Making a Brilliant Move: How One Family Took What They Loved About Their Smart Home to a New City

Moving to a new house brings excitement, fresh starts, and a whole lot of packing and unpacking. It also brings the challenge of adapting to an unfamiliar space. You might find outdated phone lines in every room, as well as an aerial TV antenna or “mystery” light switches that connect to nothing.

For Kristen Elder, Vice President of Customer Experience & DTC Channels at Kohler Company, and her tech-savvy family, moving from Virginia to Illinois meant leaving behind a beloved, fully automated home. They had outfitted their previous house from top to bottom with the Brilliant Smart Home System. Leaving that convenience behind was tough, but it offered a unique opportunity to build an even better setup in their new home.

Kristen, a technology professional with a background in consumer electronics, is an expert in the smart home systems on the market. She and her husband recently tackled the process of selling a fully integrated smart house and starting over in a sprawling new property.

Read on to discover how the Elder family uses Brilliant to customize their living space, plus get their top tips for handing over a smart home to new owners.

Creating a Unified Smart Home Experience

Before discovering Brilliant, Kristen tested several smart home products. Her family previously used a different startup's lighting controls. The system worked well enough until a larger company bought it, locking down the ecosystem and requiring custom installers for any changes.

That was a non-starter for this family. Kristen wanted something accessible. Her family needed a system they could configure themselves. That is when they found the Brilliant Smart Home System.

They removed the old system and installed Brilliant panels or dimmer switches throughout their home. This gave them total control of their environment. Brilliant touchscreen panels make it easy for everyone in the home to control lighting, climate, access, music, and home automation scenes. The family loved the unified experience.

Flexibility Beyond Traditional Wiring

Older homes often feature confusing electrical layouts. You might find kitchen light switches located in the hallway, or a bank of switches that only control wall outlets.

Brilliant solves this problem instantly. You do not need to rely on the literal wiring of the house.

"The flexibility of it and the ability to customize how you live in your house is my favorite thing," Kristen explains. "For whatever reason, all the switches that operate the lighting in our kitchen are on the walls outside of the kitchen. With Brilliant, we can unify those zones."

You simply install the controllers and group your lights via the Brilliant app. This allows you to create functional spaces without tearing open the walls to rewire your home.

Automation for Everyday Convenience

The Elder family relied heavily on Brilliant's built-in motion sensors to optimize their daily routines. They set up specific rules for different areas of the house:

• Bathroom lights and fans automatically turn on when someone enters. The bathroom fan automatically shuts off after 30 minutes.

• Outside lighting activates at sunset and shuts off at 1:00 AM.

• All interior lights power down automatically at midnight.

These simple automations reduce energy costs and provide a seamless living experience. The house anticipates your needs, turning lights on when you walk in and shutting them off when you leave.

Personalized Touches for the Family

Brilliant controls do more than operate lights and locks. They serve as interactive photo frames. Kristen’s husband regularly loaded highlights from family vacations onto the panels.

Her two boys, aged 10 and 13, loved seeing new photos pop up on the screens after a trip. The intuitive touchscreen design also meant the kids could easily operate the home’s lights and features without needing a smartphone.

How to Sell a Fully Automated Smart Home

Selling a home equipped with dozens of smart devices presents a unique challenge. How do you transfer ownership of the network and the devices to the new buyers?

Some prospective buyers didn't understand the power of the complete Brilliant system. The family that ultimately bought the house was thrilled to inherit a fully automated setup. To make the transition seamless, Kristen and her husband left behind a comprehensive instruction manual.

They simplified the handover process using these smart strategies:

• Create a Home-Specific Email: They set up a dedicated Gmail account just for the house. This allowed them to transfer all Brilliant, Sonos, and Nest accounts seamlessly without untangling their personal emails.

• Leave the Hardware: The Elders left their routers and network access points behind. This ensured the new owners would not have to reconfigure 100+ devices to a new Wi-Fi network.

• Write a Cheat Sheet: Kristen’s husband provided a detailed guide. He explained how to use the Brilliant wall controls, how the motion sensors worked in the attic and closets, and how to activate specific scenes like "EveryDay" or "Dim."

"Once you walk them through it, they are really excited to have it," Kristen notes. Because Brilliant looks and functions like a standard switch at its core, anyone can figure it out.

Starting Fresh With a Massive Installation

Now settling into their new Chicago-area home, the Elders are ready to run the exact same play. Their new house is significantly larger, boasting well over 100 switches.

Upgrading a home of this size takes time. They are painting and tackling installation room by room. Kristen’s husband is handling the setup himself.

They have already encountered typical older-home quirks. The very first switch they opened lacked a neutral wire—a common hurdle in home renovations. Fortunately, the rest of the electrical boxes have been fully equipped.

The family is particularly excited to install the newest Brilliant controls featuring 5G Wi-Fi compatibility. This upgraded connectivity will easily support their massive device network. With three or four rooms already online, the kids are happy to have their favorite smart home features back.

Things to Know About Moving With Smart Tech

Should I leave my smart switches when I move?

Yes, leaving integrated smart home technology often increases your home’s appeal to buyers. Products like Brilliant install directly into the wall and act as permanent fixtures. Providing a ready-to-use smart home can serve as a strong selling point.

How do I transfer ownership of my smart home system?

The easiest method is to create a dedicated email address for your home’s systems. Link your Brilliant, thermostat, and security accounts to this generic email. When you move, simply give the buyers the login credentials.

Do I need a custom installer to put Brilliant in my new house?

While a large installation may go more smoothly with professional installation, a capable DIY-er can complete the job. Brilliant is designed for seamless installation, whether for a DIY-er or a professional. It replaces a standard light switch with a smart panel that fits into the standard electrical box. As long as you have neutral and ground wires, a handy homeowner can complete the installation using the provided step-by-step instructions.

Start Your Own Smart Home Transformation

Moving into a new place gives you a blank canvas. You have the perfect opportunity to upgrade your lighting, enhance your security, and make your daily routines effortless.

Transform any house or apartment into a powerful and efficient smart home with the Brilliant Smart Home System. Everyone in the home gains instant access to lighting, climate, and security, directly from your wall and benefits from the scene automation for easy living.

Find the right Brilliant Smart Home System for your space today.