You love your smartphone and can’t live without it. Imagine if other things in your life were smart, too. Like your house. It’s not technology of the future, but is here today. Smart appliances and gadgets are available to make your life easier.

Below, find nine reasons why you should turn your regular house into an amazing, helpful, smart home.

You can be a bad cook without endangering your family. 

Have you ever set off the smoke detector when cooking? Those things seem to be ultra sensitive sometimes, particularly when you’re baking a cake… or boiling water. Many people become frustrated with their touchy fire detector and simply remove the battery. But that’s dangerous, particularly if you’re forgetful and don’t put it back.

Modern smoke detectors are sleek-looking and offer carbon monoxide detection, too. They come with a built-in light for emergency situations and it’s possible to turn off non-emergency alarms – like when you burn your biscuits – without disconnecting the entire alarm. Best of all, these new detectors send notifications to your phone if a fire does occur.

You can be a great cook

The future is now. SmartyPans help with every step of the cooking, including providing real-time recipe instructions, weight and caloric measurements, and temperature recommendations. Never undercook or burn another meal again.

When combined with smart appliances, your kitchen will transform you from an average cook to a spectacular one.

You can check up on your teen while you’re at work

Video monitoring capabilities allows live-streaming from in or around your home to your smartphone, tablet, or desktop. You’ll receive an email or text alert if motion is detected and night vision ensures that you can even keep up late night activities.

Summer months will no longer be a time of concern, because your smart home can help you monitor your teen’s daily routine.

You can get the help you need

Thanks to devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home, you won’t ever be on your own. These hands-free assistants respond to simple commands and can order dinner, arrange for a ride, or provide verbal answers to questions through the use of the internet.

Basically, these products are bluetooth speakers, but you’re able to do so much more than just play your favorite playlists. Capabilities extend across many functions and make controlling your smart home much easier.

You can remotely control your home

While devices such as the Echo or Home allow you to provide verbal commands for your home, they are ineffective the instant you are out of audible range. Thankfully, most smart homes can be remotely controlled via mobile device. Be it your security system, your thermostat, or even your TV, devices today can be monitored and changed with the touch of a finger. Remote control converters that plug into electronic devices enable just about any device to be smart.

Long night ahead? Use your phone to tell your appliances to begin heating water for some fresh coffee when you walk in the door to your smart home.

You can set the mood

It’s movie night and you and your significant other are already cuddling on the couch. The trailers are over and the feature presentation is just about to begin, but you forgot to dim the lights. With a smart home, it’s not a problem. Simply use your phone, tablet, or laptop to adjust the lighting and even close the shades.

Hate waking up to a dank room? Schedule your shades to open before your alarm goes off for natural sunlight and a cheerful morning.

On vacation? Remotely control or set a schedule for your lighting that mimics real usage, so not even those nosy neighbors will know you’re away.

You can vacuum your home (or swimming pool) without lifting a finger

Sweeping hardwood floors and vacuuming high-traffic carpeted areas can be a pain in the neck, figuratively and literally. However self-vacuuming devices, like the well-known Roomba, make cleaning a breeze. Roombas are long-running, wireless, vacuums that move seamlessly from carpet to linoleum and back again and are programmable from your favorite mobile device.

Roomba-style cleaning robots also exist for the swimming pool, making time for more fun in the sun.

You can live independently as a senior