Happy Monday! Starting off this week with sunshine & spring-like temps. Better than where we were 2 weeks ago for sure.

Everyone is looking to save time & make the little things in life a little easier. Companies like Alarm.com are now integrating "smart home" devices like deadbolts, garage door openers, and thermostats into their monitored alarm hardware. Thought this could be a nice pivot from this page's safety/security focus for a little variety... Hope you enjoy & reach out if you'd like to learn more.

TL;DR: Alarm.com (there are others, too) isn’t just “an alarm app.” It’s smart home control + security in one place—so your locks, garage, thermostat, lights, and water protection can all run from the same system (NOTE: My company in Memphis can install + support for both residential, commercial, and multi-family). If you’re tired of juggling 4–6 different apps, this is the cleaner way to do smart home:

🔒 Smart Locks + Garage Control Lock/unlock from the app, check status, and get “left open” style alerts for the garage. Great for kids getting home, deliveries, or “did I shut the garage?” moments.

🌡️ Smart Thermostat Control (with “Smart Away” options) Set schedules, then let the system adjust when you’re away (so you’re not heating/cooling an empty house). Comfort goes up, waste goes down.

💡 Lights + Shades (the “looks occupied” advantage) Put lights on a schedule or tie them to your routine—arrive home to a lit house, or have lights change automatically when you arm/disarm.

🚰 Water Protection (I love this one; install at the drip pans of your hot water tank and HVAC) Pair water devices so you can get alerted fast when water is detected—and in some setups, even shut water off automatically to limit damage. If you've ever dealt with a ceiling collapse due to a pan overflow then you WANT this device.

⭐ The real magic: “Scenes” (one button = multiple actions) Example: Tap “Away” → arm system, lock doors, close garage, adjust thermostat, turn off lights. Simple for us humans.

Tradeoffs: You can go with a pro install + monthly interactive service or opt for self-install/DIY gadgets. The former will get one ecosystem that’s designed to work together (Alarm.com), but there are other options out there if you're handy & don't need service/support.