Smart home technology can make everyday life a little easier. From adjusting your thermostat from your phone to automatically turning off lights or checking on your home while you’re away, smart devices give you more control over how your home uses energy, stays comfortable, and keeps you connected.
For modular homeowners, smart technology can be incorporated in different ways. Zook’s Cozy Cabins can come with select smart features already included through one of our Smart Home Packages, while other technology can be added separately after your home is delivered and set up. This gives you the flexibility to choose the technology that makes sense for your lifestyle and budget.
So, which smart home features are actually worth the hype? We’ve narrowed it down to 20 practical options for making your modular home more comfortable, convenient, efficient, secure, and connected.
1. Smart Thermostats
Coming home to a comfortable temperature doesn’t mean your heating or cooling has to run at the same setting all day. A smart thermostat lets you adjust temperatures remotely, create schedules, and, with some models, automatically adapt heating and cooling around your routine. Remote controls can be especially useful for vacation homes and rental properties, where you can adjust the temperature between stays without being at the property. Smart thermostats can often replace standard thermostats after installation, although compatibility depends on your HVAC system and wiring.
2. Smart Locks
Ever leave home and wonder if you remembered to lock the door? Smart locks let you check and control your door from your phone, and many allow you to create access codes for family, guests, cleaners, or renters without handing out physical keys. For Cozy Cabin buyers, Zook’s Smart Essentials, Smart Plus, and Smart Full Suite packages include a smart front deadbolt. You can also find retrofit smart locks that work with or replace an existing deadbolt if you want to add one later.
3. Video Doorbells
Packages, visitors, and activity at your front door are easier to keep an eye on with a video doorbell. Depending on the model, you can receive motion notifications, view video, and communicate with someone at the door from your phone, which can be particularly useful when you are away from a vacation home or rental property. Zook Cabins includes a smart doorbell in the Smart Plus and Smart Full Suite packages available with their Cozy Cabins. Wired and battery-powered models can also make adding a video doorbell later relatively straightforward.
4. Smart Security Cameras
Smart security cameras make it easier to keep an eye on your property when you can’t be there, with features like live video, motion alerts, recorded footage, and night vision, depending on the system. This can be especially helpful for a vacation home or rental property that may sit unoccupied for periods, but it’s just as useful for monitoring entrances, pets, or outdoor areas at your primary home. Wireless cameras can typically be added after move-in with minimal setup, while wired systems are worth considering earlier if you want power and wiring concealed within the home.
5. Smart Motion & Entry Sensors
Sometimes the most useful smart technology is the kind you barely notice. Motion and entry sensors can detect movement or an open door or window, then trigger an alert or another connected device, such as automatically turning on a hallway light at night. They can also provide another way to keep tabs on doors and windows when your home is unoccupied. Many wireless sensors attach directly to existing doors, windows, and walls, making them easy to add later.
6. Smart Lighting & Switches
Lights left on in empty rooms can add to your home’s energy use without providing any benefit. Smart lighting and switches help cut back on that waste by letting you schedule lights to turn off automatically, control multiple fixtures at once, or pair them with motion sensors so they only run when needed. You can start small with smart bulbs or choose hardwired switches for a more permanent setup. Cozy Cabins can make that functionality part of the home from the start, with all three Smart Home Packages including smart switches for rooms and exterior lighting.
7. Smart Plugs & Outlets
You don’t necessarily need to replace a lamp, fan, or other everyday device to make it smarter. Smart plugs can add remote controls and scheduling to many compatible devices simply by plugging into an existing outlet, making it easy to automate a lamp or shut off a device remotely. Plug-in models are simple to add to a modular home at any time, while built-in smart outlets provide a more permanent option that may require electrical installation.
8. Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Connected smoke and carbon monoxide detectors add another layer of awareness to essential home safety by sending alerts and status updates directly to your phone. Depending on the device, you may be notified when an alarm sounds, when batteries are running low, or when another detector in the home identifies a potential hazard. Smart smoke alarms are also available for Cozy Cabins with the Smart Plus and Smart Full Suite packages. When adding other connected smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, make sure they meet applicable safety requirements and are compatible with your home.
