Ultimate Guide to Starting and Growing a Smart Home

[@SmartHomeSolver]

This video was just scratching the surface of what to look for when getting started! If you have any questions feel free to ask them, or if you’re a smart home expert give your best advice below. 👏 And thanks so much for watching.

[@pjermarusic7215]

When is tradfri coming?

[@jorgetrueba85_2]

Meow

[@Similee]

Great topical review and overall presentation with purpose. Once again it's all great information to digest. I will be reviewing the products you suggested. It looked overall as if things come down to everyday usage along with purpose behind each product. Great skits and commentary as well. Awesome work on the video. I look forward to the next one! This is helping me and my sales pitch to the wife ;)

[@SmartHomeSolver]

@@Similee thanks I appreciate it!

[@SaadKhan-rc8yx]

Budget RGBW LED strip reccs? want to have cool-warm white and colours as well as alexa and app integration. Do I buy a specific LED strip and buy a separate Wi-Fi controller or? I'd most likely be buying off Aliexpress.

[@jackieevans2809]

Hey, would you consider doing a video on SMART homes for the elderly? I would like to set up some specific smart features for fall detection, health issues, cameras to check on Mom etc.. thanks

[@chanda-aime6388]

All your reasons are exactly what I’m trying to find. Did you find any KZbinr who discussed from this pov?

[@apotheticallyautistic73]

Yes please I need this too

[@botch3z]

Still looking!

[@DIYReid]

For cameras to check up on your mom I would recommend Wyze indoor cameras. They are cheap and easy to drop in on your mom to check to make sure she's alright.

[@R1chardH]

@@chanda-aime6388 of the top of my head, u could use a flic as a panic button to send out a text if need help after a fall, a contact sensor on a medication box which will send a reminder if it's not been moved after a certain amount of time, cameras to check in on. Pressure bed or PIR to alert if not out of bed by a certain time. To help them auto magic or voice controlled lighting, voice assistant to call/drop in on u if want to chat or need help.

[@HughD]

This is one of the best overall introductory Smart Home videos I've watched. Nice job! I like the nice balance w/o pushing one system/brand over another.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Hugh! That means a lot to hear that.

[@JIMMYH2011]

Whenever I talk to anyone about smart homes, I always point them in the direction of 'Smart Home Solver' as the guru of smart homes. Another quality vid Reed!

[@seththetechguy]

Please don’t delete this video! I need this for future use! Thanks a lot!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Haha don't worry I won't delete it. That was hopefully a one time mistake that I don't plan on making again.

[@seththetechguy]

Smart Home Solver Thanks!!

[@liudanchen9450]

we are smart home manufacture, provide devices to GE ZOOZ, please feel free to contact me to know more

[@brittanyparker-vaughan2881]

The puppet gag is amazing 😆

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Brittany!

[@LTMotions]

Lol it legit scared me for a sec 😂

[@Rebecca-yf9ci]

I really liked the compadability lists at the very end. Super helpful!

[@markkempton4579]

Just found your channel today and I'm brand new to this. Even this video is too advanced or fast. Would love to see "here's what you need to buy" and setting up your first automation (e.g. "here's how to make the kitchen lights turn on when you walk in"). Basically, automation 100. Once I'm more experienced, I can see your channel will be my go-to! Thank you!

[@glenbleu]

Smart homes are complicated, especially when starting. I’m glad I found your channel when searching for smart home help. Keep making amazing content and funny outros!

[@daryannolan8682]

I would love if you could eventually do a video on smart apartments! There are a lot of limitations that come with rental units, but many of us would still like to get as close to a smart home as we can!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

I have a few smart apartment videos. If you go to the channel and search, you'll see 2 or 3!

[@CannabisTechLife]

Wow I don't know how I missed in your other videos that Lutron switches don't need a neutral wire but, glad I watched this to find out! I just moved apartments in the same building and even though the kitchen is exactly the same, the lights don't have a neutral wire despite my old kitchen lights having one. This will solve that issue and gives me a reason to spend a little bit more than what I stomached for my GE smart switch. Thanks for making an in depth video like this !

