These days, conversations about new homes often include some discussion about smart features. It seems every time you turn around, there is a new app or gadget intended to improve your experience in your new home. So should you try to make your new home in New Jersey as smart as possible? Let’s take a quick look at a few of the pros and cons of smart homes.

First let’s consider some of the significant advantages to smart technologies for the home:

• It’s really convenient to be able to control your lights, heat, door locks, music and sprinklers from anywhere in the house. Many solutionseven allow you to control all of those systems remotely, so if you’re out for the evening, you can turn lights on or off or adjust the thermostat from wherever you are.

• It’s also nice to be able to check the security of your home from anywhere. You can set an alarm for your home remotely, check video on your phone or tablet and lock and unlock doors as needed.

• Having control of lights and heating/cooling from anywhere can actually save you money on utilities. You can turn off uneeded lights. If you’re away from home, you can turn the thermostat up or down when the house is empty and then adjust the temperature to a more comfortable setting right before coming home.

What about the other side of the equation? Is there a downside to smart technology?

• Let’s just say that smart technology isn’t flawless. Sometimes separate systems (e.g. security and lighting) don’t always play well together. While there does seem to be movement toward more universal control, not everything works that way yet.

• There’s also a learning curve. Becoming familiar with a new technology seems to some like more trouble than it’s worth. If trying to figure out a smart system is frustrating, the annoyance the new system causes may outweigh any convenience it could provide.

• On top of that, it’s important to realize that technology is constantly changing. People who are in a rush to install the latest and greatest applications may find in six months (or less) thata better solution now exists. Homeowners intent on having the most cutting-edge technology in their new homes may be faced with updating existing applications or purchasing a new system before long.

What’s the answer? Should you go “smart” or not? It really depends on you. If you enjoy dealing with technology and really see the benefit certain applications offer, go for it! If technology frustrates you or simply doesn’t offer enough of an advantage, don’t worry about it. Only install technologies you’re confident you can use and that deliver a benefit you really care about. Remember: technology is there to serve you—not the other way around!