HomeKit Weekly: I'm building a new house, so I have a lot of HomeKit decisions to make
A few weeks ago my wife and I made a contract on land, so we are looking to build a new house in the next year. Of course, HomeKit will be an important part of it. I plan to rethink everything about my HomeKit environment for this new home and start from scratch from a software point of view. Are you building a new house? Follow me for tips and tricks on creating the HomeKit environment during the house building process. Some of the products will be installed by the builder, but I will install others after I move into the house.
HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything related to Apple's smart home framework.
New HomeKit router?
The first thing I think about is what I want to do for my home network. I'll run CAT6 cable to every TV location in the house for our Apple TVs, but there's a lot more to consider as well. I am currently using two AmpliFi Alien routers to power my home network. Still, I'm considering upgrading to the eero 6 Pro to take advantage of HomeKit router technology. HomeKit router technology hasn't changed much since its release, so I'm not 100% sure what I'm going to do here. I've enjoyed having the Alien AmpliFi for the past few years, especially with its built-in VPN when I'm away from home.
Door locks
I have had several variations of the August lock over the past few years, so I will likely continue to use it for our front door. I liked using the VOCOlinc for our back door, so I'll probably be buying another one for our new home.
Of all the HomeKit products I own, having the ability to automatically unlock our doors has been the best smart home experience yet.
Outdoor cameras
Outdoor cameras are something I have to think about. I like eufy outdoor cameras, but with new build I have the option to install wired cameras so I don't have to worry about their power supply. I could install a few Circle View cameras from Logitch, but if I wanted to change cameras in the future, I would have to run the power cord again in the attic.
I'll probably stick with eufy cameras for the sake of simplicity, but it's definitely something to consider. You have to weigh the scale to never worry about battery life (or installing the eufy solar panel) or have more difficulty upgrading cameras in the future.
bell
I use the eufy wired doorbell in our current house, and while I like there, it is not compatible with HomeKit. I plan to have my electrician install the Logitech HomeKit doorbell instead of the one they would typically install, but also install a standard chime.
While the eufy doorbell was fantastic, I would love to be able to run HomeKit automations using a motion sensor on the door.
Security system
I have been using the iota mansion for a year and cannot say enough good things about it. I will continue to use abode, but I could upgrade to the smart security kit version which does not include a camera / motion sensor built into the base station. I love these features of the iota, but I will be installing this version in my wiring closet so that I don't need these features.
I will continue to use the thin door sensors. I prefer not to have to drill holes in my doors, and these strips have worked great with my existing system. I will continue to use abode's premium monitoring thanks to the peace of mind it brings, LTE backup and 24/7 monitoring station.
I will add some home motion sensors, glass break sensors, keypad and smoke monitors to complete my system. HomeKit compatibility increases the usefulness of the system as you can use their motion and door sensors as triggers inside HomeKit to trigger automations.
Thermostat
I have two thermostats in my current thermostat. One is a nest and the other is an ecobé. You'd think it would be an easy decision for HomeKit compatibility, but with the Starling Home Hub, a Nest thermostat becomes HomeKit compatible. My wife prefers the Nest app over the ecobee app, but I know Nest seems to settle into the Google Home app in the long run. I like the Nest app, but I don't want to use the Google Home app.
HomePod Minis
I plan to have a HomePod mini in every room of my new home as they are essential for getting the most out of HomeKit. Instead of relying on an iPhone to access HomeKit through Siri, anyone in my house can control the smart home experience with just their voice. In just a few months with HomePod mini, it has become one of my favorite Apple devices.
And after?
We are just talking with the builders about our projects, but I plan to start buying products as I see them going on sale at 9to5Toys throughout the year.
I will be setting up a whole new "house" in HomeKit to remove any software "crud" from my current house.
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