[@abiddinger]

"it was nice knowing you..." Thanks for the big laugh! :D

[@SmartHomeSolver]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@tiredHooman]

Perhaps it detected that Kirby had a gun

[@unitgamex2972]

Ok

[@georgiagitonga5631]

Broke my ribs laughing

[@MinLee2]

This is simply incredible! Thanks for going through all these products so we can make an informed choice without suffering.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Min!

[@VictorDoomakaSumanthGottipati]

You are AWESOME! I just bought a house and I'm looking for ways to automate it. I've been breaking my head over it and nothing on the internet is as informative and helpful as your videos! I hope you reach the 1M subscribers mark soon and please keep up the great work!!

[@blackkira696]

Im just planning the same. First step lights. But it still sounds a lot to grab on

[@VictorDoomakaSumanthGottipati]

@@blackkira696 it is! Good luck!

[@urielnathanza]

Glad this wasn't brand focused, pushing a specific marketing message. Well put together and rather easier to understand than most explanations out there. 😊

[@EasternWACoyoteSlayer]

I have my Sprinklers turn on if someone is in the front yard when we go to bed. It helps keep intruders away. I use the B-Hyve. I also have a impact sprinkler pointed at an area cats frequent often. My Blink camera Turns it on and nails them when they are in the middle of a poop 5 sec delay. My outside lights and floodlights also pulse red and blue when someone is near my cars and driveway camera. Works well. Also Feit Electric bulbs have worked great! You should look into those as well.

[@K3yBon]

Remodeling my home and adding a bunch of smart items. Just installed smart recessed lighting. Glad I found this channel! 😃

[@liudanchen9450]

we are smart home manufacture from china, please do not hesitate to contact me to take more smart home devices if you need.

[@hazeldavis3176]

Your videos are so helpful! I'm starting a large project of converting our home and you're always concise but still fun to watch. Thanks!

[@BabakHamedani]

I wasn't looking for smart home but only for smart thermostat comparisons and I stumbled on this video and for some reason I did not skip and stuck to the end. My subconscious opinion would then be you're doing something right. PS I am a technology delivery manager so I'm kind of a techie person. I thought that should be mentioned.

[@Therzino]

You are the most underrated youtuber I have ever seen 🤯

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thank you so much!

[@Therzino]

Smart Home Solver I love your cool home full of gadgets!

[@VenkateshDurairaj]

As a new homeowner, This was the exact video I was looking for. Thanks!

[@RyanBeattie]

Need a video on the light strip progress bar. I am chronically late for everything and I feel like this would help me so much with getting out the the door on time! LOL

[@AishwaryaRadhakrishnan34]

Omg! There were so many smart devices I did not know about. I've been binge-watching your videos. Keep posting such useful videos!! :)

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thank you so much!

[@richchapman5011]

Yet another great vid. Both informative and funny, such a winning marriage. Been into home automation a little while now but it’s going slow getting there. Your vids are always my first go to when I’m trying to find new stuff. Keep up the great work you’re doing mate.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Rich!

[@Little_Bitz]

Thanks for taking the time out to try all these funky "futuristic" gadgets in every way possible and sharing them with us. Very much appreciated your efforts.

[@jsubound2007]

So glad I found this video. Subscribed 👍🏿 but now I can’t stop watching other vids🤦🏿‍♂️ GREAT JOB!!!

[@The_Linux_User]

Your videos are just a great mixture of entertaining and informative!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

That means a lot to hear that!

[@kellymerrell2611]

Hello Reed, I recently had a liftmaster garage door installed and that was the first thing I tried. So, I guess if you had myq previously in your alexa skills, it still works. But if your downloading for the first time, like me, it is no longer available. Just fyi. Thanks for the videos and keep them coming!

[@jimmylugo2682]

Wao. I though I was advanced a little bit and the way you explain this made me feel a complete beginner. Well done!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Jimmy!

