Service
Smart Home Care Plans and Maintenance
A smart home needs looking after: updates, dead sensor batteries, a new phone that needs adding, a routine that should change with the season. Our care plans handle it for $149 a month, or $299 a month for Estate homes, with one person to call.
Why smart homes need maintenance
A smart home is a small computer network that lives in your house. Device makers ship firmware updates, the hub and the AI software improve, sensor batteries wear out, and families change: new phones, a new nanny, a teenager who now drives. Security guidance from New York State's IT agency is blunt about updates, recommending you check for them continuously with weekly or monthly reminders. Most people don't. A care plan means someone does.
What a care plan covers
| Included | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Updates | Hub, AI software, router and device firmware updated on a schedule, after we've checked they're safe to apply |
| Monitoring | We watch for devices that go quiet, sensors with low batteries and backups that fail, and fix them before you notice |
| Backups | Automatic, encrypted configuration backups with a copy kept off the device, tested periodically |
| Changes on request | New routines, schedule changes, adding a new phone or family member, adjusting alerts |
| Adding devices | Setting up new devices you buy and connecting them to the assistant and your routines |
| Seasonal check-ins | A quarterly review, plus help with opening and closing routines for second homes |
| One person to call | Email or text us, and we reply within one business day |
How we handle updates safely
Updating everything the moment a new version appears is how smart homes break. A device maker ships a change, an integration stops working, and the lights don't come on for the dinner party. We take a slower, safer approach:
- Read before we update. We check release notes for changes that affect the devices in your home.
- Back up first. A fresh, encrypted backup is taken before any significant update, so we can roll back in minutes.
- Update in a quiet window. Changes go in when you're not relying on the house, and never right before you arrive for the season.
- Test the things that matter. Locks, alerts, climate and the assistant are checked after every update.
Security fixes are the exception. When an update closes a real security hole, we apply it promptly and tell you what changed.
When something goes wrong
Most issues are small: a sensor that needs a new battery, a device that dropped off the network after a power cut, a routine that needs adjusting for daylight saving. We fix those remotely, usually before you notice. When something needs hands in the house, we schedule a visit or walk your caretaker through it, and we tell you plainly what happened and what we did.
Plans and prices
| Plan | For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Care | Essentials and Smart Home installs, one property | $149 a month |
| Estate Care | Estate installs: multiple properties, staff and guest access changes, priority support | $299 a month |
Plans are month to month. You keep full administrator access and everything we've installed whether or not you stay on a plan.
Especially useful for second homes
If the house sits empty for part of the year, a care plan is the difference between a system that quietly degrades and one you can trust. A dead leak-sensor battery in February is exactly the kind of problem nobody notices until it matters. We watch sensor health across the house and replace batteries on a seasonal visit or walk your caretaker through it. Read more about second-home monitoring and the freeze, leak and power alerts worth having.
What a care plan doesn't cover
- New hardware, which you approve and buy before it's installed.
- Major additions, such as a new wing, a second property or a full device upgrade, which are quoted as projects.
- Repairs to damaged equipment, or work by electricians, plumbers or other trades.
- Emergency response. We send alerts and help you act on them; we don't dispatch services.
Can I look after it myself?
Yes, and some people do. Everything is in your name, the hub is the open-source Home Assistant, and we hand over documentation at the end of every install. If you're technical and enjoy it, you may not need us. If you'd rather never think about firmware, a care plan is the simple answer. If you're still comparing options, our guide on how to choose a smart home installer covers what ongoing support should include, and the cost guide shows the full first-year picture.
Care plans are available to Kotoh Home clients on Shelter Island, in the Hamptons and on the North Fork, and in the Miami area. Start with a free walk-through of your private AI home assistant install.
Common questions
Do I need a care plan?
No. Everything we install is yours and keeps working without one. A care plan is for people who'd rather not manage updates, batteries and changes themselves, which is most second-home owners.
What's the difference between the $149 and $299 plans?
The $149 plan covers Essentials and Smart Home installs at one property. The $299 plan covers Estate installs, including multiple properties, staff access changes and priority support.
Can I cancel?
Yes, month to month. If you cancel, you keep everything and full administrator access.
Are new devices included?
Setting up and adding new devices you buy is included within reason, along with new routines. Larger additions, like a new room or a second property, are quoted separately.