Reddit mentions of Samsung F-MN US-2 Home Monitoring Kit, White

So I'm a big fan of starting with a bigger picture and going smaller. You need a hub that will control your smart home. Smartthings is a great choice for someone who doesn't necessarily want to tinker, but wants to do some more advanced things. It's inexpensive, can be purchased nearly anywhere, offers iOS and Android apps, and ties in with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. HomeAssistant, HomeSeer, and others are great systems for tinkerers but require a certain mindset and knowhow to operate.

What's great about smartthings is it has z-wave and zigbee radios built into it, so you can expand your house with all kinds of sensors. For example, I have Smartthings and sensors on my doors, windows, outlets I control, and much more. Here is the door and window sensors I use to be notified as soon as my doors open and close, here is the outlets I use to control my lamp and cameras, and I also have lights hooked up that I can control as well.

I use my smartthings hub as a makeshift security systems. So whenever a door or window opens, I get notified. If my front door opens between 9 PM and midnight, my kitchen light turns on. If any window or door opens between midnight and 6 AM, all of my lights come on. I also have two indoor cameras hooked up to z-wave outlets (listed above) which I have on between certain hours (when we're not home), so I can easily see if someone comes in or doesn't stop by (ahem, maintenance).

To get started with the front door sensor, you're looking at around $100 with a hub and sensor. You can then expand easily, and trust me, you'll want to. You could even get this smartthings starter kit and secure more than just your front door

This kit with the hub and door sensors: https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SmartThings-F-MN-Monitoring-White/dp/B076HFQ2B9/

And this light switch: https://www.amazon.com/Z-Wave-Dimmer-ZEN22-Regular-Required/dp/B074V8PG51/

Basically every first-party Smartthings sensor is top-quality, so that's an easy place to start. Zooz is like the go-to reasonably priced switch too.

For lighting, I would recommend avoiding smart bulbs except in very certain circumstances. A smart outlet for a lamp or a smart in-wall switch for installed lights is generally the way to go.

Smart things starter kit is half off on amazon right now.

You’ll get a hub, two open/close sensors, motion sensor, and smart plug.

Starter Kit $129.99

If you don't have a SmartThings hub, you can pick up a starter kit (with the version 2 hub...still good it's what I use) for $99 on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SmartThings-F-MN-Monitoring-White/dp/B076HFQ2B9/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540932558&sr=8-3&keywords=smartthings+starter+kit

The kit contains:

• 1 version 2 SmartThings hub
  
• 2 door sensors
  
• 1 motion sensor
  
• 1 smart plug
  
  
  For a deadbolt, I use Kwikset 910 Z-Wave:
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SmartThings-F-MN-Monitoring-White/dp/B076HFQ2B9/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540932558&sr=8-3&keywords=smartthings+starter+kit
  
  It's great not having to take keys out of my pocket.
  
  
  
  Once I got into the whole smart house thing, I went "all-in" and currently have:
  
  
• Over 40 Z-Wave light switches
  
• 4 motion sensors (ZigBee)
  
• 3 door sensors (ZigBee)...closet doors (automatically turn on closet light) and gun safe (alert me when it opens)
  
• 2 Z-Wave thermostats
  
• ZigBee landscape RGB LED strips
  
• ZigBee outdoor RGB lights
  
• and much more...

The app is free but you have to buy a SmartThings hub as the start. I suggest getting a kit LIKE THIS as a starter as it includes several other things too. If you have an Echo or Google Home assistant you can also tie those in to control the thermostat by voice too.