[@MrRoguetech]

We're all beginners. Not only as being neophytes at some point, but the industry is constantly shifting. In ten years, it'll be completely different, for better or worse. It can be even more extremely frustrating for someone starting out. All the pieces fit together differently. If you want smart bulbs, you need to pick WiFi or ZigBee. That determines which switches and buttons you need. That determines how you connect them together, which determines which hub to use, which determines whether you should use Zigbee or WiFi bulbs, and around and around we go! If you want to expand to having an entire house connected, start with the hub.... I'd suggest Hubitat, HASS, or OpenHab. Then go from there.

[@osk9060]

Love all the dad tips! :D Great idea with the bedtime timer. Earned a sub!

[@samueldelgado1458]

Fantastic introduction to smart home tech... just what I needed., feeling confident.

[@hasanmohammed187]

The king of smart home has posted Edit- Omg He liked my comment

[@markusaurelius4015]

At last...

[@no.1siimpa382]

Cap

[@hasanmohammed187]

Thx guys this is the most likes I have ever gotten

[@KyleBroder]

This channel is amazing, I've been binge-watching your videos, keep it up!

[@kingofchrono]

Great job highlighting how to get started depending on which assistant ecosystem a user has selected!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Drew!

[@bijendrabhandari]

I would love to see a new version of 'starting a smart home' video. So much has changed since 2020.

[@kosmicken]

Returning to the previous state after power failure on a bulb is a two edged sword. I have been woken up in the middle of the night by the lights coming on after power was restored, which of course is super annoying. On the flip side, if you ever are unable to control the lights with your phone or voice assistant, or a guest wants to turn them on, all you have to do is turn the power switch off and back on, so that’s kinda nice.

[@byzaha1238]

I personally use the Apple HomePod Mini and HomeKit, yes it may be limited to a certain amount of accessories but it's a lot safer, as it processes requests on device instead of using the cloud. I would recommend using a smart light switch instead of a smart bulb, as I have found out the hard way that when you have people over, they use the light switch and desync everything.

[@tigerfanwoot]

Epic Video! Could you do a video for those of us that are about to build a new home? Things to think about like power and data placement and any other ways to more cleanly integrate home automation with new construction?

[@MakeMoneyGuide]

Officially, you're one of my favorite KZbinrs out here!

[@ThePaternalPartner]

Thank you Reed! This is the explanation I was looking for! 🙌

[@christineharris9706]

Love your videos! Fyi- we went to buy a smart lock and loved the features of the Lockly, but had no idea we needed a hub in order to use wifi (was never brought up on the reviews I had watched). Most stores don't carry the hub. A bit disappointed, but are happy with our second choice.

[@MrRoguetech]

WiFi should be generally avoided for home automation, for several reasons but intercompatibility is one of them. If you want (or will want) to have the whole house working together - lock, door sensor, motion sensor, lights, garage door, etc., etc. - then WiFi in general won't cut it. Use an automation hub like Hubitat or Home Assistant. Steep learning curve, but if you can get over the hump without setting it on fire out of aggravation, it's worth it. Another reason to avoid WiFi is security. My fellow anti-WiFiers tend to over-state the security threat. Use separate routers for "smart devices" from your phones and computers, and it's not that big of a deal. Hack my light bulb, and worse case some loser in the Czech Republic can annoyingly blink my lights until I turn off the hub. But I do care if they can open my door. There will come a day when (saavy) burglars will purchase door codes and addresses off the dark web. I'd never buy a lock with WiFi or a proprietary hub. I'd recommend Z-Wave for locks - it's more secure and tends to be a bit more robust than ZigBee.

[@blackkira696]

@@MrRoguetech this is good advice and the first one that should be always mentioned. Im planning to make smart house but not all at once so I do need something that shouldn't have compatible issues with other devices.

[@ProjectSOG]

Great video, Reed! Looking forward to automating my home one we move in. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge!

[@a1exk]

Loved the creepy grandma when she was outside in the dark and your reaction👌😂

[@robertbankhead8661]

You're awesome, I'm an Alexa fan and considering adding SmartThings as well. We finish our new house next month so this hits very timely for me. Why not go deep on the Alexa/SmartThings first.......... Thanks again for great videos.

