractor. They were wiring it like they wired our trading floor. Now, of course, you can get 50 mbps WiFi in the toilet if you want, so all those wires...pretty much useless.

I'm not 100% sold on Bluetooth sound so I wired the main living area. As for garage, lights, etc...I'm not sure having access from an app is very secure.

Good luck!

The widest range of compatible system is either Bluetooth enabled or runs on a home wireless network.

BEWARE of any system that has you sending through their "servers" and storing your settings on their servers ... because when (not if) they decide to force an upgrade you are truly screwed. Or when the ISP goes down.

Remember NEST thermostats ... suddenly they were no longer supported.

ALSO: don't install anything that doesn't have an easily accessible fully manual control as a backup.

Do you just adore expensive home repairs, not because of wear and tear but because it broke? If so, then go for LOTS of technology in your house and you will be sure to have a repairman at your house on retainer. KEEP IT SIMPLE! Technology changes so fast that you will blink and it will be obsolete, the company that supported it has gone out of business, parts are not available.

I want an automatic garage door opener - controlled by HomeLInk in my car. I want a security system that I set when I go out and deactivate when I return home. If I had a gate, I would want to be able to open it from my house - I don't live on that kind of property.

If you're dying for something extra, install a natural or propane gas (depending on what's available in your area) whole house generator. Now THAT you will find useful and they last a long time.

I've struggled with how much I want to do in the new house and have decided to keep it pretty simple. Will wire for and probably install exterior cameras and will more than likely do some interior lighting also. Plus I'm probably going to have them wire for power blinds on some select windows. Beyond that just the normal AV/network wiring that is pretty std in modern homes.

Down the road I will probably install a Wi-Fi enabled thermostat but that is a simple job that can be done later.

My current home is about as dumb and they come and I get by fine. The one thing I have installed that I absolutely love are a couple of Insteon (X10 like) controls for the lights in the living room. I've gotten so used the turning the lights on/off from my chair it would be like going back to a TV without remote control without them. So I know this is something I want in the new house. Not whole house but just the great room/kitchen areas.

As far a the generator suggestion it would depend on the area in which you live IMHO. Where I currently live it would be an enormous waste of money since the power very rarely goes out. Maybe once ever year or two for a couple of hours. There are a lot of other things that would rather put my money towards. But in a cold climate where the power goes out a lot it would be pretty nice to have.

My current home is about as dumb and they come and I get by fine.

Me too. I currently have motion sensored lights in my walk-in pantry /laundry -- love that, but it's not "smart" technology. The only other thing I intend to include in my new build is a keyless door lock on the garage-house door. I have no desire for a security system or to control anything with my phone.

I am doing a backup generator because we are in the country and outages are not uncommon. I never thought of this as being part of the smart home world though.

Its the lighting that I was interested in controlling in a "smart" fashion. I wanted to be able to flood the exterior with all the perimeter lights with one button, then also turn them off with one button. This also would come in handy when leaving to make sure you turned off all the lights. You could also have all the exterior lights on to sync up with the seasonal sunsets.

But I do agree that there will be lots of programming issues, lots of tech visits and repairs, and lots of wasted money. Some of the options for a smart home are just for impressing people, and some truly are useful and make life easier and more energy efficient. And some provide comfort in the world of safety. Motion inside would send an alert with live video feeds, fire alarms would send help and alert you, water in the basement would send an alert. Cold temps would send a freeze alert.

I've been using the Iris system from Lowe's for almost three years and it's pretty impressive for a low cost, easy to install DIY home automation / home security system. You plug in a Hub, sync it with your Wifi, put the app on your phone and place the wireless plugs, sensors, etc. throughout your home.

You can make it as easy or as complex as you'd like. You can start out small and add to it over time. I have 4 outlets, two motion detectors, two door or window sensors, a thermostat, and an alarm keypad.

You can choose to self monitor the security system or pay a monthly monitoring fee. Using the app you can have lights turn off and on at certain times of the day or if motion is detected. You can monitor the temperature throughout your home and everything can be controlled remotely.

There are mixed reviews online for it but I've been nothing but impressed with it. I'm happy to answer any questions about it.

I've been in the computer/tech industry for over 30 years. I was enamored with these sort of concepts when I was in my 20's, but no longer (just an old frump now). The most "automation" I have in my home is a remote control garage door and exterior lights on astronomic timers. My house is also about as dumb as they come and my new build will be as well.

But that's me. IMO, if you like the concepts and convenience and can afford it, go for it. Don't worry about obsolescence. Granted, anything you install will be obsolete in 10 years and not have all the latest features in as short as 6 months. That doesn't mean the convenience stops. Wealthy folks paid $85,000 in today's dollars (and up depending on the size of the custom install, in the late 1930's - still the Depression!) to wire their mansions for sound with a Capehart 500, including remote speakers and control panels. Stone age technology, but if kept in repair, provides the same function and convenience as 80 years ago.

