TELUS Smart Home for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know

Living in a TELUS smart home means you can check on your home from anywhere using your mobile device. You can turn the lights on before you arrive home or get notifications when doors or windows are opened. It’s technologies like these that can make everyday life less stressful. You don’t have to completely change your lifestyle to add smart technologies to your home to make it more convenient.

To start adding smart home technologies to your home, decide which problem you want to solve, for example, receiving package-delivery notifications, keeping your front door locked, or ensuring your entryway stays well lit. You can find solutions to each of these problems and others in this guide. Knowing how a TELUS smart home works will help you decide what purchases to make first.

What is a TELUS smart home?

TELUS smart home technology integrates several services to offer app-based controls and automations. Based on your setup, you can use a range of devices such as smart cameras, locks, lights and plugs, thermostats and alarms. The beauty of TELUS smart home technology is the ability to control several smart home devices through the TELUS SmartHome app instead of having to use a different app for each brand.

Through the TELUS SmartHome app, you can, for example, check a live camera feed, lock your doors, or create a lighting schedule to turn on or off the lights at your convenience. TELUS smart home technology can benefit homeowners, renters, condo owners, travellers, and families. While cameras and alerts can provide quicker response, they can’t replace good habits, insurance, and a peace of mind. Think of smart home tech as a layer that provides convenience, useful info and removes small annoyances in your daily routine.

Why beginners often get the most value from smart-home basics

A lot of beginners think they need to purchase every device at once. If anything, that will get you the most confusing and most expensive system. The best way to start is to pick one of your daily frustrations. For your first pain point, you could get a device that helps with deliveries, like a video doorbell. Maybe you’ve thought about how handy it would be to have a light fixture that turns on and off with your voice, but you’re not about to replace all of your light fixtures. Instead, you can buy a smart plug and attach it to an existing lamp. Maybe your family visits without keys and you wish they could come and go as they please, like with a smart lock. Maybe the thing you worry about the most is your basement and having a water leak sensor would ease your mind.

Starting with a concern and moving on to the next can help you with your next purchase.

Choosing the right TELUS smart home path

There are two main paths beginners should understand about TELUS’ smart home offerings: self-monitored smart home automation and professionally-monitored security. With TELUS SmartHome, the focus is on self-monitoring and automation. With supported smart devices, you can be notified of activity, manage your devices, and create automations through the TELUS app.

TELUS SmartHome Security, by contrast, provides professional monitoring. When an alarm triggers, the TELUS monitoring centre can notify you and/or contact the authorities. Emergency services can then respond to the alarm, making this option a good fit for people who travel or want emergency support.

Professional monitoring usually means difference plan terms, equipment and costs. So don’t just look at the monthly price when comparing plans. SmartHome offers app control and automation as well as alerts and cameras. On the other hand, SmartHome Security offers professional alarm monitoring.

A smaller, more basic SmartHome setup may be good for someone who wants to test out the waters with smart home technology.

A TELUS smart home should be based on your needs. Just because your neighbor has professional monitoring, doesn’t mean you should, too. Also, if you don’t have professional monitoring, self-monitoring means you will be the first person responder if there is an alarm.

Start your TELUS smart home with a clear goal

Choosing a goal before looking at devices helps a lot with avoiding buyers remorse. Choose package awareness goals, and start with a doorbell or outdoor camera. The ‘easier entry’ goal could incorporate a smart lock. The ‘more comfortable’ goal could include smart plugs or a thermostat. For the ‘protect’ goal, consider sensors including water leak, motion, or door/window contact.

Now, think about the areas of your house that you could use the most help with. For example, think about the front and back doors, patio door, garage, basement, utility room, and dim or long hallways. These are often the places you could use a device the most.

A smart home grows in stages, and your understanding of what you truly need grows with it. Start with one or two devices, then use what you learn to decide what to add next.

TELUS smart home devices beginners should understand

Although there are a lot of product names, most fall under a few easy categories.

• Cameras and video doorbells let you see and get alerts about activity and help with deliveries, visitors and pets. Also, they can help cover areas like your backyard. When placing a camera, think about your neighbors’ privacy. You may want to keep a camera aimed at your own door as opposed to a camera aimed at your neighbor’s door.

• Smart locks let you lock and unlock doors with your phone or a code. Smart locks can help with busy or large households and guests. Maintain a backup plan in the event of dead batteries, phone issues, or a missed code.

• Door/window and motion sensors allow you to monitor activity in key areas and can be very valuable in providing notification of entry. These sensors are useful to provide coverage for entry areas without the use of video.

• Plug and light modules can be easy to use first generation automation products. You can automate lamps to be turned on at sunset, or turn off a standby appliance. You can create scenes to automate and control your home to give the illusion of occupancy.

