Editorial Policy
Our goal is to earn your trust by being clear, independent, and test‑driven. This policy explains how we choose products, conduct reviews, handle corrections, and fund our work.
Independence and Standards
- We do not sell editorial placement or accept payment for positive coverage.
- Recommendations are based on documented tests and real‑world use across apartments, single‑family homes, and short‑term rentals.
- Privacy, local control, and open standards are first‑class criteria—not afterthoughts.
Product Selection and Sourcing
- We focus on devices that claim offline functionality, open‑protocol support (Matter/Thread, Zigbee/Z‑Wave, HomeKit, local APIs, MQTT), and renter‑safe installs.
- We acquire products by purchasing retail units or accepting time‑limited loaners. Loaners do not guarantee coverage and are disclosed. Where possible, we prefer retail units to mirror the consumer experience.
Review Process and Updates
- Every review documents setup, local‑first operation, outage resilience, mechanical reliability, battery life, and access‑sharing workflows.
- We revisit reviews when firmware or standards support changes materially affect performance. Articles carry update notes and changelogs where relevant.
- Corrections are timestamped and explained. If we get something wrong, we’ll fix it promptly and transparently.
Scoring and Comparisons
- Scores reflect weighted criteria aligned to reader outcomes: local reliability, security/privacy posture, interoperability, mechanics/battery, and install/ownership experience.
- Comparison guides disclose test rigs, software versions, and known limitations to help you interpret results.
Monetization and Affiliate Disclosure
- Some outbound links are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
- Affiliate relationships do not influence which products we review, what we say, or our scores. We do not use third‑party tracking pixels that profile you across sites.
- Ads, if any, are clearly labeled and separated from editorial content.
Conflicts of Interest
- Authors must disclose any relevant relationships (consulting, employment, investments) that may bias coverage. We avoid assignments where conflicts exist.
Community Feedback
- We welcome reproducible feedback, logs, and counter‑examples. Send details to [email protected]. Substantive reader findings may be credited in updates.
Accessibility and Inclusion
- We consider household acceptance, accessibility for kids/elderly, and inclusive design in our evaluations and guides.
If you have questions about this policy, contact [email protected].