It seems that there are a lot of things to consider before even buying the first smart device. How would you start when you would start over?
Are there any good beginner guides that helped you?
Important points for me are
- privacy (everything should be local, no Alexa-Karens in my home)
- use of open source/free software
- a good variety of smart things I can use (I don’t want to be tied Apple-like to only one company)
Is there a golden way to build a smart home with these factors in mind?
Amen. Same boat here. I have too much of it now and I want to start migrating to local control. I’m starting on Shelly devices myself.
My WiFi stuff is Shelly and Tasmota, and it’s working great so far. My zigbee stuff is excellent, but I struggle to get good coverage in my concrete bunker of a house.