Did a major renovation last year and wanted to share our smart home technology decisions — specifically what we installed, what worked, and what we regret.
What we installed that we’re happy with:
Ecobee SmartThermostat ($280 installed): Works exactly as advertised. Room sensors in bedrooms helped with our house’s uneven heat distribution. Scheduling saved real money on the first winter bill. Worth every dollar.
Lutron Caseta switches throughout ($150-$220 per room, 8 rooms): This was the single best smart home decision we made. Whole-house dimming from the app, scene control, works reliably, no hub issues. The ability to dim pot lights in the kitchen to 20% for evening atmosphere is genuinely great. Would do again immediately.
Leak detectors (Govee, 6 units, $180 total): Under kitchen sink, bathroom vanities, water heater, washing machine. Have had two alerts that were real (slow drip under kitchen sink caught before any damage). Worth it for the peace of mind alone.
Hardwired video doorbell (Ring Pro, $350 installed): Great. Works seamlessly.
What we regret:
Smart blinds (Hunter Douglas PowerView, 4 windows, $3,400 total): Way too expensive for the convenience delivered. We use them manually about 90% of the time. The automation feels gimmicky. Would have bought manual blinds and saved $2,500.
Smart speakers in every room: Complete overkill. We use 2 of the 6 regularly.
Key lesson: Put smart money into the infrastructure (switches, thermostat, leak detection) not the gadgets (motorized blinds, multiroom audio).