In today’s world, technology has immensely impacted our lifestyle, transforming ordinary households into smart homes. And it’s quite easy to see why.

Automated homes are typically more efficient, comfortable, secure, and convenient than traditional ones. From the lights and temperature, to your favourite TV shows, everything can be controlled with a simple swipe or tap on your smartphone.

It’s also a quick and easy way to increase your home’s value. So, if you’re considering starting your home automation project, here’s a quick guide on how much it’s going to cost you.

Types of Home Automation

With the rise of high speed internet, device connectivity and apps, companies have realised that home automation is a market that’s here to stay. This is why we’re seeing an influx of products, services, and applications that claim to bring the benefits of home automation to anyone willing to pay for them.

These products fall into three general concentrations – Whole House, Security, and Entertainment.

Whole House Automation

As the biggest among the three home automation types, Whole House Automation is one of the most exciting categories. There is a lot of innovation in this space as devices that fall under this group can range from something as small as a smart thermostat that automatically adjusts your home’s temperature and humidity, to an internet-connected refrigerator that automatically orders food items when they run out.

These types of devices typically make home life easier by automating a range of household tasks, making them more convenient and efficient. They also give you remote access so you can control them from anywhere.

Typical use cases involve making the coffee machine turn on every morning, turning the air conditioning on as you arrive at the house, or turning off the lights as you leave. These are an incredible value-add to your home life as they would eliminate the need to dedicate your attention to certain mundane aspects of your day.

On top of the convenience and comfort, whole-house automation also helps improve energy efficiency by automatically turning off devices not in use and reducing power consumption. Studies claim that automation can help households save up to 20% this way.

Security-Focused Systems

Security-focused automation is another interesting application of smart home technology. It allows you to monitor your home through internet-connected cameras, detect suspicious activity on your property, and give you peace of mind when you’re away.

This category includes cameras and different sorts of sensors that detect smoke, gas leaks, motion, and others. Some security-focused systems can even automate calling the authorities in case it detects unwanted events such as fires, home break-ins, and LPG leaks.

Entertainment-Focused Systems

From smart speakers to smart TVs, entertainment-focused automation is one of the most popular applications of smart home automation. These devices allow you to streamline the entertainment experience at home. Typically used to send reminders when new episodes of your favourite shows are released and can also be used to control your theatre room’s lights and temperature while watching TV.

These systems can even group home speakers so that the audio travels with you as you walk from one room to another.

Factors Affecting the Cost

Technological developments and healthy market competition have significantly decreased the cost of home automation in recent years. However, the installation costs and maintenance will still affect the overall price. For instance, some devices, such as Nest smart cameras, require a subscription service to unlock cloud features.

So, what factors affect the overall cost of home automation projects?

System Complexity

The more complex a home automation system is, the more expensive it will be. For example, smart speakers such as Amazon’s Echo Dot devices can cost as little as $30, while a full smart home entertainment system that includes smart TVs and speakers can easily cost over $1000 without the streaming subscription service.

Software complexity is also a factor. Some systems may offer a more reliable operation at the cost of partnering with a proprietary software ecosystem. Amazon’s Alexa devices, for example, require Amazon partner software and won’t work as efficiently with existing Google Assistant or Apple’s Siri devices.

Installation Requirements

The installation process’s complexity and the property’s size can influence the cost. Larger homes or properties with multiple rooms may require more extensive wiring and equipment, leading to higher installation costs.

The type of home automation system being installed can also affect the installation cost. Basic systems focusing on controlling a few devices or functions may be easier and less expensive to install than more advanced systems with extensive integration and customisation options.

Some home automation projects require wired connections for a more reliable operation. For improved reliability and security, these home automation systems typically cost much more than simple Wi-Fi-operated systems.

Brand and Quality

With companies competing for market share, some players choose to cut corners to keep their prices down. This leads to a marketplace where customers have quite a lot of devices and services to choose from.

When it comes to home automation, the quality of the system is one of the most important factors that can determine its longevity and performance. With a poor-quality system, you may end up with unreliable or non-functioning devices requiring constant attention and maintenance.

Budgeting for Home Automation

To keep your home automation project within budget, it’s important to assess your needs and priorities, research the hardware costs, factor in the installation costs, and make sure you leave room for any potential maintenance and operational costs.

Once you have these covered, you’ll be able to enjoy the perks of your automated home without worrying about the bill.

Assessing Your Needs and Priorities

To determine your needs and priorities, consider your goals and what automation features are most important to you. For example, if energy efficiency is a priority, you should invest in smart thermostats or energy monitoring devices. If security is a concern, you could focus on devices like smart locks, security cameras, or alarm systems.

Researching the Costs

Smart thermostats, TVs, or security cameras generally don’t suffer from price fluctuations, so it’s easy to research the costs online. However, you can ensure you get the most out of your money by comparing prices between different vendors. Amazon, Bunnings, and other large suppliers may have competitive prices. However, if you can find an independent supplier with better prices, it may be worth buying from them instead as they can generally offer more tailored service and advice.
Here’s what you should expect to pay for the commonly-bought home automation gadgets:

Security-Focused Devices

Whole House Automation

Entertainment-Focused Devices

Factoring in Installation Costs

It’s important to note that the final cost of home automation installation will ultimately depend on several determinants – the size and layout of your home and the system’s complexity. Since these factors can vary widely, getting a personalised estimate for your specific needs is best.

We’ve scouted several Australian providers and came up with these estimates for a complete home automation package:

Planning for Ongoing Costs

Ongoing costs such as subscriptions, upgrades, and maintenance also greatly affect the overall costs. Since technology is constantly changing and improving, it’s important to have a good understanding of how much these ongoing costs will be. For example, if you purchase a DIY system that requires a yearly subscription for updates and upgrades, then you’ll need to factor this cost into your budget.