Honestly, I see this all the time. Folks want the latest gadgets, but when something goes sideways, it’s a headache nobody needs. I’ve had to “rescue” more than one client from a smart lock that decided to take the day off. There’s nothing wrong with a little tech, but if you can’t fix it with a screwdriver or a hammer, I start to get suspicious. Sometimes simple just works better—especially in these old houses where half the charm is in the quirks anyway.
Title: My House Is Getting Smarter Than Me, And It's Kinda Weird
You nailed it about the quirks being half the charm. I’ve spent more weekends than I care to admit trying to “outsmart” my own 1920s bungalow, and honestly, sometimes it feels like the house is winning. Last winter, I tried installing one of those fancy thermostats that’s supposed to learn your habits. Well, it learned alright—learned how to ignore me completely. Ended up with the heat blasting at 2am and nothing but cold air when I actually needed it.
I get why people want all this new tech—there’s something appealing about controlling everything from your phone or telling a speaker to turn on the lights. But when you’re standing outside in the rain because your smart lock glitched after a power outage... yeah, that’s when you start missing good old-fashioned keys.
Not saying there’s no place for gadgets—I’ve got a couple smart plugs that are actually pretty handy for lamps in weird corners—but I always keep a manual backup if I can. There’s just something reassuring about knowing you can grab a screwdriver and fix what needs fixing without waiting for an app update or tech support.
Honestly, I think there’s a sweet spot somewhere between “everything is WiFi-enabled” and “nothing works unless you hit it with a wrench.” Maybe it’s just picking and choosing what actually makes life easier instead of adding stuff just because it’s new. Old houses have survived this long for a reason... sometimes they know best.
Anyway, you’re not alone in feeling weirded out by all this smart stuff. Sometimes simple really does win out—especially when you’re dealing with creaky floors and doors that never quite close right.
Honestly, I think there’s a sweet spot somewhere between “everything is WiFi-enabled” and “nothing works unless you hit it with a wrench.”
Couldn’t agree more. My 1915 place has opinions about “smart” upgrades—like, the walls just eat WiFi for breakfast. Tried a smart doorbell once, but the brick just laughed at me. Still, I do love my smart bulbs for those hard-to-reach fixtures. But yeah, nothing beats being able to just flip a breaker or jiggle a handle when things get weird. Sometimes old-school just feels safer, you know?
I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not totally convinced old-school is always safer. I’ve had a couple of those “just jiggle the handle” moments turn into bigger headaches—like, suddenly there’s water everywhere or the lights won’t come back on. At least with smart stuff, sometimes you get a notification before things go haywire. That said, yeah, old brick and WiFi are basically mortal enemies. Mesh system helped me a bit, but it’s still not perfect. Ever tried powerline adapters for those dead zones?
Powerline adapters are a weird beast. I tried them once in my old place—thought I was a genius for about a week, until the microwave decided to join the party and tanked my connection every time I made popcorn. Still, they did better than WiFi in the basement, so maybe it’s a win?
At least with smart stuff, sometimes you get a notification before things go haywire.
This is true. My smart leak sensor texted me at 3am once—turns out it was just condensation, but hey, at least I didn’t wake up to an indoor swimming pool. I do miss the days when “fixing” something meant hitting it until it worked again, though.
Curious if anyone’s had luck with those WiFi extenders that plug right into an outlet? Or do they just make things slower everywhere else?
