"How much does a smart home cost? How much would it cost to turn my apartment into a smart apartment? How much does smart lighting cost?"
These are all questions for our team of engineers. However, in this blog post, we will openly discuss the price of a "basic" package and explain what factors influence the cost of a smart home or smart apartment.
How is the price of installing smart subsystems (smart home) determined?
The cost of adapting a conventional living space into a "smart apartment" or "smart home" depends on:
1. The stage of integration (whether the apartment is under construction or being renovated)2. The square footage of the space
3. The chosen subsystems of the Smart Home offered by Ion Solutions
It’s important to clarify the following: automating a residential property with a system that integrates selected subsystems is NOT the same as buying gadgets that perform one or more functions via a wi-fi network.
First and foremost, it's essential to explain this because the cost of automation and the cost of equipping an apartment with gadgets differ significantly in setup, integration, maintenance, warranty... Simply put, these two approaches have nothing in common except (let’s call it) the ultimate goal. And that is – to simplify everyday actions like turning on the lights, raising the blinds, opening the gate, turning off appliances remotely, setting a specific scenario (e.g., turning off all subsystems when you go to bed).
Automation Goals
The primary goal of automating residential spaces is the efficient use of resources such as water and electricity. We've already written about reduced energy consumption after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The best indicator of reduced electricity usage after integrating a Smart Home system is your electricity bills. By tracking them, you'll be able to see exactly how much electricity you've saved on a monthly/quarterly/annual basis. This will give you the opportunity to see the benefits of your investment in your planned monthly household budget. A less visible advantage of such an investment is a step towards an eco-friendly lifestyle. This benefit is the most significant as it directly affects our quality of life in the future.
Investing in a Smart Home
Investing in a Smart Home system has never been out of reach for most residents. For example, the current price of integrating a "package" of subsystems that includes:
- Smart lighting- Smart sockets
- Alexa intelligent assistant
- Smart blinds and a Smart lock for the front door,
if integrated into a 60-square-meter apartment during the adaptation phase before the first owners move in, costs approximately 1300 EUR.
The price is influenced by the number of windows and doors on which you want to install smart blinds, the number of smart sockets needed for your apartment, the type of lighting you desire, the type of lock you've chosen, and which best fits your style...
It's also important to note that the price of automation integration changes depending on market values and rising costs of materials and systems from our suppliers.
After integrating the Smart Home system, you will notice that you spend less time on daily activities because you no longer need to raise and lower blinds or turn off lights in every room your family members have been in. You won't even need to lock the doors. And when you go on a trip, all major energy consumers (such as the water heater) will be systemically turned off until you reactivate the water heater through the Magiesta smartphone app, so you'll have hot water when you return home.
Besides saving electricity, water, and time, there's another benefit:
The impact of integrating a Smart Home system on increasing property value
Recently, the number of apartments or houses with complete automation has been growing in the real estate market. At the same time, interest in this type of modern residential space is also rising. Residential space automation is currently viewed as "luxury" equipment. Consequently, the price of properties with integrated automation subsystems is increasing. This applies not only to new builds, where a smart apartment is just part of the entire smart building system, but also to renovated apartments being sold or rented.
Return on Investment Period for a Smart Apartment
The expected return on investment period for integrating smart home subsystems is certainly one of the most frequently asked questions.
The automation of large properties requires the integration of many more subsystems, multifunctional panels, sensors, and accompanying construction work for adaptation. The savings in natural resources, in this case, are much greater, so we can confidently say that the return on investment period is quite short.
On the other hand, if a small apartment is being automated during renovation, only one multifunctional panel, a few sensors, and a few smart sockets are typically needed. The costs aren't high, and the return on investment will be noticeable through your bills in a very short period."
