Apartment living is a gift and a curse. On one hand, you get the perks of shared amenities like fitness centers but on the other hand, you don’t get a say in what these amenities are.
Create your own luxury apartment experience by adding your own tech upgrades. Here are 9 must-have tech items every apartment community should have.
1. Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are a gift that keeps on giving. Not only do they remember your temperature preferences throughout the day, they automatically make adjustments to account for the weather patterns outside.
Many renters don’t think of adding a thermostat to their apartment because it’s technically the responsibility of the property management team. But smart thermostats are an easy way to save money on your utilities if they aren’t already included in your rent.
If you’re on a budget, opt for a 2nd generation model. You get most of the same perks as the latest version but at a fraction of the cost.
2. Smart Video Monitoring
Security is a top priority in most apartment communities. Even in a luxury apartment, you have to worry about the trustworthiness of guests in the building.
Every apartment community should have a smart video monitoring system with two-way communication. If your apartment community won’t install a top-notch security system, make sure you install a camera outside your doorway.
There are tiny cameras available that should block any public space or existing fixtures. But ask about your options for security before signing the lease to avoid confusion later.
You’d hate to install a wireless camera outside your door only to have the maintenance team take it down because it’s blocking a fixture.
3. Virtual Personal Assistant
Living in an apartment community is all about living a more convenient lifestyle. Make your lifestyle even plusher with a digital assistant to take care of your everyday needs.
Virtual personal assistants like Alexa can do things like turn on the lights or music in your home. Some assistants can even do your shopping or order food for you.
This assistant won’t be offered by an apartment community, but luckily virtual personal assistants are affordable and only require WiFi to work.
4. Smart Lights
Apartment communities should invest in smart lighting in all public spaces around the complex. Smart lighting saves energy but also has an important safety component.
For example, areas of the complex that are usually dim can benefit from a second set of motion-activated lighting that brightens the space when people walk by.
The apartment community can also consider having the smart lights activate at certain times of day when residents are getting off work or heading out for a night on the town.
5. Air Purifiers
If you have allergies or asthma, you know what a pain the changing seasons can be. Get an air purifier to help clear out potential dust and pollen that may have entered your home.
While this isn’t a high tech option, it’s a great accessory to have on hand to help prevent health hazards. If you choose a WiFi-enabled air purifier, you can control it using Alexa absorbing more than 99 percent of the harmful particles circulating in your home.
6. Smart Locks
Another attractive feature for an apartment community are smart locks. Smart locks add another layer of safety to apartment buildings.
Many luxury apartments already have smart locks on community doors and doors to each apartment. These doors allow you to check whether your apartment is securely locked while you’re home or away.
Some locks have accompanying apps that allow you to lock and unlock the door for guests when you’re not home. It’s a great option if you regularly have house guests but choose not to give away house keys for safety reasons.
7. Smart Air Conditioner
If you’re not fortunate to move into an apartment community that offers central heating and air, you can make up for your disappointment with a smart air conditioner. Take control of your unit from your smartphone using the companion app.
You can be your own smart thermostat controlling the temperature in your apartment throughout the day. Your apartment community probably won’t foot the bill for this tech upgrade in your apartment, but at least you can take the unit with you when you move into a new place.
8. Electronic Lockers
Your apartment community can replace traditional mailboxes with electronic lockers for sale. Electronic lockers offer touchpad access so you can retrieve your packages quickly and easily.
The mail carrier can simply add mail to your unit using a slot or the box can be reserved for in-person deliveries. These electronic lockers are like having your own personal safe where people can drop off personal items to you without fear of theft.
9. Free WiFi
One easy tech upgrade for an apartment community to employ is free WiFi. Companies worldwide offer free WiFi to employees without any security issues.
Ask your apartment complex about the chances of free WiFi being added to the list of amenities offered to residents. They probably already have coverage in the leasing office and business center.
Extending this feature to the residents would simply require an upgrade to their servers. When residents move into the apartment community, it’s one less appointment they’ll have to schedule in order to get settled into their new place.
The Best Tech Upgrades for an Apartment Community
Your apartment community won’t likely make expensive security or entertainment upgrades that aren’t easy to install. But things like wireless cameras and free wireless internet are relatively easy to add on.
Be prepared to make your own tech upgrades on the smaller items like air purifiers and smart thermostats. These provide personal comfort instead of community comfort.
The upside to footing the bill for your own technology is having the option to take the items with you when you settle into your next place. For more information and tech tips, visit our blog for updates.
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