The only problem obsolescence poses is for those whose enjoyment derives from having the 'latest and greatest'. If you are that sort of person, you might be better to limit yourself to items that are easily (and more cost-effectively) replaced.

A concern that has not been voiced here that would concern me with remote control phone apps is tracking and hacking.

I was an early adopter of home automation and picked Elan. At the time they offered the most comprehensive system available and the most programmable, which is what I wanted (I traveled a lot at the time and wanted remote access to my home for various reasons).

However, Elan has fallen significantly in popularity mostly because they didn't want to alienate the legacy systems and so they were so focused on compatibility that they failed to innovate. Today fewer than 20% of installers will use Elan. The most popular today, which could mean longevity, is Control4, were I to install a new system I would have a slight preference for Control4.

However, automation is really about the setup and programming so my real advice is to go with the company that you feel is the best rather than the system that you feel is the best. Great installation and support will beat a great system every day of the week for functionality.

As for dependability, my Elan system was running for 10 years without any real problems. Today most automation is in wiring, switches and components. Wiring for automation goes bad at about the same rate as other wires, which is to say very slowly. The switches (e.g. automated light switches) probably have about the same life as old actuated dimmer switches, and components go obsolete at the rate of all technology, if you are an early adopter of technology you will feel the limits of the system fairly fast, if you just want light control and video distribution you will probably be happy for quite a while.

In our latest build, I concentrated on:

1. Wiring, for now and the future. Upgraded as far as we could go-CAT6 (alas, residential fiber not yet affordable, 2 years ago) and made sure that we planned for things we wanted as well as what, perhaps, a future buyer might want. We are with Google Fiber, currently, but all fiber networks can work with this wiring.

We'd lived through the "intercom" stage (early 80s) and wanted nothing like that. Control panels swerve all systems, are out of the way and except for an additional alarm system panel (panic room? :) ), none is in the master, nor is any of it visible. The whole house could be run by apps, for those who have the appetite for apps. I don't...

Most importantly, we did the planning before the walls went in.

2. Concentrated on not putting in anything that might become obsolete, fast. At one point, our low voltage guy recommended a built-in iPad, to run the house. Lol- NO!

3. Put 240V in the car area. Electric cars are becoming more and more something people want, and are common in my city. HAH! We decided to test the technology, soon after move-in. Got an EV. Our public utility paid for half the costs of the station/install. We're having a blast with the car, and Federal credits made it stupidly affordable. Now- the Utility told us that if we sell too soon OR go solar, they "might" ask for their money back. Understandable because...

4. Made sure that solar is a reasonable option, without tearing our house apart. Go back to #1- it all matters, works. We're have a great rating for solar (because of design) and can easily do it. Didn't do it with the initial build, because that technology is rapidly changing.

5. Nest Thermostats- we have them. Took a minute for me to understand the programming, but it works great.

6. Made sure that our HVAC system had the best, cleanest and easiest to operate technology available. Without an app, it works with our windows, even, to prevent the "fogging" that happens when it's 100 degrees outside and 72 inside. Also works to control humidity in our really humid climate.

6. Not what you'd think of as "technology", but we have a very natural possibility of a third story rooftop deck. We don't want it (I HATE holes in roofs- problems abound, even in the best of cases), but somebody else might. So while the walls were open, we took the time to have a tiny bit of engineering, a bit of steel reinforcement installed, and presto! That space is ready to go, for anybody who wants to do it.

All of this was done at really affordable prices, since it was planned for, installed in the beginning. All of it wrapped up in a really nice, long-term Builder's Warranty. Not nearly as affordable if you don't do it and then discover you want "more". That, then, becomes a type of a remodel remodel- hell on earth, for me!

The only thing we installed that could become obsolete are ceiling speakers. We love music, and it plays through our home a lot. Can hook to the TV, so a football game (or movie) sounds like a home theater, without all the mess. Eh- the speakers could become out-of-date, but they're there, so a quick switch out and off you go.

I never thought of this as being part of the smart home world though.

I don't think a generator is "smart" either.

Its the lighting that I was interested in controlling in a "smart"
fashion. I wanted to be able to flood the exterior with all the
perimeter lights with one button, then also turn them off with one
button.

I have one switch in my utility room that turns on ALL the flood lights in one fell swoop (I have other switches by the exterior doors that turn them on individually). I don't think I've ever used the master-switch.

Wealthy folks paid $85,000 in today's dollars (and up depending on the
size of the custom install, in the late 1930's - still the Depression!)
to wire their mansions for sound with a Capehart 500, including remote
speakers and control panels. Stone age technology, but if kept in
repair, provides the same function and convenience as 80 years ago.

