The First 5 Smart Devices Every New Homeowner Should Add

TL;DR: The five smart devices worth installing first are a smart lock, a smart thermostat, a water-leak/smoke detector, a video doorbell or camera, and a central hub to tie them together. If you're buying these for a rental rather than your own home, most fall under the IRS de minimis safe harbor of $2,500 per invoice or item, which lets you deduct the full cost the year you buy it instead of depreciating it.

_Last reviewed: July 2026 · 7 min read_

Moving into a new house comes with a list of "should I get this?" purchases, and smart home gadgets sit near the top with no clear answer. You don't need a house wired like a spaceship — you need the five devices that actually reduce risk, save money, or save you a trip back to the property.

Okoniq Property Hub helps you log which smart devices you've installed at each property, when, and for how much, so the receipt is there if you need it for a repair record or a tax deduction.

What's the most important smart device to install first?

A smart lock is the first device worth installing, because it solves the most common new-homeowner headache: who has a key, and what happens when they lose it. A smart lock lets you assign and revoke codes for a house sitter, a contractor, or a tenant without rekeying anything, and most models log every entry with a timestamp.

For anyone managing a property they don't live in full-time, this also closes off one of the easiest ways in for someone casing the place. Locks are one of several weak points burglars check first, along with sliding doors and unmonitored side entrances — see 7 places burglars look first and how to beat them for the full list. A lock alone won't secure a house, but it's the cheapest fix for the biggest gap.

Should a smart thermostat be device #2?

Yes, a smart thermostat is the second device to add because it's the one with a measurable payback. It learns occupancy patterns, lets you set schedules remotely, and can alert you if the temperature swings outside a safe range — useful if you're away and a furnace fails in January.

For a vacant or seasonal property, this doubles as damage prevention: a thermostat that texts you when the house drops below 50°F can be the difference between a normal winter and a burst pipe. If you're weighing whether this counts as a repair or an upgrade for tax purposes, the distinction matters — see the capitalize vs expense decision tree for how landlords sort that out.

Do smart smoke and water-leak detectors really prevent costly damage?

Yes — leak and smoke detectors are the device most likely to save you money the first year you own them, not the fifth. A basic water sensor placed under a water heater, washing machine, or kitchen sink will alert your phone before a slow leak turns into a five-figure repair. Combined smoke/CO detectors with app alerts do the same for fire risk when you're not home to hear the alarm.

These are inexpensive individually, usually under $50 each, and several can be installed for less than one HVAC service call. If a leak does get past you, the cost of the water damage itself may be deductible in some cases — see casualty loss deduction for rental property for how that works.

Is a smart video doorbell or security camera worth the cost?

Yes, for the same reason the smart lock is — visibility at the entry points is where most break-in attempts either succeed or get abandoned. A doorbell camera records who's at the door, deters porch theft, and gives you a timestamped record if you ever need to show a delivery was made or a visitor came and left.

| Feature | Video Doorbell | Standalone Camera | |---|---|---| | Best for | Front door, package tracking | Driveways, side yards, garages | | Install effort | Usually swaps existing doorbell wiring | Battery or hardwired, more placement options | | Typical cost | $100–$250 | $50–$200 per unit | | Storage | Often cloud subscription | Local SD card or cloud, varies by brand |

Either option pairs well with the smart lock — some systems let you unlock the door remotely after seeing who's there on camera.

Can landlords deduct the cost of smart devices on their taxes?

Often yes, in the year you buy them, if the purchase qualifies for the de minimis safe harbor. The IRS allows landlords to deduct the full cost of a tangible item in the year purchased, rather than depreciating it, if the cost per invoice or per item is $2,500 or less (without an applicable financial statement) or $5,000 or less (with one). A smart lock, thermostat, or doorbell camera bought for a rental typically falls well under that threshold.

To use the safe harbor, you elect it annually by attaching a statement to your timely filed return — read the details in de minimis safe harbor $2,500 — how landlords use it. For a personal residence, none of this applies since there's no rental deduction to take; the devices are simply a purchase, not a tax event. If you're not sure whether a device counts as a repair, an improvement, or something that should be tracked with your existing appliances, the same MACRS depreciation rules that apply to other rental equipment can apply here too.

FAQ

Do I need a hub to connect all five devices?

Not always — many locks, thermostats, and cameras now connect directly to a phone app over Wi-Fi without a