Similar to automating your lights, you can automate your home to be comfortable and help you maintain good habits with energy scheduling. Devices work best when you implement sensible schedules instead of unstable temperatures. Many of the TELUS smart home products help you connect to a range of compatible third-party products. However, always consult the official list of products. Sometimes a product connects but offers a reduced functionality compared to the products TELUS sells directly.

Setting up your TELUS smart home without stress

Setting up your smart home system is easier when you have great home internet to ensure your system has reliable connection. Good mesh network is important to make sure your smart home devices function properly, especially if your devices are being placed at the end of a long Wi-Fi zone. No one wants to install a camera to find out it can’t even connect to the system.

Once you have your home system set up, you can start downloading and using the TELUS SmartHome app. Read the instructions for each device and complete them one by one. Name each device something descriptive like, “Front Door” or “Basement Leak Sensor” to help you better identify the devices later. Avoid names like, “Device 1.”

It’s important to test your sensors and cameras right away. Try opening a secured door or ringing a doorbell to see if a notification is sent and what it says. Alerts can be adjusted. If you have too many alerts, important notifications can go unnoticed. Start with high value alerts like the front door, water leaks, carbon monoxide and smoke alerts. You can adjust your notifications later.

TELUS has self-installation resources and professional installation can be requested in some areas. If you feel uncomfortable drilling or wiring, or you aren’t sure about where to place the devices, professional help can be a time saver.

Helpful TELUS smart home routines to try first

Automation routines are where TELUS Smart Home starts to feel useful. The best routines quietly enhance your day. You barely have to think about them. Try a routine called “Away” that turns off select lights, adjusts the thermostat and sends you a reminder to lock the door. You can also create a routine called “Evening” that turns on a lamp in the hallway before bed.

You can use a smart plug that is programmed to turn on a lamp in the living room to make your home look lived in while you’re away. For a morning routine you can program your lights to slowly turn on to avoid being startled by a bright light.

Not every routine can be complex at first. Give yourself time to test new routines and adapt them to best fit your needs. Smart-home automation should help reduce your mental clutter and not increase it.

Budgeting for a TELUS smart home

A TELUS smart home costs more than the upfront price of the devices. Consider monthly costs of a subscription or equipment. Be sure to add taxes, financing, and installation to the cost as well. Promotional conditions may require you to maintain service for a set period. Decide on an affordable monthly cost. You can always add convenience features later. Initially you should be more concerned with safety. Smart devices with security features such as cameras, locks and sensors are more important than gadgets with less utility.

Separate your “must have” devices from “nice to have” devices. For instance, a smart water leak sensor by a hot water tank may pay for itself with the money you would have spent to repair the tank. Color changing light bulbs are “nice to have” and not as important as safety devices. Don’t make the assumption that the cheapest smart home device is the best. It may serve its purpose but may not be compatible with your existing devices. A smart home device that costs slightly more may save you a lot of hassle in the long run.

Privacy, Wi-Fi, and account safety

Treating digital safety as part of home safety means using unique and strong passwords. Use a different password for your email, banking, and smart home accounts and never use the same password for your TELUS account. With multi-factor authentication (available on your TELUS account), you can add an extra layer of security to your account.

To protect your Wi-Fi, make sure your router is up to date, use strong passwords, and limit the number of people who have your Wi-Fi password. If your router supports it, use a guest network.

Also be mindful where you place cameras. Let family members and frequent visitors know the locations of cameras throughout your home. Remember to review app permissions and remove people when necessary. Using the TELUS Smart Home app offers more control and more responsibilities. Notifications and updates need to be managed and the correct people notified.

Common TELUS smart home mistakes to avoid

Things most often forgotten by beginners when purchasing smart home devices from TELUS.

1. Checking compatibility.
2. Placing cameras in dead zones.
3. Setting excessive notifications and muting them.

Beginners can avoid these problems by knowing the official device list, testing signal strength, and starting with essential notifications. Additionally, it’s a good idea to keep a record of device names and purchase dates. The information can come in handy when support is needed. A record of warranty information can also come in handy when a device’s battery needs to be replaced. The basic habits of home maintenance and planning for emergencies should not be forfeited for reliance on smart home devices. Smart home devices can aid in forming good habits, but should not be relied on to aid in home safety and maintenance.

Final thoughts

A TELUS smart home can start small. A good starting point is setting one small goal, and using the TELUS app to achieve it. A good starting point is buying and installing one smart device. It can then be added to other smart home devices that aid in making life at home safer, more comfortable or simpler to control.

The smart home setup that utilizes the most devices does not always work the best. Often a home that needs the least amount of devices in order to aid in the routine of a family works best.