Moving Soon? Add These Smart Home Devices to Your New Place

Want to make your new home smarter? You’re not alone. In fact, according to cnbc.com , 80 million smart home devices were delivered to customers worldwide. With the popularity of home automation on the up-and-up, it’s safe to say that investing in high-tech features for your new home is a good idea. Outfitting your digs with smart home devices is also a sure-fire way to make your life much easier. Need to lock the door remotely? There’s a smart device for that. Curious who’s ringing your doorbell? Oh yeah, there’s a smart device for that too. In today’s world, you could potentially control almost every aspect of your home at the push of a button. So if you’re looking to get started on equipping your new home with the Internet of Things (IoT), consider these 9 easy-to-use smart home devices first.

Philips Hue Bulbs

Forgot to turn off the lights before leaving the house? No problem! With Philips Hue Bulbs , you can control your household lighting from anywhere in the world. In addition to being energy-efficient LED bulbs, Philips Hue also lets users control both the intensity and color of the lighting. So you can choose the right color to fit your mood and lifestyle. According to the website, there are three types of smart lights offered by the brand: Hue white, Hue white ambiance, and Hue white and color ambiance. Cost: single bulbs starts at $15.

Nest Learning Thermostat

Want to save money on energy bills? Consider replacing that old thermostat with a 3rd generation Nest Thermostat . The ENERGY STAR certified thermostat takes roughly half an hour to install and comes with major money saving benefits. The company reports that the smart thermostat can save people an average of 10 to 12 percent on heating bills and 15 percent on cooling bills. Nest Thermostat is designed to adapt to your temperature preferences. Once it learns what temperatures you like in the mornings, afternoons and evenings, it will begin to automatically adjust the thermostat to those preferences. According to the website, Nest Thermostat has saved billions of kWh of energy in millions of households. Cost: $249.

SkyBell WiFi Doorbell

For those looking to up the ante on their home security, I recommend installing a SkyBell WiFi Doorbell outside the home. Voted “Best Video Doorbell” by Cnet.com, the smart video doorbell lets customers know who’s at the door before opening it. And because SkyBell connects to your phone, users can see, hear and speak to the visitor whether they’re home or not. Cost: starts around $200.

Amazon Echo

Need someone (or some thing ) to answer questions, read the news, turn off lights, open garage doors and play music? Amazon Echo’s Alexa Voice Service can do all that and more in your new home. The popular hands-free speaker recognizes the user’s voice and answers their requests. If you’re looking for a central way to connect and control all of your home features, then purchasing an Amazon Echo device is a good idea. The smart speaker is compatible with Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, Nest, ecobee and more. Cost: starts around $140.

iBaby Monitor M6S

The iBaby Monitor M6S is not your parent’s old school baby monitor. The smart baby monitor is described as an all-in-one Wi-Fi Smart Baby device that every parent should have. Those with babies will be able to: watch their little one at any time; control air quality; play lullabies, control sounds and motion; connect to iTunes music; record their voice; record a video; share pictures and more – right from their smartphones. The iBaby Monitor also includes HD video resolution with night vision and 360 degree movement. Cost: starts around $145.

Lutron’s Serena Shades

For those looking to outfit their windows in automated shades, I recommend looking into Lutron’s Serena Shades . Although pricey, the Serena Shades are worth the extra bucks. These remote-controlled window shades are both good looking and practical. They’re available in several styles with a wide variety of colors and textures. The Serena Shades can be operated from anywhere in the word using the Lutron mobile app and Smart Bridge – so, if you’re away from home and forgot to put your shades down, you can do so at the touch of a button. Serena Shades can be automated from other smart home devices as well. Cost: starts around $450.

Char-Broil Digital Electric Smoker

Planning to have friends over to BBQ? For the grillmasters out there, I suggest purchasing a Char-Broil Digital Electric Smoker for your new backyard. The smart grill lets users control the temperature remotely on their smartphones. According to the company, the grill comes with 725-square inches of cooking space spread and four adjustable smoking racks. Cost: $268.

Neato Botvac Connected Robot Vacuum

Need to clean your home ASAP? For all the mess-makers out there, I suggest giving Neato’s Botvac Connected Robot Vacuum a try. The automated vacuum cleans your house anytime from anywhere. According to the company website, the robots are Wi-Fi enabled, and can begin, stop, pause, and schedule from anywhere. The robot vacuum comes equipped with a combo brush, spiral blade brush, ultra performance filter, a Lithium-ion battery, boundary markers, and a side brush. Customers can control their Neato Botvac Connected Robot Vacuum from the Neato app, which works with iOS and Android devices. Cost: $699.

Homeboy Security Camera

If you’re curious what’s going on inside your home while you’re not home (i.e. if you have a dog, a babysitter or (god forbid) a burglar inside), try Homeboy’s security camera. The popular indoor security camera is reasonably priced and records audio and video. It will also alert customers on their smartphones of any motion or audio in and around the house, so they can see if anyone is at their front door (or in their home). It’s easy to install, is wire-free, and mounts magnetically anywhere! Cost: $149.

Before transforming your new house into a smart home, you’ll need to figure out how to move there first. To find the best moving company to handle your upcoming move, check Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. Good luck and happy moving!