The Skinny on Smart Garage Doors

A smart home is one that’s automated and remotely accessible (exclusively by its owners). Gone are the days of having to remember every last detail before walking out the door in the morning. With smart home automation at your fingertips, you only have to remember yourself and your phone…and definitely your kids. This week’s smart home feature is the garage door!

Did I Shut the Garage Door?

If you’ve ever driven to the end of your street and wondered if you shut the garage door on your way out, then you’ll appreciate this technology. Much more advanced than earlier versions, our smart home technology knows when your garage door is open without you even having to ask! It sends alerts to your smartphone and gives you the ability to close (or open) your garage door remotely from any web-enabled device.

Below are a few examples of its vast functionality:

• Automatically close the door and/or receive a notification (push, text, email) if your garage door has been open for a predetermined amount of time.
  • Example: if the garage door has been open for 30 minutes, it closes automatically.
• Automatically close the door if it is still open at a specific time of day.
  • Example: if the garage door is still open at 10 pm, it closes automatically.
• Use the app to see the status of your garage door at any time of day and open/close it as needed from anywhere.

PRO TIP: If you own an older garage door opener, then you’ll need the Z-Wave garage door controller. Garage Doors & Security Cameras, Horses & Carriages

Security cameras complement smart garage doors very well, working as a team to deter burglars and vehicle theft. They go together like a horse and carriage, in fact.

Your security cameras can be used for verification and to keep an eye on activity. So, if you have a compelling reason to leave the garage door open while you’re not around, or, you simply forget to close it, you now have that extra set of HD eyes built right in. If there’s any activity, the alerts are coming straight to you.

 

Being Smart About Your Garage Door Opener

If you don’t have security cameras but you do have garage door openers in cars that are not parked in the garage, then you have a recipe for disaster. Thieves are now looking at garage door openers as the keys to the castle. Whether you’re parked in your own driveway or at the mall, a car thief may be more than meets the eye.

If you have any mail inside or your car’s registration card with your home address on it, any car thief can now head straight to your house and commit a home robbery. Without a home security system in place, they’ll do so unnoticed because they’ll have pulled into your garage in your car. With the click of a button, the garage door closes and they now have complete privacy and full access to your home.

Unless…

…you made a smart choice and installed smart home automation for your garage door. In that case, you’ll have full control over that garage door (and a thief’s short-lived privacy) from any web-enabled device.

PRO TIP: A good rule of thumb is to avoid having identifying information in your car and don’t leave your garage door opener in it unless it’s parked safely in the garage! This goes for smart or standard garage doors.

 

The moral of the blog is, don’t leave your garage door out of your smart home ensemble! Your garage not only houses many valuables but, if attached, provides entry to what’s most important, you and your family. What next? Gear up your questions and ask away via Facebook, Instagram, or phone! We are always here to help with your smart choices.