Gift Ideas for Homeowners
Chances are you know a homeowner. You might even be one yourself. Whether they are a first-time homeowner or have recently moved into a new place, there are some great things out there that will make their house more of a home. It might be a bit late to get some of these things for this Holiday season, but in the spirt of the gift giving season, here are a few ideas.
- Amazon Echo(Dot)/ Google Home/ ivee Voice
Price: $30-$180 or more. There are quite a few options in this category, you can pick whichever you like best based on price and/or features. Basically, these devices can connect to apps, TVs, thermostats, lights, shopping lists, and more every day. Think of it as a very basic, artificially intelligent, personal assistant. There are positives and negatives to all of this tech on your counter top, but being able to shout a rush order for more toilet paper from down the hall is something I think we can all appreciate.
- Nest Learning Thermostat or alternatives
Price: $170 and $250 Price really depends on which version and where you get it. The Nest learns your preferences and adjusts automatically to always keep your home cozy or cool while lowering energy use when possible. It can also connect to some of the devices mentioned above.
- Doorbell camera
Price: $80-$180 There are several options in this category as well. The best reviewed are the Sky Bell HD and The Ring Video Doorbell. Some require a monthly subscription to archive and review video, but all connect to your phone or tablet using an app and allow you to see live streaming video of whatever or whoever is at your door. Using a motion sensor, they are a great way to keep an eye on things as mentioned in a previous blog about protecting your deliveries here: http://bit.ly/2B2wKnh
- Roomba
Price: $280-$900 They are not a cheap gift, but not as expensive as a cleaning service either. These programable robot vacuums can be connected to all three products listed in number 1 also. Simply set the time and wake up to a freshly cleaned home every morning. They do have limitations. I wouldn’t trust it with an expensive rug and it doesn’t agree with stairs. There also some hilarious stories of what happens when a Roomba encounters a mess created by the likes of a not-quite housebroken puppy, but endless videos of well dressed cats riding them have also emerged.
- Bird Feeder
Price: 0-Hundreds This list has been kinda pricey up until now, but prices for bird feeders can be as low as free if you are crafty. It all depends on how much you love birds or hate squirrels. It might be worth a conversation with a bird watcher to see what birds are in your area and how to attract them. One of my favorite things to do in the morning is watch the cardinals in our back yard while sipping a cup of coffee.
- Gift Cards to home improvement stores
Price: Whatever you want to spend New home owners spend more time than they would like to admit at these places. There are always projects that need to be or can be done.
- Mechanical Door Locks
Price: $20-$350 These erase the need to hide a key under a fake rock or door mat to let in a friend or avoid being locked out. They can be as simple as a mechanical combination or as advanced as one that connects to your smart phone or home assistant. If you combine a smart lock with #1 and #3 you could see, allow, in and entertain guests from anywhere you have cell service or wi-fi.
- No Slam Toilet Seats
Price: $25-$40 Especially for newlyweds, there can be a lot of seat slamming going on. They are also great for households with kids. I can still hear my parents yelling not to slam the lid, echoing from my childhood. Help make things safer, quieter, and less stressful with a soft-close toilet seat.
This didn’t start out as a wish list but, I know I would love any of these things. Whether it is a housewarming, birthday, holiday, or anniversary gift I hope this helps to, at least, get you thinking. Good luck to all of our last minute shoppers and Merry Christmas to you and yours!