[@MrRoguetech]

NOOOOOOOOooooooo!!!! NOT SMARTTHINGS!!! Sorry, enough caps. SmartThings is... Dysfunctional. A little history. SmartThings started out as a Kickstarter, and Samsung bought them to be their flagship smart line. They had Connect, Family Hub, Bixby... SmartThings was their 5TH smart platform, and NONE worked together. ST was meant to fix that with one system to rule them all. So they added SmartThings support to their TVs, and all was well in the world. Then they released a patch that broke compatibility. Rather than fix it - or stop marketing them as "SmartThings compatible" - they rebranded Connect as SmartThings Connect, with the original SmartThings as "Classic". Two completely different systems. That was... I dunno, like 8 years ago, but they are now (like, right now), turning off Classic. Problem is, they have waffled on the direction of Connect so much that IHOP is more worried than Nest. That said, SmartThings (Connect) is super easy. But also very limited in what it can do. It is a good entry platform to get your feet wet and learn some of the concepts. If you can afford to waste a hundred dollars on a starter hub - and willing to risk being jerked around - then go for it. Otherwise, go with Hubitat or maybe Home Assistant. Steeper learning curve, but they're platforms that will let to experiment and grow to your heart's content.

[@MrRoguetech]

Also, I recommend Lutron Caseta for switches, especially in new construction. Lights and switches are a topic of their own, but short rule of thumb... If you want color, use smart bulbs. Otherwise, use smart switches. The advantage with Caseta, aside from being a well established and bullet-proof platform, is they have remotes that look the same as the switches, so you can have the same styling whether it controls dumb lights, smart lights, or your robot vacuum. But you will need to pick a hub first. SmartThings uses the normal Caseta bridge (and goes through the cloud), but Hubitat and HASS use the Caseta Pro for local control.

[@pearlgirl6150]

I would love to see more details on that light strip progress bar setup!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks, I'll have to go over that in more detail in another video!

[@buddyroach]

u got a cool channel here. dont see too many that specialize in smart homes.

[@krispy888]

Hey Reed. Great video. Do you have a seperate video on how to create the strip light into a progress bar? Thanks

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks! Not yet, soon though.

[@Doodmeister0]

Smart Home Solver Reed, what kind of light is that vertical strip ?

[@krispy888]

@@Doodmeister0 I did some research and only found LIFX could do this using their strip light. I'm happy to share a video?

[@gunnblaze]

Doodieeful i had the same question.

[@averycantrell8222]

@@krispy888 can you share that video?

[@bamc3835]

could u do a video on what complete smart home setup scenario would be great for a new build/home in the process of building?

[@Pisolithus]

I loved this video helped a lot with figuring every thing out

[@brunocastelo74]

Another great video Reed. Congrats.

[@1975mastergames]

The production value for these vids is kinda crazy

[@sumeetsandhu228]

Thank you for putting this together. Extremely helpful!

[@AshikSatheesh]

A wonderful intro to smart homes. Thank you.

[@ChronosCooper]

Video is long? Reed, this video is comprehensive. Its amazing and I loved the sum up at the end. Very informative. Thanks man. Ama put it in my "store" playlist for reference.

[@DanielLee1]

1:00 - I have that Infinity Cube. Would recommend the Bastion Infinity Cube. Very nice.

[@Idontknowwhattodo600]

Everyone gangster until the power goes out

[@Grandmaster813]

😂😂

[@TriniDaChief]

Subbed and liked. Best video I’ve found on KZbin so far. Thanks.

[@BartoszPunczek]

świetnie się to ogląda i można z tego kanału wyciągnąć naprawdę masę przydatnych porad. Tak trzymać i czekam na więcej treści. Pozdrawiam

[@Germancode]

I just watched 3 minutes of advertising to support you

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thank you Luis I really appreciate it!

[@1982MCI]

And I didn’t get to watch anything except for one 15 second clip at the very beginning, I feel left out now, lol 😝

[@DrNick1401]

there are ways to get around this ;-) browser add-ons

[@Germancode]

@@DrNick1401 I know adblockers but I wanted to support him dude....

