Tech Home Improvement Upgrades for 2024

Today's technology offers more options than ever. Not only can those upgrades make your everyday life easier, but they can increase the value of your Raleigh property and allow you to maximize your home's selling price when you put it on the market. Take a look at the best tech home improvement upgrades for 2024 and how they can make your home more comfortable and convenient.

Smart thermostats are far from new technology, but as you explore Raleigh houses for sale, you'll find that they've been added to increasing properties. Smart thermostats connect to smartphones via apps, providing users with the ability to set the temperature or monitor it from a distance. Not only does that mean that you'll know if something goes wrong, including an unexpected power outage, but it also makes it possible for you to maintain lower levels of climate control during the day — hotter during the summer, colder in the winter — and still have your home at the ideal temperature when you return home. With a smart thermostat, you can often change the temperature directly from your smartphone, so you won't have to leave your bed or couch to adapt to your preferred indoor climate.

Depending on your technology, you can also preload settings into your smart thermostat for different times of the day, ensuring that your home automatically reaches the optimal temperature at the right time. For example, you could drop the temperature overnight, then raise it again at the beginning of the day.

If you want to control your home's ambiance, smart lighting is one of the best ways to create exactly the setting you're looking for. Not only does smart lighting provide you with the ability to turn your lights on and off from your phone, but many smart bulbs will also allow you to control the level of lighting: dimming the lights in the evening to create a romantic ambiance or turning them brighter during the day, when you're trying to get work done. You can even use lights with different colors: remove blue light in the evening when you're trying to wind down or focus on a specific color to create precisely the look you want. Smart lights can also be controlled from a distance, so you can turn on additional lighting for security as needed.

Traditional door locks rely on a key, meaning anyone who acquires that key can get inside your home. Smart locks, on the other hand, only allow in the people you want to let in. You can choose your level of technology and security. With some locks, you may need to enter a code to access the property. Other smart locks will let you open the door from your phone, providing access to friends or family members on a one-time basis without giving up the key code to the house. You can also change those codes whenever you need or even use biometric locks that will only let in the specific people you register in the app, which can create a higher level of security for you and your family.

As part of your smart home design, consider upgrading your network infrastructure. It's not just about the internet speed, though. Using the fastest internet available in your area can help you connect more effectively with everyone in your home. It's also about structured wiring that ensures you are connected throughout the home. In areas where you often use high-speed internet, it can be much more useful to be hard-wired rather than relying on your Wi-Fi connection. That may mean, for example, that you run cables directly to your television or in your office. Furthermore, ensure your home infrastructure is set up to be as secure as possible, protecting your family and the devices you connect to the network.

With smart plugs, you can turn any device in your home into a smart device. Just plug that device into the convenient wall outlet, and you can use your phone to easily turn those devices on and off. Smart plugs mean you don't have to have specific, connected technology for many devices you use daily.

Upgrading your appliances is often a great way to ensure you increase your home's value and improve your quality of life. New appliances can decrease energy usage and offer new features. Modern appliances may provide a smart twist. Preheat your oven directly from your phone, let your fridge tell you when you're running low on staples, or get an alert straight to your phone when your dishwasher isn't working correctly. With the right smart appliances, you can remain more connected in your everyday life, enhancing your ability to control every aspect of your home. You can often check quickly to ensure you have turned off appliances when you aren't using them or get notifications when they aren't working properly, which means you can take action faster.

Connected entertainment systems can help enhance your enjoyment of any room in your home. A connected speaker, for example, allows you to easily control the volume on your television or stream music directly from your phone without looking for a separate device. Whether you're ready to get the party started or looking for the perfect music for a romantic evening, the answers are in your pocket: no chasing down a remote or looking for a CD required.

Many homes rely on connected hub devices that let users easily control their smart features and additions with voice commands. Smart hubs have become popular additions to many homes. You can find a hub that allows you to change the lighting or temperature, ask questions, or turn on music, all with voice commands rather than using a device directly. With a smart hub, you can easily take care of those changes even when your hands are full.

Smart home technology streamlines your life and substantially enhances your overall convenience. If you're looking for the home of your dreams, Hodge Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty. is here to help. Get in touch today to connect with luxury real estate agents in Raleigh, NC, who can help you find a home with the latest tech upgrades.