It's why DIY smart home projects suddenly got cheap (and actually doable) ...

Build for monitoring, buy for safety.

Chris Wedel is a fan of all things tech and gadgets. Living in rural Kansas with his wife and two young boys makes finding ways to stay online tricky — not to mention making my homestead smarter.

Begin building a smart home by choosing a primary platform like Alexa, Google, or Apple for easier integration. Smart devices such as speakers, lighting, and thermostats can add convenience and peace ...