[@DrNick1401]

@@Germancode i know, just messing with you, and him

[@blessedprince883]

You are doing a pretty nice job. Please can you do a video on how to set up a smart home without internet connection. If you've already do such videos, can you help me locate them?

[@kendoglarson5419]

You are one slick Dude. Amazing stuff....really love your insight.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks, I appreciate that!

[@liudanchen9450]

we are a smart home manufacture from china, produce devices for GE, ZOOZ, please do not hesitate to contact me to take more smart home devices if you need it.

[@ErikMoody]

Great video, the compatibility section helped out a bunch. Thanks!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Glad it helped! Thanks!

[@liudanchen9450]

we are a smart home manufacture from china, produce devices for GE, ZOOZ, please do not hesitate to contact me to take more smart home devices if you need it.

[@billjoe4330]

I’ve been wanting to setup home automation for a while. Super helpful!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

I'm glad to hear it was helpful!

[@MrRoguetech]

Plan carefully. If you just want a few lights, then no big deal, but if you want to wire the whole house... Plan carefully. There are three major decisions to make. The first is lighting. Smart bulbs or smart switches. Use bulbs if you want color, otherwise use switches. And don't think of color as party lights, rather temperature shade - I could no longer live without having the lights change to orange in the evening. I use switches for the outside spot lights and garage. (And bathroom, but at the time, I would have needed to sell the house to afford multiple candelabra smart RGB bulbs.) Everywhere else, I use smart bulbs. The second decision is the hub. I recommend Hubitat, but it doesn't have good remote functionality and the UI is clunky. If you need easy remote access (or glossy screens), maybe Home Assistant. The third decision is protocol. Zigbee or Z-Wave isnt an important choice, since you can use both with Home Assistant (with another dongle) or with Hubitat. However, WiFi is better suited for Google Home or Alexa. Personally, I recommend avoiding WiFi in general.

[@liudanchen9450]

we are smart home manufacture from china, please do not hesitate to contact me to take more smart home devices if you need.

[@warhammer9300]

Always informative and thanks for the laughs.

[@julianandyvonne]

This is the video I'm sending to my friends who are considering starting a smart home. Exactly what I was looking for :) Keep up the good work

[@SmartHomeSolver]

I really appreciate it! Thank you so much!

[@filipinocanadianbrotvchann3855]

You got me as a subscriber!thank you for giving honest reviews and for your hardwork!godbless

[@DJHayra]

This is a great video man. Thank you for the useful info

[@logantraxler7]

One of the most underrated KZbin channels:

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks I really appreciate that!

[@logantraxler7]

Smart Home Solver No problem!

[@BudsSmartHome]

Nicely done Reed. You covered a lot of ground in this video. Wow! that is a Creepy Grandma for sure!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Haha thanks!

[@liudanchen9450]

we are a smart home manufacture from china, produce devices for GE, ZOOZ, please do not hesitate to contact me to take more smart home devices if you need it.

[@dk0r51]

Concise & Comprehensive --excellent knowledge drop ❣️

[@boriskoblents8586]

I hope one of the videos shows the priority list of what you would get in what order if you were on a budget.

[@mcbreezycrew5562]

Hey Man I love your content ,and it came to my mind to open a business reselling smart home appliances

[@benjamingoulet3864]

Awesome video!! Exactly what I was looking for !!! Every piece was helpful for sure!! *subscribed* and will definitely be back for more lol

[@dakotacx]

Home Assistant doesn't have native support for Wyze devices but using Wyzesense and HA-Wyzeapi you can get around that. I have the bridge plugged into my Pi and the sensors work great.

[@RealKevGotEm]

I bought Kasa switches they work great

[@CM-gd2cc]

Very informative! Thanks for sharing!

[@DiegoPlentz]

Have you ever tried to automate health-related things like air monitors, purifiers and humidifiers? Might be a good idea for a video :)

[@alexren4252]

having a smart home is my dream rn, its like having a robot that u can say this to, an it does it for you, so cool

[@jobacs2188]

Great video, thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[@airiharuki4432]

Oh i still love my ordinary light switches and etc thanks :)

[@SBinVancouver]

Leviton has recently come out with no-neutral dimmer switches. They require a single plug-in hub (of sorts) that supports something like 25 switches.

