Top Home Gadgets to Really Wow a Buyer
and are really cool to just have!
Kevo by Kwikset
The premise of a smart lock is simple: Quit carrying around little chunks of metal to unlock your door, and instead be greeted by an open lock through the magic of technology. Unfortunately, it’s also one of those futuristic devices we’ve been promised for years that seem to be taking their time arriving.
There are only handfuls you can buy now, and not all of them are as “smart” as you’d think. Kwikset’s Kevo was one of the first smart dead bolts to hit stores, and also the first to require neither key nor keypad. Instead it relies on a Bluetooth signal from your smartphone to automatically unlock and lock as you come and go. Using this technology, the $219 Kevo promises to make your life easier and more secure.
Nest Home Thermostat
We know, we know, who cares about their thermostat? Well, not too long ago your amazing smartphone used to be a clunky handset wired to the wall; we've come a long way, and there's no reason controlling your home's basic functions should be any more difficult than checking your email. But Nest does even more than turn on your AC: by learning your habits and your home's unique thermal profile, it can automatically save you energy in ways a standard programmable thermostat can't, and provides you an energy usage history to boot. It's gorgeous and thoughtfully designed, top to bottom, which is part of the reason why installation far less intimidating than we expected. The 2nd generation version is even better looking than the first model, and is now easier than ever to connect to your home's heating system.
