What Smart Home Technology Can Do for Your Lake Home or Cabin
More Comfort, Less Worry, Whether You're There or Not
Nature is beckoning. You're already dreaming of unplugging and enjoying a swim in the lake or sitting by the fire in your cabin. But when you get there, you’re greeted by a dark, unwelcoming estate with a frigid or muggy entryway. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With smart home technology, it’s easy to prepare your estate for your arrival and keep it safe while you’re away.
We want your lake retreat to feel as natural as possible. That’s not possible if you spend your brief weekend stay fighting with controls you don’t understand. At Audio Video Extremes, we’ve been serving Crow Wing County and Central Minnesota for decades and know the tech features best suited to the ultimate lake living.
SEE MORE: Why Every New Build Needs a Pre-Wiring Strategy
Your Cabin Should Be Ready the Moment You Arrive
After driving 90 minutes to reach your lakeside property, all you want to do is decompress. Before even hitting the road, you can activate your smart thermostat so the cabin is at the perfect temperature when you walk in. Systems like Control4 even include geofencing capabilities. Your smart home detects when you’re approaching and can trigger a Welcome scene. It turns on the foyer lights and starts playing a relaxing playlist as you pull up.
Automated landscape lighting turns on at dusk, so you always arrive at a warm, welcoming space. As you approach, the driveway lights illuminate to guide your way to the front door. When you leave, the temperature goes back to ecomode (avoid turning it off entirely to reduce the risk of frozen pipes or mold). Shades open and close on a schedule to simulate activity. And your landscape lighting continues to provide ambient illumination to deter intruders and showcase your beautiful architecture.
Keep Your Property Safe When You Are Not Around
Add motion-activated security cameras that alert you if someone approaches your property. Then, from your app, check in remotely to see if it’s a neighbor checking in or if there's unexpected activity at the dock or in the driveway. With smart locks, you can remotely let in property managers or housekeepers or provide them with access codes.
With most lake cabins and vacation properties sitting empty for long stretches of time, they face particular risks beyond just intruders. There’s the risk of frozen pipes in winter, flooding with the spring thaw, or power outages. For that reason, we recommend adding environmental sensors to all these properties. You’ll receive immediate alerts if the temperature drops below a dangerous threshold, if leak detectors notice water under sinks or near water heaters, or if there are any gas leaks.
Get More Out of Every Moment at the Lake
The whole point of a lake home is being outside on the dock, on the patio, or around the fire pit. Smart technology extends the living experience beyond the cabin walls. We offer intuitive controls that are easy for guests unfamiliar with the property to learn.
Whole-home audio systems play music from room to room and out to the dock or deck, all controlled from one app on a smartphone. Weather-resistant outdoor speakers can be installed at the dock, on the patio, or around a pool area. Through expert placement and calibration, you get the same quality sound no matter where you are.
Landscape and pathway lighting turn on at sunset and off at sunrise, so you’re never left in the dark while hanging out, and you don’t end up wasting energy when it’s not needed. A single scene like "Lake Night" could simultaneously dim interior lights, turn on patio speakers, activate pathway lights, and turn on the fire pit, all with one tap or a voice command
Unwind from the stress of everyday life with a lakeside property that practically manages itself. Our experts know what it takes to design technology in remote, part-time properties. To get started, call or fill out our contact form.
