Home Improvement

5 Home Tech Items That Can Save You Money

Let’s face it, we live very busy lives. We work hard, run errands, take the kids to school, and watch their ball games, among other things. With a busy lifestyle, it can be difficult to get that Spring cleaning done, or find time to learn about new technology that can make our lives easier and more enjoyable. Well don’t worry, because in this post we’re going to discuss the latest advances in mobile apps and technology that can make life more enjoyable, and even save you money. Let’s take a look at 5 must haves for 2012:

1. Save on Utility Bills That Are too Expensive

We know it’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter, but you don’t have to keep the thermostat cranked up when you’re not home. Doing this wastes energy and can cost a lot of money.

The solution: The Nest Labs Thermostat. This device was developed by Tony Fadell, the same person who designed the iPod for Apple. It not only looks cool, but it also offers great technology. You can control the temperature of your home from your iPhone. This makes it easy to use (unlike the current supply of digital thermostats) and energy efficient. You can simply program it to be at a higher (or lower) temperature when you’re not at home, but then adjust to your preferred settings when you do get home from work. This device can save thousands per year off your utility bills. Cost $250.

2. Updating Your Home

We all need to eventually update our homes with new furniture, painting, fixtures, and decor. The problem is that these updates could cost a lot of money.

The Solution: DecorPad Interior Design iPhone App. This modern app wants you to design, share and inspire. Browse photos from elite designers to get ideas for your own home. This app allows you to choose the space (i.e. basement, kitchen, etc), then gives you ideas that can help you design that “dream room.” There’s also a section in this app that helps you find “steals and deals” to get the best stuff for the lowest price. Cost: Free.

3. Getting Your Chores Done

Cleaning a house from top to bottom can be overwhelming, especially when the days are hectic enough to begin with.

The Solution: Clean Freak Cleaning Schedule App. This app helps you organize a rotating priority list so you don’t feel overwhelmed at the big picture of having to clean your entire house from top to bottom. For example, you can put your most attention-worthy chores on a weekly list but others on a longer-term schedule. The app also keeps count of the number of days between cleanings of specific areas.

4. In-Home Entertainment

There’s nothing better after a long, hard day than to veg out in front of the television and watch some good quality TV, or enjoy a nice glass of wine while listening to great music from around the world.

The Solution: Apple TV. Until the actual Apple Television comes out in 2013, you can buy the Apple TV device. This device, known as the “hockey puck” for it’s size and color, makes it easy for users to stream movies from Netflix, subscribe to their favorite sports programming to see all of the games, order full-length seasons of their favorite programs, and listen to more than 2,000 different music stations from around the world (by genre). Just plug the device into your television and set up with broadband or wireless. It’s that easy. Cost: $99

5. Keep Track of Your Valuables

Insurance agents tell renters and homeowners to always keep photos and a log of their valuables in case of theft or fire, but how many people actually do? Failure to do so could cost you a lot of money due to lack of proof that the item existed.

The Solution: Home Inventory App. This app enables you to keep important information about your valuables in one convenient location. You can snap photos and include important data such as purchase date, price, make, model and serial number about your household items. This way, if a theft, fire or natural disaster does happen, you will be covered. Cost: $4.99 (free version also available)

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Homes.com National Speaker / Blogger/ Digital Media Executive

I've been passionate about real estate all my life. In 2000, I got my real estate license and for the next three years sold millions in real estate representing investment buyers. This was great, but I wanted more.

In 2003, I Co-Founded the CARE Group, a real estate investment company that specialized in buying and selling distressed single family homes. Over the next five years my company bought and sold more than $10 million in real estate. It was during this time that I authored a book entitled The Foreclosure Revolution. This book would go on to win a Silver Medal at the 2009 Axiom Business Book Awards and help take my career to the next level - the national level.

In 2008, I was hired as Realtor.com's National Speaker. Over the next three years, I traveled the country speaking to more than 25,000 real estate professionals about the latest in real estate marketing, technology, and social media. Realtor.com sold digital media advertising to Realtors and it was my job to show these Realtors how they can get more business by purchasing our digital media products. I left Realtor.com at the end of 2010.

In 2011, I was hired by Homes.com to become a Regional Account Executive and National Speaker, selling digital media solutions to real estate professionals. Homes.com is a competitor to Realtor.com and offers many of the same type of digital media solutions. In addition to sales and speaking, I also am a contributor to the Homes.com B2B and B2C blogs.

I have a Bachelors Degree in General Studies from Indiana University and am currently pursuing my MBA at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. I am also pursuing my Masters in Global Management at Thunderbird School of Global Management as part of a dual degree program I'm enrolled in between the two schools.