A guide to make your home smart and increase its value

Posted on: Aug 27, 2021 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

A guide to make your home smart and increase its value

Do you know why smartphones and smart TVs are called so? They are the perfect examples of how far technology has come. Gadgets today can predict behaviour and share suggestions based on that pattern. You can talk to different appliances and tell them what to do instead of manually switching different buttons. Which means, a smart home is essentially a home with many such gadgets and appliances that make your life simpler and safer. A smart home lets you handle common everyday tasks effortlessly, so that you can spend more quality time with loved ones. And once you avail an electronic equipment insurance policy, along with home insurance, you are all set for a safe ride.

Evolution of Smart Home Solutions in India

Smart gadgets started making an entry into the Indian market from 2000 onwards to match the growing demand for controlling gadgets remotely. But sluggish internet speed and lack of awareness about installations were issues that remained. However, in the last few years, both those problems have been resolved. Now, people need smart plugs to convert their regular gadgets into smart gadgets. Research on Global Markets , a global research firm, estimated that the smart home market in India will be worth INR 4.2 trillion by 2023, and metro cities are expected to drive that growth. So, if you too want to be a part of the smart home movement, read on.

Here’s How to Start and Turn Your Home into a Smart Home

Wi-Fi connectivity:

This is the first step as all smart gadgets will be connected to your phone so you can control them even when on the move. To ensure that you are always connected, you need a source of high-speed internet, and what is better than Wi-Fi for this purpose?

Start with smart bulbs:

Brighten up your day with internet-enabled LED bulbs. You can schedule them as per your wish and control both the colours and brightness level.

Motion-sensing lights or switches:

As the name suggests, they detect motion. So, say goodbye to walking in darkness as the lights will turn on the moment someone moves in their radar. Similarly, it will switch off when there is no movement for some time, saving electricity. They can be installed indoors or outdoors and come in handy for surveillance purposes as well.

Smart plugs for old appliances:

These easy-to-install devices can turn most appliances into smart gadgets. They are available in different socket sizes and power ratings. Once you plug it in, you need to configure it with an app and voila, your AC or geyser will become smart appliances.

Smart speaker:

Say yes to the wonders of voice recognition. A smart speaker provides you voice support. Its integrated virtual assistant lets you do hands-free activations with the help of keywords.

Alexa:

So, how to manage all these smart gadgets? Say hello to Amazon Alexa. This device comes in handy when you are not around, and your family members need to give commands. Attaching it with a universal remote removes the requirement of a smart plug. Just say, "Alexa, change the channel" or "Play my favourite songs" or "Reduce the room temperature". And she will do it!

Google Home:

While Google Nest is a line of smart home products, Google Home helps you set up and control Google Nest. This facilitates your conversation with the Google Assistant, which is Google's virtual assistant, just like Alexa is for Amazon and Siri is for Apple.

Now, how to protect all these electronic devices? You need electronic equipment insurance.

What is Electronic Equipment Insurance?

Electronic equipment like computers, laptops, ACs, refrigerators and washing machines are part of every household today. While you obviously take care while handling these, you have minimal control over accidents and unforeseen events that can cause damage to these electrical and electronic gadgets. Repairing or replacement can be quite costly,which is why having electronic equipment insurance is recommended.

What does it cover?

Any damage to your electronic equipment due to accidents, natural calamities or electrical and mechanical breakdown is covered. Expenses incurred due to repair or replacement of the equipment or parts are covered. The policy also covers the loss of external data such as drives and the cost of restoring the data lost.

Exclusions

Normal wear and tear due to regular use are not covered.
Aesthetic defects like scratches on painted/enamelled surfaces.
If the cause of damage is due to own negligence during use, the loss is not covered.
If the charges of surveyors, architects or consulting engineers exceed 3% of the claim amount, they are excluded from coverage.
Debris removal, loss of rent, loss of earnings, any applicable deductible as per the policy, are outside the scope of coverage.

Conclusion

India is still in a nascent stage when it comes to smart homes. But modern homeowners are increasingly demanding smart solutions for lighting, speakers, indoor regulators, surveillance, etc. So, if you are one of them, it's high time you start implementing the above solutions. To assist you with this, there are several players in the market now as well, which provide services for smart homes. And once your home becomes smart, protect it with an electronic equipment insurance policy.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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