Manufactured homes, like site-built homes, have kept up with the times and introduced loads of smart technology over the years. For some, though, it can seem overwhelming to start automating their mobile home with the latest tech.
But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Incorporating smart home technology to increase automation can be a thrilling process that, over time, introduces many benefits for the mobile homeowner. Here are just a few ways to get started.
Voice Assistants
This is an easy one to implement. Virtual assistant technology from Meta, Amazon, Apple, and Google makes it easier than ever to go about your day with an extra helping hand. For example, if you’re getting ready for your day and need to know what traffic is like for your commute, simply asking your virtual assistant will get you the answer that you need.
Some of the other smart technology solutions that we’ll go over below even have virtual assistant functionalities built in!
Smart Thermostats
Here’s another way to automate your manufactured home in a small way that delivers big benefits. A smart thermostat can run on a timer so that it shuts off at certain times of the day, or when you leave your home.
You can also remotely control your thermostat for maximum energy efficiency. These are a great solution for saving energy costs over time by identifying where you’re using power that you might not need.
Smart Appliances
Mobile homes can often be found with smart appliances these days, from the dishwasher to the fridge to the washer and dryer. These devices are often wifi-compatible so that you can control them from wherever you are.
Smart refrigerators in particular have come a long way and are highly sought after in mobile homes. Various models of smart fridge can connect to music streaming apps like Spotify or Pandora, show you what’s inside your fridge without you having to open it, and merge your shopping lists across various smart devices.
Other smart appliances can be controlled by your phone to start at a certain time, or shut off automatically after use. This is one of the easiest and most popular ways to start automating your mobile home!
Smart Lighting
Technology that has to do with your lighting fixtures has come a long way in the past several years. Now, smart lighting makes it easier than ever to turn lights on and off, turn lights a different color, and turn on or off based on whether someone is in the room.
In fact, you can even use an app on your phone to control the lighting in your house. Some lighting manufacturers, such as GE, have apps that pair with their lights to do just that. So, you can set timers for your lights before you go to bed, or set one to make sure your lights are out once you leave for work.
Your virtual assistant may have connectivity with your smart lights, too. So, you can ask Siri or Alexa or Google to turn off your kitchen lights without lifting a finger.
One alternative option you can look at here are smart plugs. These plug into your existing outlet and can turn a lamp or light fixture into a smart light that can be controlled via an app or your voice.
Interior and Exterior Cameras
These days, it’s hard to find a home that DOESN’T have some kind of smart camera attached to it. After all, it’s an incredibly convenient, yet smart way to keep your home secure and even watch your feed in real-time.
Popular smart camera manufacturers include Ring and Wyze. These brands of smart cameras offer options for outside your front door, outside the exterior of your home, and even options for watching inside your home – a great idea if you want to keep an eye on your pet at work, or watch your children from another room.
And, these smart cameras connect with your cell phone, too. So, no matter where you’re at, you can check in on your front doorstep in real time, or otherwise make sure your home is secure indoors and out while you’re away.
Your Phone Is Your Friend!
We’ve referenced this a few times throughout this blog post, but we want to reinforce that your smartphone is a vital tool for automating your mobile home.
Even if you don’t check out some of the items we’ve listed out here, there are ways that you can make your mobile home a bit “smarter” by just using your phone.
For example, you can use automation apps such as IFTTT to, say, change your wallpaper or disable notifications for certain apps when you disconnect from your home’s wifi. So, when you leave home to go to work, you can cut down on screen time until you return.
To make your mobile home as automated as possible, though, you’ll want to consider some of the tips in this blog.