9. Smart Leak Detection & Water Shutoff
A small leak under a washing machine or water heater can become a much bigger problem when nobody is around to notice it. Smart leak sensors can alert you when water is detected, while more advanced systems may monitor water use and automatically shut off the supply when a potential leak is identified, making them particularly valuable for vacation homes and rentals that may sit empty between stays. Wireless sensors can easily be placed around vulnerable areas after move-in, while automatic shutoff systems typically connect to the main water supply and may require professional installation.
10. Smart Garage Door Controls
Did the garage door close after you left? Instead of turning around to check, a smart garage door controller lets you view its status on your phone, operate it remotely, and receive notifications when it opens or closes. Remote access can also be convenient when you need to let a family member, guest, cleaner, or other authorized visitor into the property. Depending on your garage door opener, you may be able to add a compatible smart controller later or choose an opener with built-in connected features.
11. Smart Appliances
Your washing machine can tell you when the laundry is done, your dishwasher can report its status, and some ovens can send cooking notifications directly to your phone. Those are just a few of the connected features available in smart appliances, with capabilities varying considerably across appliances and manufacturers. Because most of the technology is built into the appliance itself, you can generally add smart appliances when furnishing your modular home or gradually upgrade them as existing appliances need replacement.
12. Robot Vacuums & Mops
Floor cleaning is one household chore that can largely take care of itself. Robot vacuums can follow a cleaning schedule, map rooms, navigate around furniture, and return to their charging stations, while some models can also mop or empty their own dust bins. Most require little more than an appropriate charging location and WiFi for their connected features, so they are easy to add after move-in.
13. Smart Blinds & Shades
Imagine your bedroom shades opening automatically in the morning and closing again when it’s time for privacy at night. Smart blinds and shades can follow schedules or respond to an app, a remote, voice commands, or other connected routines, giving you more control over privacy and natural light throughout the day. Battery-powered and retrofit products can often be added to existing windows, while hardwired motorized shades are worth considering earlier if you want their wiring concealed.
14. Smart TVs & Streaming Devices
Entertainment is one of the easiest areas of a home to make connected because much of the technology is already built into the products you buy. Smart TVs and streaming devices bring together streaming apps, casting, voice controls, and other connected features without requiring major changes to your modular home. They can be added at any time, although planning TV locations, outlets, internet connections, and concealed cords earlier can create a cleaner finished setup.
15. Smart Speakers & Voice Assistants
Once you have several connected devices, constantly opening different apps to control them can take away some of the convenience. A compatible voice assistant brings that control together, letting you manage your smart home with simple voice commands while also helping with everyday tasks around the house. Most smart speakers only need power and WiFi, so they’re easy to add after moving in and expand into other rooms over time.
16. Smart Home Hubs
As your smart home setup grows, a hub can make all those connected devices feel more like one system instead of a collection of separate products. It can automate parts of your daily routine so your home responds to what you’re doing without requiring you to control each device individually. You can add a hub at any point, but choosing your preferred smart home ecosystem early can make it easier to find compatible products as you expand.
17. Whole Home Audio
Whole home audio lets you listen to music, podcasts, or other audio across multiple rooms, with the option to play the same thing throughout the home or create separate listening areas. It can be particularly useful for entertaining, allowing music to continue from the kitchen to the living room and even into outdoor living spaces. Wireless multiroom speakers are easy to add gradually, while built-in speakers and hardwired systems are better considered earlier if you want wiring concealed within the home.
18. Smart Energy Monitoring
It’s difficult to reduce energy use if you don’t know where that energy is going. Smart energy monitoring can help you track electricity consumption, identify usage patterns, and make more informed decisions about how you use energy at home. It can also provide useful visibility into a vacation home or rental property when you are not there.
The Cozy Cabins collection can include this technology from the start. All three Smart Home Packages include an energy monitoring system, while Smart Plus includes smart appliance breakers, and Smart Full Suite includes smart breakers as part of its more comprehensive system.
19. Smart Irrigation & Outdoor Controls
Smart irrigation and outdoor controls extend home automation to your yard, landscaping, patio, and other exterior spaces. A smart irrigation controller can adjust watering schedules based on local conditions, while connected outdoor switches and plugs can automate landscape lights or other compatible outdoor equipment. Many of these products can be installed after your modular home is complete, provided you have the appropriate outdoor power, WiFi coverage, and compatible equipment.
