Smarthome.com is a leading retail site specializing in selling smart home accessories and kits. However, while it cannot really be measured up equally to any other home security provider such as Frontpoint or Protect America, the site is nonetheless worth checking out. They have an astonishingly large supply of home security and home automation devices, covering a large spectrum in price and quality alike. From simple door jammers to face recognizing cameras and smart thermostats, you’ll find everything a modern home might need. There is even desktop software and smartphone apps for monitoring purposes, and since Smarthome is a retail business they can be far more flexible with their pricing, offering clearances and special discounts on a regular basis.
As of April 2022, Smarthome is no longer available.
While Smarthome’s name gives away that it’s mostly about smart home automation equipment, the safety of your home is also an important aspect covered by the company since it has a reasonably large variety of alarms, sensors and cameras on sale. Unlike other home security providers, Smarthome doesn’t tie your hands by offering only a limited amount of brands; you have full freedom to customize your defense system according to your needs. There are indoor and outdoor cameras in all shapes and sizes, including bullet cameras for businesses, doorbell cameras, and even recorders with night vision or face recognition.
The home security range is equally extensive, offering several home defense kits that include a base station and several added alarms. In case you are unsatisfied with the basic package, then it’s possible to add any corresponding motion sensors and window/door sensors or opt for a full range of environmental detectors that cover everything from fire, CO2 leaking and flooding to freezing and overheating. Still, our favorite part is the personal safety section, which includes such simple yet useful criminal deterrents as fake TV lights, door stop alarms and siren alarm padlocks for bicycles.
As the company’s name implies, home automation is where Smarthome really shines. It’s safe to say that here you’ll find a more comprehensive list of smart home devices than with any other online retailer. Our tour through the store starts with remote lighting and appliances. Every light source with an intelligent light bulb can be managed from your computer or smart device, while some unique bulbs are even capable of switching between different colors or detecting unauthorized movement. It might seem like a novelty at first, but smart light bulbs and power outlets allow you to get a firmer grasp on your energy consumption and effectively lower your bills.
The Z-Wave and Insteon smart thermostat are also designed with a green mindset as they learn the family’s preferred climate and set the temperature accordingly, avoiding wasting any precious energy. And let’s not forget about the smart door locks and garage openers. If you seek a more convenient way to smarten up your home, then stop looking at individual smart devices and purchase a full kit instead, which comes with a central controller.
Smarthome doesn’t offer a traditional monitoring service that is typical of other home security companies, which is no surprise since they are purely a retail business. Yet just because professional staff isn’t watching over your home 24/7 doesn’t necessarily mean that you are exposed to burglars: self-monitoring is still an option. The site presents several applications for desktops or smartphones (meaning you can run them on Android or iOS devices). Some of them are free while others cost extra, but in exchange the paid-for software allows deeper management of your home’s smart devices.
However, properly explaining the prices of Smarthome is impossible. The problem is that, as a retailer, Smarthome itself may change the price of individual units, and every so often present clearance sales and discounts. In case your order exceeds the $199 limit, however, the normal ground shipping is free. As for the delivery time, Smarthome promises to ship it within 1-5 days. And last but not least, the site offers customers a no-hassle return policy, meaning you can send back your purchase in 30 days for a refund.
There are a couple of points worth drawing attention to, though, and that’s the pages where Smarthome offers up potential discounts and savings. The first is via its Insteon multipack page , where it’s possible to save on average between 10-30% off the full price by purchasing any of the home automation or security devices as part of a multipack. Then there’s the refurbished equipment page , where there are savings of around 40-50% but as much as 80% to be had if you’re willing to buy individual smart home gadgets that have been returned and refurbished: in working condition and as good as new, but still technically used.
For those who may have some lingering questions left – mainly because the FAQ is surprisingly short – we recommend getting in touch with the online helpdesk; they are ready to face any questions all day and night. Alternatively you can give them a call, but only during business hours. If the problem is less urgent, submitting an email is an option as well.
Despite this, the company does at least provide a number of useful pages to help out anyone looking to make their home smart, covering everything from handy tips for beginners to a forum where those who are struggling can post questions. Smarthome even provides video tutorials both on their website and on YouTube for each of the different types of products they have available. There’s even a series of helpful buyer’s guide pages, comparing the facts and figures of available devices across the broad range of categories.
But keep in mind that Smarthome is a storefront and not a manufacturer, so they won’t be able to provide full guidance on specific smart home related topics or fully review all the available products for you.
Checking out the offers is highly recommended for home owners who consider adding smart technology to their arsenal of home defense. Even though Smarthome’s alarms aren’t grouped together in convenient packages and the service also lacks professional monitoring, you can get a clear picture about the retail value of most of the smart accessories. The prices and products presented here serve as good comparisons for goods listed by other home alarm companies. But if you are determined to choose self-monitoring, then not only will you find the best smart equipment here but also an array of monitoring apps and software. Even better, Smarthome has some personal alarms or unique gadgets that are never featured in a packaged deal, so even if you already have a contract with a home security company, you may still find some bonus accessory worth ordering from Smarthome.
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