RENTERS, REJOICE! 8 EASY SMART HOME UPGRADES THAT WON'T LEAVE A TRACE

RENTING? CHECK OUT THESE APARTMENT-FRIENDLY SMART DEVICES, FROM SMART SPEAKERS AND LIGHTS TO VIDEO DOORBELLS AND WATER LEAK DETECTORS.

- BY BEN PATTERSON

Renting an apartment or house doesn't mean you must forgo the convenience of a smart home; in fact, you might be surprised by the possibilities for making your home life easier, all of which can be achieved without drilling or making any lease-breaking modifications to your dwelling.

I've been a serial renter all my adult life, and I've been reviewing smart home devices for more than six years. My Brooklyn rental is decked out with smart lights, a video doorbell, security cameras, smart water leak detectors, and more. Yet I'm confident that when my family picks up stakes for a new abode, we'll be able to take our smart devices with us, all without leaving a trace.

I'll be ticking off types of smart devices that are decidedly apartment-friendly, from smart bulbs that you can screw into existing sockets to stickup video doorbells that don't require wired power. These smart gadgets are easy to install, and once your lease is up, you can pack them up without putting your security deposit at risk.

Once you've perused our guide, click through to see our top picks for each category. Renters unite!

1. SMART LIGHTS

Smart bulbs rank as among the easiest way for renters to begin their smart home journeys. An Edison-style smart bulb can be screwed into a standard light socket, and you can reduce your initial outlay by choosing a bulb that's controllable via WiFi or Bluetooth.

Once you're ready to expand, you can add a smart hub for even greater control (such as a Philips Hue Bridge), while light strips and smart light panels can add atmosphere with simple stickup installation.

Renter’s pick: Philips Hue White Ambiance A19 (Bluetooth + Zigbee)