20. Smart Ceiling Fans
Instead of getting up to adjust a fan throughout the day or night, connected controls can automatically keep air moving based on your preferences and daily routine. Smart fan controls can also work alongside other connected technology to help maintain a comfortable space without as much manual adjustment. Fan controls are included with the Cozy Cabin Smart Full Suite package, or you can explore compatible smart fans and controllers if you want to add this functionality later.
What Smart Home Features Does Zook Cabins Offer?
Smart home features are available for Zook’s Cozy Cabin line through three package options. Each package offers a different level of connected technology, so you can choose the setup that best fits how you want to use and manage your home.
Smart Essentials
This package includes an energy monitoring system in the electrical panel, smart switches for room and exterior lighting, and a smart front deadbolt.
Smart Plus
Smart Plus adds on to the smart essentials package with smart appliance breakers, smoke alarms, and a doorbell.
Smart Full Suite
This includes a complete smart system, including an energy monitor, breakers, switches, and fan controls, smoke alarms, deadbolts, and doorbells.
These are the smart features that Zook Cabins currently offers. The other technologies covered in this guide can still be great additions to your modular home, but they would need to be added separately after your home is delivered and set up.
When Should You Plan Smart Home Technology?
Understanding when modular home technology features need to be implemented makes it easier to plan and avoid missing out on smart features you really wanted. Many can be added later, but features that affect wiring, electrical connections, or other parts of the home are worth considering during construction. If you choose a Cozy Cabin, select smart features can be built into your modular home when you select one of the smart home packages. Other smart home technology will need to be added separately after your home is delivered and set up.
Below, we’ll break down what you may want to plan for during construction and which smart features are easier to add later.
Smart Features to Consider Before Construction
Even when smart technology is installed after delivery and setup, it can be helpful to think about how you plan to use your home before construction. Consider where you may eventually want TVs, internet equipment, smart appliances, security equipment, or other connected devices so you can plan your finished space accordingly.
You may want to think ahead about:
- Where TVs and entertainment equipment will be located
- Where routers and other internet equipment may need to go
- Where smart appliances or connected devices will be used
- Areas where you may eventually want security cameras or other monitoring equipment
- Exterior spaces where you may want smart lighting or other connected technology
- Locations where convenient access to power and connectivity may be useful later
Smart Features You Can Add After Construction
Beyond the features available through Zook’s Cozy Cabin Smart Home Packages, there are plenty of smart technologies you can add separately after your home is delivered and set up. This gives you the flexibility to start with a few useful devices and expand your setup over time.
Features that are typically easier to add later include:
- Smart plugs and outlets
- Smart speakers and voice assistants
- Smart home hubs
- Robot vacuums and mops
- Wireless security cameras
- Smart locks
- Video doorbells
- Smart thermostats, depending on HVAC compatibility and existing wiring
- Smart appliances
- Battery-powered smart blinds and shades
- Smart TVs and streaming devices
Wired vs. Wireless Smart Home Technology
Wired and wireless smart home technology can both work well in a modular home, but they offer different advantages. Wired systems generally require more planning during construction, while wireless systems offer greater flexibility to add or change technology after your home is complete. Understanding the pros and cons can help you decide where each approach makes the most sense.
Wired Smart Home Technology
Pros:
- Provides a consistent, reliable connection
- Does not depend as heavily on WiFi coverage
- Can keep wiring and connections concealed
- Works well for permanent smart home features
Cons:
- Requires more planning during modular home construction
- Can be more difficult or expensive to add after the home is finished
- Offers less flexibility if you want to relocate or replace devices
Wireless Smart Home Technology
Pros:
- Easier to install after your modular home is complete
- Gives you more flexibility to move or upgrade devices
- Makes it easy to add smart technology gradually
- Typically requires less additional wiring
Cons:
- Performance can depend on wireless coverage and connection quality
- Some devices require batteries that need to be replaced or recharged
- Compatibility can vary between devices and smart home platforms
How to Choose Smart Home Technology for Your Modular Home
With so many smart home products available, it’s easy to spend money on technology you rarely use or devices that don’t work well together. Before choosing smart technology for your modular home, consider:
- How you’ll actually use it: Prioritize technology that solves a problem, saves energy, improves safety, or makes everyday life more convenient.
