Consumers in the U.S. will almost double the amount they spend on smart home products and systems in the years ahead, with revenues in the home automation market expected to increase from $76.6 billion in 2018 to a whopping $151.4 billion by the year 2024.
In comparison, this represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.02 percent, even though the entire world economy is only forecasted to grow 5.4 percent in the near future (with many other sectors anticipating growth rates that are much lower, like the postal and courier industry which is closer to 3.78 percent).
Why is home automation currently so hot? Answering this question begins with first understanding exactly what home automation is, as well as the benefits Orange County smart home companies can offer homeowners.. Let’s start with the former.
What Is Home Automation?
In simple terms, home automation involves equipping your Orange County residence with an interactive system that enables you to control various features and/or electronic devices via your smartphone, tablet, a control pad, touch screen, or remote.
The two basic premises of home automation are 1) the ability to control your home-based devices either on demand or by a set schedule (automatically), and 2) being able to control these devices even when you aren’t physically within the confines of your home by giving you remote access to its various features.
A few of the features you can choose to control with a smart home system include:
- Lighting, both indoors and out
- Climate control devices, which includes thermostats and gas fireplaces
- Appliances, from your coffee pot to your washing machine and more
- Entertainment systems and/or home theater systems
- Alarm systems
- Gate and home entry access
What Home Automation Looks Like
You may be thinking that all of this sounds great, but what does home automation look like in real life? How can smart home installation system ramp up your Orange County home?
Envision having the light next to your favorite reading chair come on every night at 7 pm, right before you normally take a seat to get lost in your favorite book. Or picture your window blinds closing automatically at noon, just before the sun reaches them and threatens to send the heat in your place soaring to unbearable levels.
Maybe for you, home automation is more about the ability to control your home’s devices on demand, versus setting them on auto-pilot. In this case, a smart home system may look like cameras and lights you can turn on when you’re clear across town or clicking the fireplace on even while at work because your loved one is home sick on the couch and would appreciate a little extra warmth.
Home automation can take on any number of different looks, each one dependent upon the features you decide to implement in your Orange County home.
Benefits of Home Automation and Home Control for Orange County Homes
What are some of the reasons you may want to install a home automation or home control system? Here are a few to consider.
A Centralized Control Unit
One of the features that many of our Orange County homeowners enjoy is a centralized control unit. This means that almost any device in your home that requires electricity to operate can be set up in a way that allows you to control it whether you are physically in your home or halfway around the world tending to business or vacationing with family. Forgot to turn off the coffee pot before you left home for the day? That’s okay. With one click, you can still set it if you’re miles away. Want to let someone through the gate, even if you’re out of town. You can do that with a home automation system too.
Automatic Functionality
Not only does having a home automation system installed in your Orange County home give you the ability to control your home’s environment and devices from literally anywhere in the world, but it also enables you to set certain features on automatic pilot. No more trying to remember to turn certain appliances or devices on or off at a certain time of the day, because your smart home will take care of those things for you. All you have to do is “set it and forget it.” This leaves your mind open for other important tasks, such as remembering to pick up your spouse’s birthday gift or getting to your business meeting on time.
Improved Energy Efficiency
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that 51 percent of a home’s energy is used for heating and air conditioning. Not surprisingly then, the most expensive utilities are electricity and natural gas. Home automation can make these energy sources more efficient by adjusting them when no one is home. A smart home installation can also improve energy efficiency by automatically turning off lights and electronic devices when they aren’t being actively used, or by employing daylight harvesting tactics so your home makes better use of natural light.
Reduced Utility Costs
Ever have a fight with your children or spouse about leaving lights on even when they’re not in the room, needlessly raising your utility expenses? Or maybe you’ve been halfway to the office before remembering that you didn’t close the shades and, in true SoCal fashion, the temps are expected to near triple digits. Normally, both of these scenarios would result in an increase in your utility bills the following month. But with a smart home, you can save yourself some cash because you can either take care of these issues yourself right from your smartphone, or program your Orange County home to automatically take these types of actions on its own. In this way, a home automation system can help pay for itself.
Increased Comfort
Envision how refreshed you’ll feel when your shades are automatically lifted each morning before you even open your eyes, helping your body wake up naturally to the sunlight that filters into your bedroom. Picture how relaxed you’ll feel when your favorite music is playing softly in the background the moment you walk in the door after a tough day at work. Both of these scenarios (as well as many others) are completely possible with the implementation of a smart home system in your Orange County home.
