Knocking down walls, digging up driveways, ripping out carpets \u2013 they\u2019re all effective ways of starting home improvements, but none of them feel particularly high-tech. However, not all projects are about simple bricks and mortar. Hiring a tradesman for the right job can help add some serious technology to upgrade your home, and future-proof your property for years to come. Here are some of the top home improvements to reboot your home.<\/p>\n
2016 saw a lot of people talking about \u201cThe Internet of Things\u201d and the idea of smart homes \u2013 where appliances in the house are online and always connected, allowing you to control everything with the press of a button from your phone or tablet. 2017 will be no different, as the technology becomes more affordable and more commonplace. One of the first steps you can take is to install a thermostat that you can control remotely, allowing you to change your heating, and the time it\u2019s on, from anywhere.<\/p>\n
If one of your aims for 2017 is to reduce your carbon footprint, installing photovoltaic (PV) solar panels is a great way to go about it. As well as working to generate your own electricity, thus lowering your energy bills, the government also pays a feed-in tariff to homes producing electricity, while there is an export tariff for energy you send to the National Grid. Installing solar panels generally doesn\u2019t require planning permission unless your home is listed or in a conservation area \u2013 but you will need a south-facing roof, free from shade, and it helps if your home has a Grade D or above Energy Performance Certificate.<\/p>\n
Good locks are vital to keeping your home protected, but there are a number of more high-tech ways to go about looking after your property. From alarm systems that automatically notify a response team or the police, to cameras you can monitor on your phone, the technology is more accessible than ever.<\/p>\n
In this day and age, just having a TV and stereo doesn\u2019t quite cut it. With all the options available with smart TVs, projectors, and wired and wireless speakers, your home can boast cinema-like quality, without the sticky floors and smell of popcorn. Music fans can also create multi-room sound systems, even using tablet docks to control them, along with other smart home features. For the best way to present and store your set-up, a carpenter is a good place to start. They\u2019re used to building bespoke shelving and cabinets, and can design the perfect home for your high-end rig.<\/p>\n
Not all high-tech updates to your home have to be flashy \u2013 some are just really useful. For example, even the lowly plug socket can be upgraded to make it ready for 21st century living. If you\u2019re renovating the electrics in your home, consider installing plugs that also incorporate USB sockets, allowing you to charge devices without the needs for a mains adaptor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Knocking down walls, digging up driveways, ripping out carpets \u2013 they\u2019re all effective ways of starting home improvements, but none of them feel particularly high-tech. However, not all projects are about simple bricks and mortar. Hiring a tradesman for the right job can help add some serious technology to upgrade your home, and future-proof your..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":547,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[24],"tags":[25,15,26],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\t\n