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The Latest Smart Home On The Range Blog
Smart Home Build – Week 42
Week 42 brought a blend of forward momentum, schedule shuffling, and strategic prep work - the sort of week that reminds me construction isn’t just about physical progress, but also about timing. Every crew relies on the one before it, every task affects the next, and Thanksgiving shortening next week made the choreography even more delicate. Still, we saw meaningful movement in several key areas ...
Follow Our Home Build Week By Week
Week 42
Week 42 brought a blend of forward momentum, schedule shuffling, and strategic prep work - the sort of week that reminds me construction isn’t just about physical progress, but also about timing. Every crew relies on the one before it, every task affects the next. Still, we saw meaningful movement in several key areas ...
Week 41
As we move into Week 41 of our smart home build, the house continues to transform in ways that are both exciting and slightly surreal. Each new pass by the trades fills in another layer of detail. This week brought steady, meaningful progress - and a couple of small setbacks that reminded me construction timelines may be more flexible than I’d like.
Week 40
After last week’s progress on fiber, finishes and a little DIY, this week felt like another big step toward turning the house into a home. The crews were busy both inside and out, and for the first time, you can start to sense the character of the place taking shape - from the details of the trim to the trees we’re choosing to someday shade the yard.
Week 39
Coming off the momentum of last week, Week 39 felt like the next big leap forward. This was one of those weeks where progress came from all directions: major dirt work on the lot, painters doing finish work, the fiber crew getting us one step closer to full connectivity, and me sneaking in a few satisfying DIY details of my own.
Week 38
Week 38
It’s been another exciting week, including a some installations I did. Counter tops, sinks and attic ladders were installed inside the house. The look of the counter tops has taken the interior to an entirely new level. The work I did has smart home implications with some weatherproofing outside.
Week 37
Week 38
Week 37 was a busy one as we finalized many interior design decisions and integrated an exciting new smart home feature. Inside the house, the bathrooms progressed with waterproofing and tile work, while painters prepped for staining and painting cabinetry and trim. We also started planning the installation of our storm shelter.
Week 36
Week 36
Week 36
We took advantage of Amazon’s Prime Days sale this week to stock up on all kinds of stuff for our new home - part of it I was able to install over the weekend with a little help from my son. From a house build perspective, we started landscape planning and finalized paint and stain so the painters could get started with their interior work.
Week 35
Week 36
Week 36
Another milestone this week: the transition from temporary construction power to the home’s permanent electrical service. The temporary setup was essential during the early phases of construction, providing reliable power for saws, compressors, lighting, and other tools while the house was still being framed, wired, and plumbed.
Week 34
Week 36
Week 34
Exterior flatwork is in place! We set forms, packed sand, reinforced with rebar, and poured the porch, patio, driveway, and walkway. Added a foundation perimeter to prevent soil movement and pre-installed PVC conduits under the driveway and walk for irrigation water, control cabling, and low-voltage lighting. Planning ahead now = fewer headaches later.
Week 33
Week 33
Week 34
Think about how essential water is in your home yet you rarely hear about smart water systems. But they’re quietly managing water - keeping it reliable, efficient, and safe. By integrating smart home water management systems, you can create a home that delivers comfort, protection, and long-term savings.
Week 32
Week 33
Week 32
Trim work wraps up, paint/stain prep begins and electricians were back onsite. For now, the priority is getting paint and stain completed to start flooring. I was also able to spend some time onsite working to get ahead of the move-and-install curve for outdoor cameras and backyard speakers.
Week 31
Week 33
Week 32
More interior trim work this week and decisions made to keep the house build on track. Finalizing paint and stain decisions with the painters in next week to prime walls and cabinetry. Also I've found the perfect smart motorized blind solution to take advantage of the windows where I have Cat6 run.
Smart Home Product News
Need a Robot Vacuum That'll Pick Up After You?
With the launch of Roborock's Saros Z70, the first ever robot vacuum with a mechanical arm, your next home helper may be able to pick up stuff scattered about the room instead of simply cleaning around them. It features a first-of-its-kind five-axis robotic arm that emerges from the bot when it encounters items. It lifts any items weighing less than 10.5 ounces and deposits them in a single pile or designated basket, so it can continue to clean unobstructed.
Sunseeker Robot Mowers Cover Yards (Very) Large and Small
Sunseeker is bringing its excellent onboard intelligence to three new robot mower models, including a new top-of-the-line model that’s capable of handling spreads of up to 3 acres.
The brand announced the entry-level X3, the mid-range X5, and the X7 Pro with a 3 acre due to being equipped with two 10Ah batteries.
The rear-wheel-drive X3 carries a 4Ah battery. It can handle up to 0.2-acre yards.
xBloom Studio Coffee Machine
xBloom Studio Coffee Machine
The new xBloom Studio Coffee Machine combines the grinder, brewer, and scale into one sleek design. This device caters to all levels of coffee drinkers, providing fully automated, semi-guided, and fully manual brewing experiences. You can set your brew preferences on either the xBloom app or the device's compact LED matrix display. It's the ultimate home-brewer for coffee drinkers dedicated to consistency and precision.