Top 5 Tips for Buying the Best Tech for Your Home

There’s nothing more fun than getting new toys. Especially when you can pick out exactly what you want to make your life easier, more fun, or just more futuristic. The Internet of Things (IoT) has never been more exciting and the vast array of smart gadgets will knock your socks off.

According to Statista, there will be more than 75 billion Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices in use by 2025 and you don’t want to be left behind. The time is right for upgrading your lifestyle with the best new tech for your home and we’re going to show you how to get started with the top 5 tips for buying the best tech for your home. 

#1. Read Reviews

One of the first things to do when looking to add a new gadget or gizmo into your home is to check the reviews, both the good and the bad. People tend to only leave reviews if something was incredible or absolutely terrible. Middle-of-the-pack experiences typically get no response. 

Checking the top reviews can give you a glimpse of what’s great about the product, but it can also cause confirmation bias. Often times we’re so excited about our new toy that all we’re willing to see is the good. 

That’s why you also need to check the bad reviews. This will help you gauge if there’s any defect in the product or if there are any common problems. If 100 reviews say that a particular issue is happening, it’s probably true. 

Finally, be wary of reviews that aren’t specific. Generic responses that are repeated by reviewers could be a sign that someone is using a bot or AI to boost their ratings online. 

#2. Look to the Future

It may be exciting to go out and start wiring up your new home entertainment system right away, but a little time future-proofing your setup will save you in the long run. It’s always worth considering the wiring and maintenance of a product before you buy. 

As you add new gear to your system, you may have to rewire sections or add new ones in as you add more tech. Being smart the first time and ensuring that your cable management is clean and accessible will save you down the line when something breaks or needs to be replaced. 

#3. Be Practical

Just imagine yourself walking into your cutting-edge smart home. Your door automatically unlocks for you, the climate control adjusts to the perfect temperature, piano music begins to play from hidden speakers, and your robot vacuum just finished cleaning up. 

The future the Jetsons imagined isn’t too far off and with the latest technology, you can rig up your house with every gadget you can think of to automate most tasks, but none of that means anything if you don’t actually have a use for it or you don’t know how to use it.

I’m reminded of a friend of mine who had to have the latest Apple product. Each product was top of the line and would seamlessly work together to sync all their work and data. The problem was… they had no idea how to actually set it up and make it all work. 

Before dropping your hard-earned money on a new system, make sure you’re actually going to use all the features that come along with it. It may sound great to just get the best product on the market, but that product may not actually be what’s best for you. 

#4. Warranties

While warranties often seem like a great idea, smart tech warranties may end up costing you. Researchers at Northwestern University have decreed “No, Extended Warranties Are Usually Not Worth It”, due to high cost versus low failure rate. If you do decide to go with a warranty, look at short-term options and always read the small print. 

#5. Price Check (and Check for Hidden Fees)

Finally, make sure to shop around. It’s easier than ever to get quotes online and taking advantage of that will save you bundles. You absolutely should be looking to see who offers a better price, but there are also a lot of hidden fees that can creep up on you if you’re not careful. 

High-tech smart home systems offer a ton of different features, and not all of them are free. Micro-transactions and subscription services aren’t only for candy-related phone games anymore. In 6 months, you could end up with your new smart refrigerator telling you that its trial period is up, and re-syncing to your home could cost you a monthly subscription fee.