AFFORDABLE DIY SMART HOME SECURITY TOOLS
Heads up: I use affiliate links for my fave products. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE IN EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY THAT MAKES YOUR LIFE EASIER. IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR HOME'S SECURITY, I HAVE TWO AFFORDABLE, DIY-ABLE SMART HOME SECURITY TOOLS TO INTRODUCE YOU TO.
You've probably seen video clips shared of burglars or wannabe burglars at people's front doors. If you've thought about how useful that would be at your own home but didn't think you could afford it, today's your lucky day. Technology has gotten more sophisticated and it's also become a lot more affordable .Both of the smart home security tools I'm sharing with you cost less than $200 and if you install it yourself, there's no additional labor cost.
AFFORDABLE SMART HOME SECURITY TOOL#1 - RING DOORBELL
You've probably heard of the Ring Doorbell. It's been very popular and often featured alongside the the Nest Smart Home suite of products at your local home improvement store. The Ring Doorbell replaces your existing doorbell with a unit that has a built-in camera and allows you to speak with visitors at your front door through a two-way communication system that you can access through your smart phone. That means you can monitor your home's security even when you're not there. Yay! The Ring Doorbell will alert you when someone presses the doorbell or when motion is detected. It also has a wide camera range so you get a broad view from your front door (capturing an image of the getaway car!). Of course, this is only useful if you don't have any obstructions that could limit your view, i.e. overgrown plants, etc. It also links up with the Amazon Alexa device. The Ring Doorbell retails for $199. There is an optional video recording subscription service of $30/year for the Basic and $100/year for the Protect program. The Ring doorbell works without the subscription and offers live video streaming, but if you want video recordings, you will need to subscribe to one of the services. It's very affordable. Most people blow $30-$100 going out to eat in a day!
Here's a video which shows you how the Ring Doorbell works...
AFFORDABLE SMART HOME SECURITY TOOL #2 - KUNA LIGHT FIXTURE
The Kuna light fixture (also sold under the name Maximus) is a very cool option because it has a built-in camera at the base of the light fixture which is not noticeable unless you know what you're looking for. I saw this product at a home show last year and was pleasantly surprised by how affordable it was. The Kuna light fixture replaces your existing front or back porch light or even your garage light. They look just like a regular light so it's not obvious it's a spying device! It has similar features to the Ring Doorbell in that it has two-way communication, you get alerts to your smart phone and you are able to see who's at your front door or wherever you have the unit installed. A cloud video recording subscription is also available for $60 a year (again, very affordable for the peace of mind and the evidence you need in case you need it!), but even without the subscription, you have access to video recordings 2 hours after an event. That could come in handy in case you were aware of negative activity at the time that it happens.They currently have 4 light fixture styles available. The kicker is...the lights are less than $200 each (except or the carriage style which is a little more).
It's price is equivalent to or even less than the average exterior light fixture in the marketplace and BONUS, it includes a smart home security feature! #worthitHere's a video introducing the Kuna light...
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN AND READ THE REVIEWS AND DECIDE WHICH SMART HOME SECURITY TOOL IS RIGHT FOR YOU.
From what I can tell, people mostly gripe about having to pay for the video recording service which anytime additional moneys are involved, people are going to have something to say. Again, most folks blow the same amount of money on stupid stuff all day long. Get over it already! The other complaint is that the light fixtures don't have infrared lights for recording at night. Regardless, I think you'll find that these two affordable, DIY-able Smart Home Security options are worth having even if they're not perfect. Better some security than no security right?!
Subscribe to the Behind the Renovation Design Journal
Sign up to receive the latest home renovation tips, resources, and inspiration!
RELATED POSTS