[@jpsolucionesyclimas5715]

thks , very helpfull videos , im starting with the big changes of make a smart home , and u helps a lot.

[@TheJamesJones]

I would agree with your Rachio comment. I thought I would use more, so I added it to SmartThings and Alexa. While the device gets triggered all the time, rarely do I use voice to do so, and if I am on my phone, I’ll just use the Rachio app. That is if I want to trigger manually. I guess it could be nice if you want to add to a routine on motion, like if the neighbors outdoor cats annoy you. [shakes fist in air]

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Haha yeah for sure! I'm glad to hear you feel the same way.

[@suakram1041]

We

[@Talal_alshamrani]

Thanks for your video Reed Can we see a video on smart curtain or smart curtain motors comparison!!?

[@SmartHomeSolver]

I wrote that down on my list of ideas a few days ago, and I'm starting to think about how to make it happen. It still may be a while, but it's in the works. 😀

[@BowmanEsquire]

What light strip do I need to use them as progress bars? Great videos by the way

[@herrhyde]

Thanks for the guide. But I don't understand some things: 1. What brands I'm supposed to use? Like, there are Amazon Basics products, Nest, and other brands that manufacture smart devices. 2. What device or application can help me arrange all the devices (I suppose it's called Hub) 3. ZigBee or Wifi? That's all I've been wondering about.

[@markdance574]

Our system is Lifx , Ring cameras and ring pro door bell with several Echo shows - with a Nest thermostat and I use a v2 Samsung smart things bridge with Samsung v2 motion sensors to trigger the Lifx lights upon motion . My only issue is my Sky Modem is annoying so I think that’s my next upgrade . Couldn’t recommend Lifx more - IFTTT is ok but I find it really annoying - prob because I’m not as clever as Reed Good video 👍

[@markdance574]

Reed what are your thoughts on the best new WiFi mesh systems ?

[@sixflagsgreatescapedance]

All of my Light Bulbs, because I dont make much money. Are cheap $5 dollar dimable lights from walmart, and im just gonna say i love them! They dont change colors tho.

[@iwantosavemoney]

Man their is so much to know but I think this stuff is so awesome

[@Noneyobusiness7822]

as much as i love all the smart home tech, working out all the kinks and getting my family to learn commands etc. has got my brain melting lol

[@liudanchen9450]

we are a smart home manufacture from china, produce devices for GE, ZOOZ, please do not hesitate to contact me to take more smart home devices if you need it.

[@araciao5593]

This vid is my introduction on starting a smart home!

[@shoaibtanim]

Do a beginner guide to Apple HomeKit, from where to start, what are compatible, how to setup etc.

[@violetpup4272]

Thank you for making this. We purchased a home with a few smart features but they have it locked down to where we have to pay for the security service to use then so trying to figure out how to get it all switched over. They have zwave stuff and so angry all the features are useless now. I am thinking of getting the smart things hub. We did replace the door bell with Nest and one thermostat so kinda have different connections.

[@crocsrus3118]

Can you do an updated video for 2023 on starting a Smart Home please!? Especially with Matter becoming widely used in 2023

[@EricPenn1147]

Awesome rundown! Thank you!

[@ronm6585]

Great video Reed, thanks.

[@jennifervinson7285]

7:07 BEST PART OF THE WHOLE VIDEO...lmao. Great video, helped me look into a few options I was not aware of as well as rule out options.

[@stoyanyovchev7723]

Yep if everyone installs every possible smart device in home nothing bad can happen. Wh what bright future is ahead of us.

[@kw9568]

Most of this went over my head! I need a "how to" video with instructions.

[@markoviik3324]

The feeling when ur still in your parents home and thought this was some how to start and not a whole house thing. Still great video and got me thinking about the light switch instead of bulb but got to say not looking forwards to some construction with light switch😩😩