Making a house a ‘smart home’

Smart technology has become so engrained in our everyday lives that they’re no longer products that only tech savvy consumers embrace. The fact that smart home gadgets have seamlessly fit into our daily lives shows just how convenient and handy they are for making life run that little bit easier.

But although these smart home products have quickly become adopted by the masses, there are plenty of tech fanatics that continue to utilise the many benefits of these smart gadgets.

As part of our latest ‘Diary of a Smart Home’ series, we speak with Mike, a tech savvy father who always adopts the latest smart home gadgets to stay ahead of the curve and impress his friends. Discover how he utilises his new favourite smart home product - the smart lock - by reading on.

Mike, 39, a tech fanatic father

I brought our family home over seven years ago when we found out we were expecting our first child, and since then I’ve seen many new smart home gadgets hit the market. I’ve always been a fan of the latest technology and knew this would be the foundation of making improvements to our new home, even more so when time was short due to the arrival of our daughter. 

Smart home gadgets have certainly grown in popularity over those past few years, which means there have been plenty of new releases by popular brands during this time. This means that I’ve been able to invest in a range of gadgets to create the perfect smart home, which suits the needs of my family, and certainly impresses friends and family when they pop round. 

From smart heating, lighting, TV’s and smart blinds, most rooms in my home have some sort of smart gadget set up, which allows me to have remote control of different areas of my home with just the tap of a button.

Although work is still a huge priority for me, my family always come first, and smart gadgets allow me to spend more time with my wife and daughter, whilst also giving me the peace of mind that my home is protected.

And, of course, the security of our home is a hugely important consideration for me, so, when looking to invest in a new smart gadget, I did my research to find the best smart lock to suit my needs. I quickly decided on a Yale product, being so well-known and respected in the industry.

I like the fact that with my Linus^® Smart Lock I can grant virtual keys to trusted visitors, and enable access to my home, from anywhere all through my smartphone.   

With my friends being real tech fanatics too, my smart lock has been a real talking point and they love the fact that this is the modern-day alternative to a traditional lock. When I first had my Linus^® installed, I surprised them by letting them in remotely whilst I was sat enjoying a drink in the garden - they couldn’t believe how easy, safe and secure it was to grant access all through your smartphone. 

And this handy feature was also something I looked into whilst utilising Yale’s intuitive Access App to ensure I maximised all the smart benefits of my new lock.

Not only can I track who’s coming and going, but I can also double check if my door is locked, or unlocked, remotely - perfect for giving me peace of mind when I’m out and about or spending time with my family.

My next smart home purchase will most likely be another outdoor security camera which I can pair with my smart lock. The smart capabilities of Yale’s eco-system will mean that a new front door camera can be positioned close to my smart lock, so I can talk through my smartphone and speak to anyone who’s turned up at my front door.

It’s another step towards a completely smart, smart home, and a way to protect my growing family.