About automationhomeguide.com
Who We Are
automationhomeguide.com is run by an independent reviewer with 8+ years of hands-on experience installing and testing smart home systems. We've set up 50+ smart homes — from simple starter kits to complete multi-protocol installations across HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home. Our reviews cover products available in the US, UK, and worldwide.
Our background is analytical and practical. When we test a product, we measure things: uptime percentages tracked over 30 days, response times in milliseconds, energy savings tracked against real utility bills. We don't review press kits — we buy products at retail and use them for months.
Why We Built This Site
Most smart home content online has two problems. First, it's written by people who've never set up a smart home in a real house — they test products in isolation, not in context with real WiFi congestion, real family usage patterns, and real heating and cooling systems. Second, most guides cover only one market — leaving readers in other countries guessing about availability, pricing, and compatibility.
We write for a global audience. Our primary recommendations work in the US and worldwide, with prices in both $ and £. And because smart home needs genuinely differ by region, we add country-specific notes where they matter — US wiring and HVAC, UK bayonet (B22) and GU10 fittings, combi boilers, and regional product availability. You get the right answer wherever you live.
Our Credentials
- a methodical testing background — evidence-based analytical methodology carries directly into product testing
- 8+ years of real installations — HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread, and Home Assistant
- 50+ complete home setups — from starter kits to whole-home multi-protocol systems
- UK specialist — B22/GU10 fittings, combi boilers, tado°, Hive, Octopus Agile integration, UK pricing
- Independent — no manufacturer relationships, no sponsored content, no free samples, ever
Editorial Standards
- All products purchased at retail with personal funds
- All test data is real — uptime figures, response times, energy savings from actual measurements
- We identify products we wouldn't recommend even at good prices (Govee bulb reliability is the clearest example)
- Affiliate commissions do not influence rankings — see our affiliate policy
- Guides updated when products change or readers identify errors
Press and Media
Our 30-Day Smart Bulb Reliability Study is available for citation and republication with attribution. We can provide the raw data CSV and full methodology documentation on request.
Contact us via the contact page for media enquiries, data requests, or corrections.
Coverage
Guides cover US, UK, and international markets. Prices are given in $ and £ and $ where relevant. All products are tested hands-on in real homes. Region-specific notes (US, UK, and beyond) are added where products differ between markets.