Yeah, the same is true of 1980s intercoms, etc. Thing is, I'm not sure that the same is true of "smart" stuff today. Why? Because many of these things are controlled with a phone or tablet ... and it's quite possible that the controlling items will update to the point that they no longer work with what's built into the house.

It's kind of like why I'm buying my game-obsessed daughter a new X-Box for Christmas. Her old one still works perfectly well (and I know she won't get rid of it), but the company no longer creates new games for what is now "old technology" ... and she wants to continue buying new games.

Concentrated on not putting in anything that might become
obsolete, fast. At one point, our low voltage guy recommended a built-in
iPad, to run the house. Lol- NO!

Yeah, that's the equivalent of the 80s intercom.
Put 240V in the car area. Electric cars are becoming more and more
something people want, and are common in my city.

Yes, we are planning to run such an outlet in our garage. We don't have an electric car now (though my parents do), but I do think it's a possibility in the future. We figure it'll be cheap to install while the electricians are building ... expensive to add on later.

The only thing we installed that could become obsolete are ceiling speakers.

Yes, when we were first married my husband had half a dozen oversized speakers (I think all young engineers /other tech-y guys were required to own such things); now we have three small speakers hooked to our TV /stereo. I think things like that make us less interested in spending on "smart" items; we've seen today's must-haves become flash-in-the-pans.

Just for the record, my engineer husband shares my thoughts on "smart" home items. He's all about putting money into a solid frame, good windows, top-notch electrical and plumbing, nice finishes ... but he also sees "smart" technology as akin to party tricks.

Just for the record, my engineer husband shares my thoughts on "smart" home items. He's all about putting money into a solid frame, good windows, top-notch electrical and plumbing, nice finishes ... but he also sees "smart" technology as akin to party tricks.

This, I love. People forget that, although there isn't "an app, for that", that all the guts/infrastructure have come a long way, baby! And that being diligent, as a homeowner, right along side your builder, as it all goes in is more important than any "whoo-hoo" feature you can add, within the "bling". That's the stuff that allows you to weather the worst that Harvey could throw at you, and shrug. Whatever. We can take MORE- and please, let's not do that!

Just for the record, my engineer husband shares my thoughts on "smart" home items. He's all about putting money into a solid frame, good windows, top-notch electrical and plumbing, nice finishes ... but he also sees "smart" technology as akin to party tricks.

To each their own... Of all the things I have gotten in the last 10 years my media server is the smartest purchase I have made. If we buy a movie, we pop it in the server and then it is available on any one of 5 televisions or any computer, or up to 5 at once. Not only does it record television programs, it removes the commercials. While that may not seem a big deal, it makes my workouts a lot more enjoyable, now I don't have to hear all about products that I am not interested in if I choose not to. I can pause the television in the living room, then get on my work computer and start the program right where I paused.

This has also resulted in fewer cable company costs, I just get their card and they can keep their expensive equipment.

I used to travel extensively and I could manage many of the things in my home from the airport if need be. In the winter, I kept the house cool and only heated it up when we were on the way home. We had monitoring of fire alarms, CO2 alarms, cameras, etc.

I don't do whole house music, so I am not sure about that.

As for lighting, we sleep with our bedroom door open, yet my kids can't seem to turn off a light...So at midnight our switches become timers, non-bathroom lights are slowly dimmed after 10 minutes. This has saved me from getting out of bed to turn off an annoying light. Also after midnight hall and bathroom lights are dimmed to preserve night vision and save you from bright light problem. They can be easily increased with a slider but start dimmer.

While these aren't needed features they have improved my quality of life noticeably. I have to admit, I was a late adopter of smart phones because I didn't see the benefit of them. Now I can't imagine the inconvenience of finding a phone book.

I used to travel extensively and I could manage many of the things in my home from the airport if need be. In the winter, I kept the house cool and only heated it up when we were on the way home. We had monitoring of fire alarms, CO2 alarms, cameras, etc.

And for those reasons we are doing a smart home. We travel and summer in NY. I want to know who is coming to my door, etc. If there's a problem, then I can get notice and get the problem fixed, even when not there.

I could care less about watching the same movie in different rooms because if I'm watching a movie, it's with DH.

However I have a switch by the bed going in so I can turn off all the lights I forgot to turn off without having to walk through the house or up the stairs. Same with the flood lights.

For the most part, what we call home automation is about saving you from button presses. Whether that's a lighting scene that saves you from walking around and turning/dimming lights on and off, or a TV remote that automatically sets up the AV system without having to navigate various systems, or not having to get up and adjust the t-state b/c it is already programmed, an alarm that makes sure your doors are locked, etc. Whether and how much value that has is completely dependent the individual. There is no right answer.