Enhanced Security (And Peace of Mind)
Even if you have your home equipped with an alarm system that is monitored off-site, sometimes being able to physically see inside and outside your home provides a greater peace of mind (such as when you’re at work but your child calls you frightened because he or she heard a strange noise). With a home automation system, you can still look at your cameras one by one to ensure that everything is safe and secure, even if you can’t be there to physically go room to room. Or maybe you can’t remember if you locked your door when you left for work. No worries. Your smart home will tell you and, if you did forget, you can also tell it to lock it for you. Problem solved.
Ease of Use
While some Orange County homeowners are concerned that the ins and outs of their smart home installation will be difficult to learn, the reality is that operating your home’s automation is as simple as using an app on your smartphone or engaging or disengaging your home’s alarm system via the key pad. With a short tutorial from one of our experienced and professional staff, you’ll soon be able to change your home’s environment and control your electronic devices as easily as you drive a car or ride a bike. It really is that user friendly.
Access to Future Home Automation System Functions
Advances continue to be made in smart home technology and Orange County smart home companies like Good Sounds are constantly adapting, but equipping your home with this type of system now sets you up to also implement the latest home automation features and devices once they’re released. For instance, one of the upcoming changes that smart home experts say will “foster independence and make everyday life so simple” is voice-activated technology. You won’t even need to go to a control panel or use a remote to get your house to respond. Just tell it what you want it to do and it will do it.
Look for Orange County Home Automation Companies with the Ability to Customize Systems
Though a home automation system offers a number of benefits for Orange County residents, it is still extremely important to customize its features to your own specific wants and needs. Why? Because not everyone appreciates or finds value in the same things.
For instance, some people like their home to always be a cool 68 degrees. Others prefer it a bit warmer, like 78 or above. Still more people want the temps in their home to fluctuate throughout the day so it results in the highest amount of efficiency and cost savings. Basically, what is most important to one person isn’t necessarily important to another, so having the ability to customize your climate to your own personal preferences helps you create an environment most comfortable for you.
The same is true when it comes to other typical home automation features, such as the loudness or softness of the music when it is turned on, how bright or dim the inside and outside lights are when they are illuminated, or if the alarm sets automatically at 8 pm or much later, like 1 or 2 am for those who are night owls.
Customization also matters aesthetically. In other words, if your home has a modern design, you want a home automation system that has a modern look as well so it fits right in. Conversely, if your home has more of a country décor, you’ll need a smart home system that works with that type of design instead.
In short, the more you personalize your home automation system to your family’s preferences and schedules, the more satisfied you’ll be with the features it provides.
How Many Orange County Home Automation Companies Have 35+ Years of Experience?
If you’re interested in learning more about the value home automation can offer when installed in your Orange County home, or if you’re ready to get started so you can begin to enjoy the benefits of having a centralized control unit, automatic functionality, improved energy efficiency, reduced utility expenses, increased comfortability, ease of use, and access to future home technology advances, contact Good Sounds today.
We have 35+ years of experience in the home entertainment and home automation industry, providing Southern California customers only the best in audiovisual programming, automation, design support, and smart home installation.
In fact, it has been our desire to provide Orange County residents high-quality home systems since day one, when our founder Mitch Goodz realized that, in 1980, there was a huge void in the high-end home building market. Homes south of Los Angeles were being constructed in locations with absolutely breathtaking views, but they all seemed to lack the same thing: a high-quality entertainment system.
Since Mitch understands that great memories are built around music shared with family and friends, he set out to change this, which is when Good Sounds was born. Now, in addition to equipping new homes with the best and most progressive home entertainment systems and smart home systems, Good Sounds also specializes in updating already built Orange County homes with advanced and customized systems.
So, whether your home is in the beginning stages and only exists as a blueprint hung on the wall, or it’s been the place where you’ve laid your head for 20 or 30 years, Good Sounds offers a variety of home automation options. This enables you to choose the ones best suited for your particular residence, as well as your family and lifestyle, ultimately giving you the smart home of your dreams.
Because we’re small and family-owned, our founder, Mitch, is personally involved with each and every project. Plus, we specialize solely in high-end residences, providing Orange County homeowners only the best in workmanship, products, and services—using only technology that is time-tested and approved.
Contact us today and let’s talk about what we can do for you. Our customer service and attention to detail simply can’t be beat.
