Double check you locked your door or see if the garage door is open. Unlock your door for the dog walker or change the temperature on your thermostat. Also, arm or disarm your alarm.

Do it all and more from the convenience of your phone, regardless of your location. Smart homes and home automation systems have integrated with alarm panels for over 30 years. Until recently, this was only available for systems costing tens of thousands of dollars. Fortunately, smart home solutions have fallen in price and alarm manufacturers have caught on that this is the wave of the future.

Many modern alarm panels can interface with “Z-Wave” devices, and act as the hub of your system. Even some older panels can be upgraded to control your lights, and lock and unlock your doors. Honeywell, NAPCO, and DSC, have released upgrades to modernize their systems.

Honeywell’s Vista, Lynx, and Lyric systems, even incorporate your Z-Wave lock as another keypad. The alarm system arms and disarms when you lock and unlock the front door using your pin code.