Smart sensors can do anything from turn on lights automatically to deter burglars, text your smartphone or fire up a traditional alarm. PHOTOS / GETTY
More and more Kiwi homes have Wi-Fi enabled heating, cooling, curtains, garage doors and even irrigation systems. And this is just the start.
Our homes are going high-tech and in a decade few of us will even have to turn light switches on, says Qassim Helal, of Doitalltech Ltd.
Already home automation systems can detect when your smartphone leaves the house and turn off the lights or vice versa. And your system can be programmed to open the garage door when you get within 50m of the house if you so choose.
Helal installs home automation systems where everything from curtains to lights are controlled through the Fibaro console. What it can do sounds like science fiction, but is installed in homes across Auckland.
One customer who works in town during the week has his main home on Waiheke Island controlled by the system. When he's away it opens and closes the curtains at certain times of the day, switches on lights and will even text him automatically if the smoke alarms go off.
Customers choose which features to install. But in theory they could be watching television when a buzz from the gate comes through.
At the flick of one button the movie is paused, lights go up 30 per cent, a picture of the caller appears on the TV screen and the home owner can buzz the caller in.
Security is also going high-tech. In the old days a motion sensor would simply set off the alarm - often to the horror of the neighbours.
These days smart sensors can do anything from turn on lights automatically to deter burglars, to text your smartphone or fire up a traditional alarm.
High-tech and eco homes often go hand in hand. In Helal's home, for example, lights are programmed to switch off when you leave the room or the light outside reaches a certain brightness.
Another eco feature of an automated home is the ability of sensors to detect if rooms are being used or not and drop the heat pump down a gear.
Perhaps it was programmed to be on full tonight, but you have gone to have drinks with a friend. Your tech recognises that and helps cut your power bill.
Or if you've gone out and have that sinking feeling you left the coffee machine on, you can log in, switch off power to that device, and rest assured you won't be calling the insurance company with the news that your house has burned down.
Come summer you can turn the irrigation on or off or re-set it while away because rainfall is below average for the year back home. Or you can adjust the pool or spa heating.
In the future you'll be able to watch your dog over the CCTV system and yell at it over Wi-Fi when it chews your shoes.
There is, of course, more than one system available. Another full service home automation option is the New Zealand-made econnecx system that controls electrical devices right down to the towel rails.
One popular feature with econnecx is the ability to add and remove temporary users such as tradespeople, family, friends, cleaners and caregivers, which is a lot safer than leaving a key out for said people. Units such as this don't need specialist installers.
The Home Ideas Centre in Parnell has three systems on display for homeowners to view. Clare Macintosh, general manager of the centre, says there are many variations and systems start from about $3000 and go up to about $10,000. Some, she says, are operated by remotes and others using a smart phone.
Home automation really does change people's lives. Helal says that 10 years ago he wondered about the point of having a smartphone when he only texted and made phone calls. Many homeowners probably feel that way today about home automation. But he believes most of us will be using this type of system within 10 years.
Real estate agents are starting to come across properties for sale with full automation systems. South Auckland Harcourts agent Sandra Bullock, who specialises in high end properties, says buyers tend to go "Oh wow" when they hear about the home automation system.
"It does add value."
Not everyone understands what it can do but it definitely appeals to younger buyers.
Home owners who don't want to spend several thousand dollars on a full automation system can choose to automate certain aspects of their home. Already it's not unusual to find Wi-Fi controlled heat pumps that can detect when you leave the room and power down.
And there are home security systems. Spark, for example offers the Morepork home security system that is monitored from your smartphone. If the alarm is triggered your smartphone warns you.