New Delhi, Dec. 10 -- Most people buy smart bulbs or an Alexa speaker, try a few voice commands, and then forget about them. I did the same. You might also try a slightly fancier version of those old-school "Clap On, Clap Off" lights. The real power of a smart home shows up when everything works automatically. It's the difference between a regular car and one that locks itself as you walk away. These five automations can transform any setup from basic to genuinely intelligent.

Geofencing uses your phone's location to trigger actions, and it's surprisingly useful. When someone gets within a set radius, say a block away, the porch and garage lights switch on automatically. It feels like arriving at a well-run hotel where everything happens...