Why New Projects Are Not Always Smart Home-Ready
Buyers of homes or condominiums for elderly residents often assume new project = Smart Home-Ready. In reality, Bangkok projects built between 2022 and 2025 vary enormously. Smart Home-focused projects install Conduit, Fiber, and backup power from the construction phase. Others install only a Smart Lock on the unit door and market themselves as Smart. The 8-point checklist below should be raised with both the sales team and juristic management before committing to purchase.
1. Fiber Optic to the Unit or Just to the Floor?
Quality projects provide Fiber-to-the-Unit (FTTU) rather than Fiber-to-the-Floor (FTTF) distributed via aging LAN cable. FTTU speeds support clear Telemedicine video calls and smooth IoT device operation. Request the Infrastructure Diagram from the sales team.
2. Is There Conduit Routing for Additional Cables in the Unit?
Installing a mmWave Sensor on the ceiling requires power and data cabling. Without pre-installed Conduit, ceiling removal and repainting is necessary — adding 15,000–40,000 THB per unit. Ask: is there spare Conduit in the ceiling? Are there inter-room cable routes in the walls?
3. Does the Generator Cover All Units or Only Common Areas?
Many projects run Generator power only for elevators, lobbies, and corridor lighting — not individual units. If power fails while the elderly resident is alone, mmWave sensors and LINE Notify (which require WiFi) stop working entirely. Good projects cover all units, or at minimum provide UPS support for Smart Home Hubs.
4. Is a Smart Lock Installed on the Unit Door, or Is It an Extra Cost?
Project-installed Smart Locks are often models that buyers cannot easily replace or integrate with third-party apps. Ask: can the installed Smart Lock connect to Home Assistant or third-party apps, or is it restricted to the project’s proprietary app? Proprietary-only locks are a meaningful disadvantage.
5. What Is the Ceiling Height in the Unit?
mmWave Sensors should be installed at 2.0–2.4 metres. Ceilings below 2.5 metres may result in inadequate coverage and blind spots. Premium new projects typically offer 2.7–3.0 metre ceilings, which are ideal for mmWave placement.
6. Does Juristic Management Permit Additional IoT Device Installation?
Some projects have juristic rules prohibiting wall drilling, cable routing, or external device mounting. Review Juristic Rules carefully before purchase — Smart Home upgrades that cannot be implemented due to building regulations represent wasted investment.
7. Is EV Charging Available for Wheelchairs or Mobility Scooters?
For elderly residents using Power Wheelchairs or Mobility Scooters, charging facilities in the car park are a practical necessity. Quality new projects should provide EV Charging Points on at minimum the B1 car park level.
8. How Far Is the Nearest Hospital During Rush Hour?
Measure actual travel time on a weekday at 17:00–18:00, not straight-line distance. Ask the sales team to show a Google Maps screenshot taken on a working day, and confirm the destination hospital has an ICU and Cardiac Emergency unit — not just an outpatient clinic.
A project passing all 8 criteria is genuinely Smart Home-Ready for elderly residents. Projects passing fewer than 5 criteria warrant careful evaluation of whether the additional Retrofit costs justify the purchase price difference.