The BEST Way to Plan Your Smart Home!

It’s time to set up my new smart home, but first I want to make a solid plan. I’ll show you my steps for planning a smart home and some important things to keep in mind, whether it’s your first automation or your 50th.

Links (affiliate):

0:00 Intro
0:26 Step 1 - Automations
2:07 Step 2 - Hub
3:28 Step 3 - Devices
5:07 Step 4 - Manual Controls
5:54 Step 5 - 3D Floorplan
6:34 Step 6 - Smart Home Quiz

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MY SETUP & GEAR
See the list of everything I use in my smart home and other favorites:

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MUSIC

Doctor Momentum by Slynk

The End by EVA

Disclaimer: Smart Home Solver was sent some devices for previous unbiased reviews. As always, our opinions are 100% our own and not influenced.

[SmartHomeSolver]

Anyone have good ideas on documentation for your smart home? Like I mentioned, I’m using a Google spreadsheet now, but not sure if that’s the best way. 🤔

[paulhibbert]

Reed, every time I think you've released the perfect video, you release a video that looks even better, has even better information in it, and is formatted in an even more enjoyable way. I hate you so much. Xxx

[LadyRenira]

I appreciate the tips here, especially since we're going to be doing a custom build soon for our new home and I'm definitely interested in integrating a lot of smart home tech that I currently can't due to the restrictions of our current house (old house, lots of cement, probably some lead paint under all the layers, etc.). I also want to say that as a female always on the male-oriented tech hobby side of things, I appreciate that you always remark upon taking your family into account (and don't just target your wife like a lot of YouTubers). It's a small thing, but thanks for that. :)

[TechWithBrett]

As a fellow tech hoarder, I understand what you are going through. I feel like we would she help our wife's find a support group so they don't go crazy. Excellent ideas! I haven't go to building the manual yet, it certainly would increase the value of my home.

[keepthetrash]

Giving your kid the old tech and patting them on the back had me rolling🤣🤣🤣

[GreatValueLando]

PERFECT TIMING. I just started watching and gathering all this info on smart home stuff and my new house is in the middle of construction so I needed a video just like this. Thanks man!

[hcarltonadams]

I really appreciate your content. I'm 65 and our new home is supposed to be done early Aug and I'm excited to begin my smart home journey. I am taking a simple approach. There will be door jam switches for the pantry closet and hallway closet, when the door is open, the light is on; I don't see anyone being in the closet when the doors are closed so that's hopefully a simple solution to those areas. Owners entry from the garage, which we will use 99% of the time is a motion activated switch that controls the ceiling fixtures. Same with the Master Bathroom water closet and master walk-in closet. If you're in those areas and moving, the lights will stay on and shut off after 5-15 minutes depending on the area. I'll probably do the same thing in the garage. I see door jam switches and motion switches as the easiest most intuitive way to automate. The water closet fan and light are on the same switch and the shower lights and fan are on the same switch; don't see ever wanting to have those lights on without the fan. Probably won't automate shower switch. I will be using Lutron Caseta switches for all kitchen under counter strips, island hanging fixtures and 6 cans. These will all be dimmers. The Family room and dining room are actually part of a great room. All the CAN lighting will be on Caseta Dimmers. The fans will be Caseta also. I have several Gen 4 Echo Dots and an Echo Show for the voice control. I have an echo flex to test and if sufficient to control things. My feeling is that the Lutron Caseta switches are basically just light switches my grandmother could learn to use without having to do any voice control stuff. Beyond that, I'm going to take it slow. If this isn't easy to use for my wife, it won't be adopted. She does use Alexa for some WEMO plugs in our rental home and seems to be happy with it until Alexa develops a hearing issue or the WEMO switches become unsynced with Alexa. That's frustrating because I can still control the switches with the WEMO app. Hopefully Lutron doesn't have that issue!!! I have ordered a Samsung Frame 65" for the living room, I am so glad you highlighted that in an earlier video, looks awesome. Maybe I'll make a video of what I'm doing and my trials and tribulations but you have why more patience for that. Underwater video is easy compared to what you're doing. I don't have to be in front of the camera and fish are simple to explain.

[ridingdutchman]

Good stuff! A spreadsheet is a great way to track your automations. However, I would include a "Status" column instead of the 3 tabs shown here. This way you can update the status of the automation from for example Idea to Activated to Deactivated, without having to copy rows to another tab.

[fk]

valuable, high quality content and funny at the same time. great job. 👍🙏

[dylancloud]

I love the practical real life advice like don't piss off your wife 😂

[tommiegreen]

I love your skits in between the awesome information and how you incorporate your family. It's really the best part of your videos lol

[calamityairlines]

Thank you for this I have a build happening this year and have been trying to plan my smart home setup. Stay safe

[daveschmarder-]

It's cool to start out with a clean slate. I'm sure you've learned a lot and can avoid the pitfalls.
I got my Wyze color smart bulbs this week after waiting for ages. It was well worth the wait.

[LiinaharjaOy]

After weeks of painful pondering in the dizzying world of different hardware, software, compatibilities and just the new lingo of Smart Home, I am pleased to say your (and Hibberts) videos have made things easier for me! I have decided to go with SmartThings, mainly due to the ease of use and compatibility with different systems. Might combine Google Home at some point for audio control, but since Finnish isn't supported yet it may take a while. Home Assistant sounds tempting but I think it may defeat the purpose if I spend more time tinkering with the systems than the time they save :D

Thank you so much for your hard work, your videos are a delight to watch and I love the way you include how smart tech affects family life <3

[MekaniQ]

Thanks Reed! This video camed at the right moment!

[Inovelli]

Always a great video with a ton of insight! We're happy to be a part of your smart home! I think you might need to make a "how to remember all of your automations" video next lol

[jorcalle]

Great video! It helps me a lot to start planing my smart home. I would love to see a video about how to set up your network and if it is worth it to have two separate networks: one exclusively for smart devices and another one for regular use. Thanks!

[abhiramkj]

You are so cool. I've been waiting for a YouTuber like you. Tell us all about automation.

[ash]

Great video as usual. I have started to document my smart home using a spreadsheet..

[erriteshgupta]

Thanks for your detailed Videos on Home automation and Smart home. I have a new house under construction and all these tips are coming in handy. as for the documentation, i just started one on google sheets few minutes before i started watching this video and it was more or less similar to what yu had there but more novice. Keep up the good work. I will try and post what I end up doing at my home!