Most people who get into smart home end up with a $400 collection of devices and no automations turned on. That's backwards. Set up these ten automations first — then decide what else you actually need to buy.
Everything below works in Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit. If your gear is a mix, use Home Assistant as the glue.
1. Sunset lights (the one everyone likes immediately)
Turn your living room lights on 15 minutes before sunset, automatically, every day. It sounds trivial — but the first time you walk into a warm-lit house in October, you'll understand. In Alexa: Routines → When (Sunset -15 minutes) → Turn on [lights].
2. Water-leak alerts
A $15 water leak sensor under the dishwasher or sink, pinging your phone if it detects a drop, has saved countless kitchens. This is the single highest-ROI smart-home purchase you'll ever make. We recommend the Aqara Water Leak Sensor — small, cheap, works with Alexa and HomeKit out of the box.
3. Smart thermostat schedule
A basic schedule that drops the temperature 4°F at bedtime and warms it back up 30 minutes before your alarm cuts real dollars off the monthly bill. The Ecobee and Google Nest both do this automatically after a week of learning — but only if you turn on eco/learning mode. Most people never do.
The average smart thermostat pays for itself in 12–18 months just on the sleep schedule. Add "away mode" and it's more like 8 months.
4. "Away mode" that arms itself when everyone leaves
Use your phones' location to trigger an "everyone's out" scene: lights off, thermostat drops, cameras arm, garage confirms closed. In Google Home: Routines → Household → When "everyone leaves home." Instant peace of mind at zero recurring cost.
5. Coffee-maker on when your alarm goes off
Plug your coffee maker into a smart plug (a TP-Link Kasa plug is $8). Trigger it from your phone's alarm using the "Wake up" routine in Alexa or Google Home. Coffee ready when your feet hit the floor. Small joy, every day.
6. Bathroom fan on humidity, off after 20 minutes
Replace the bathroom fan switch with a smart switch that has a humidity sensor. Fan comes on automatically during a shower, turns itself off later. Prevents mold, no one has to remember. The Leviton Decora Smart Fan Speed Controller is the reliable pick.
7. Kids-in-bed lights
At 8:15pm on school nights: soft "wind-down" lighting in the kids' rooms, TV volume caps if you have a smart TV, and hallway night-lights come on. The consistency does most of the work for you.
8. Front-door package alerts
Any smart doorbell (Ring, Nest, Eufy, Aqara G4) can trigger a phone notification when it detects a person or a package. Set it to also announce "Package at the door" on your Echo or Google Home. Reduces the "did I miss the delivery?" anxiety loop.
9. "Movie mode" for TV nights
One voice command — "Alexa, movie time" — dims the living room lights, turns on the TV, and (if you're fancy) closes the smart blinds. The setup takes 10 minutes and the payoff is nightly. This is the automation that most impresses guests.
10. Weekly "leaving town" routine
Save a routine that turns off all lights except a few on random timers, drops the thermostat, and confirms the front door is locked. One tap when you head to the airport. Removes the mid-flight "wait, did I…" panic entirely.
What to buy first
If you're starting fresh, in this order:
- An Amazon Echo Dot or Google Nest Mini ($30–$50) — your voice controller
- Two smart plugs (TP-Link Kasa or similar, ~$8 each) — coffee maker + a lamp
- A water-leak sensor ($15) — cheapest insurance in your home
- A smart bulb 2-pack (Philips Hue White or WiZ, ~$30) — for the sunset routine
- A smart thermostat ($130–$250) if you have central heating/cooling — biggest savings
Total under $250, and every dollar of it earns its keep in the first year.
Need help setting it up?
Smart-home setup is genuinely fiddly — there's a reason we get more consultation bookings for this than anything else. Book a 30-minute session and we'll get your devices linked, your first five automations built, and your household happy. From $29 flat.