- Internet availability: Make sure your property has the connectivity required by the devices you’re considering, especially in rural locations where internet options may be more limited.
- Device compatibility: Choose products that work with your preferred smart home ecosystem so your devices can communicate and be managed more easily.
- Privacy and security: Look for reputable manufacturers, understand what information connected devices collect, and keep passwords and device software up to date.
- Reliability: Check what functionality remains available if your internet connection or power goes out, particularly for devices tied to important home functions.
- Ongoing costs: Consider subscriptions, cloud storage, battery replacement, and other recurring expenses in addition to the initial purchase price.
How Much Does It Cost to Make a Modular Home Smart?
There is no set cost to make a modular home smart because a smart home can be as simple or extensive as you want it to be. You might start with a few affordable devices and expand gradually, or plan a more comprehensive system during construction. It ultimately depends on the technology you choose and the installation it requires, which gives you a lot of control over the cost.
What Affects Smart Home Technology Costs?
Several factors contribute to the overall cost, including:
- Number of devices: Connecting more areas of your home increases the overall investment.
- Type of technology: A smart plug has a very different price point from a complete security or whole-home audio system.
- Wired vs. wireless installation: Hardwired systems may involve additional electrical or installation costs.
- Professional installation: Some products can be installed by you, while others may require an electrician or another professional.
- Subscriptions: Cameras, security systems, and other devices may charge ongoing fees for certain connected features or storage.
- Internet and network equipment: A larger smart home setup may require additional equipment to maintain reliable connectivity.
Smart Modular Home FAQs
What Technology Do You Need for a Smart Home?
If you want a smart home, it only takes 1 to 2 devices to get started. Often, no special technology is required. Just choose the upgrades that make everyday life easier. With 1 to 2 devices, you can add a hub and build your smart ecosystem around it.
What Are the Most Useful Smart Home Features?
The most useful smart home features are the ones that make everyday life easier, more efficient, or more secure. For example, Zook’s Cozy Cabin Smart Home Packages offer practical features such as smart lighting controls, energy monitoring, smart front deadbolts, smart doorbells, and smart smoke alarms, depending on the package you choose. Ultimately, it’s up to you and what makes the most sense in your home.
Can You Make an Existing Modular Home Smart?
Yes, many smart devices can be added after your modular home is complete, such as wireless security cameras, smart appliances, wireless whole-home audio systems, and other features that don’t need to be integrated into existing wiring.
Do Smart Home Devices Need WiFi?
Not all smart home devices require WiFi. Some communicate through other wireless technologies or a smart home hub, although an internet connection may still be required for remote access, updates, and certain connected features.
Is Wired or Wireless Smart Home Technology Better?
Neither option is better for every application. Wired technology can provide a reliable connection for permanent installations, while wireless technology offers greater flexibility and is generally easier to add or upgrade later.
Can Different Smart Home Brands Work Together?
They can, but compatibility varies by product and smart home ecosystem. Check that devices support the platform or communication standard you plan to use before purchasing them.
Does Smart Home Technology Increase Home Value?
Smart technology may make a home more appealing to buyers who value energy management, security, or convenience, but it does not guarantee an increase in home value. Its effect depends on the features installed, the property, and the preferences of potential buyers.
What Happens to Smart Home Devices if the Internet or Power Goes Out?
It depends on the device. Some products retain basic or local functionality without an internet connection, while remote controls and other connected features may become unavailable. During a power outage, devices without another power source generally will not function until power is restored.
Make Your Modular Home Your Own With Zook Cabins
At Zook Cabins, we believe in dwelling beyond the ordinary. We do that by offering modular homes like log cabins, modern cabins, and ADUs that offer a different path from traditional stick-built homes. We also support those interested in living in a smart home. Our Cozy Cabins line offers three tiers of Smart Home Packages, giving you the option to have select smart features incorporated into your home from the start. Additional smart home technology can then be added separately after delivery and setup.
Our team is here to help you create a home that fits your lifestyle, from the floor plan and finishes to the later-added technology. Explore our modular cabins and ADUs and start planning your smart home.
