Starter kit
A smart home starter kit sized for a smaller home.
From $2,999 planning estimate
A local server, lights, sensors, comfort, and entry, configured together. Start with the one-bedroom apartment example, then adjust it for your home.
Products and final price are confirmed before purchase. Sending a plan is not an order.
Plan my starter kitWho it is for
For a smaller home and a clear starting price.
Choose this path when you want several rooms working together without selecting and pairing every device yourself. If you only want one lamp on a timer, a single compatible plug or bulb may be enough; you do not need a whole kit to begin.
Configuration and handoff
More than the devices.
- Compatible products reviewed together
- Local server configuration
- Rooms and devices named for your home
- Starting routines and app handoff
- Room-by-room setup checklist
- No required subscription for core routines
One-bedroom example
What the $2,999 starting plan looks like.
This example uses an apartment or condo, one bedroom, one level, the recommended core system, and no exterior camera coverage.
It is an editable planning example, not a fixed box or a promise that these devices suit every apartment. A different home type or device count can change the estimate.
Example checked against the Tara planner on .
| Equipment or zone | Count |
|---|---|
| Local server | 1 |
| Door sensors | 1 |
| Window sensors | 5 |
| Smart lights or zones | 8 |
| Presence zones | 3 |
| Thermostats | 1 |
| Doorbells | 1 |
| Camera zones | 0 |
| Planned devices | 20 |
The planner counts 20 devices, including the server. Lighting and presence are planned by zone; the final number of physical pieces depends on the chosen products. Presence means knowing a room is occupied, including when someone is sitting still.
The doorbell is separate from optional exterior camera zones. This estimate does not specify camera recording storage or a recording-retention plan.
Before you commit
What stays outside the starting estimate.
Tara reviews these decisions with you before confirming the order. No specific product model, delivery date, or support duration is promised by the example above.
Cameras and storage
Additional camera coverage and local recording need their own device, storage, placement, and cabling plan.
Installation work
The standard kit is self-install: Tara prepares the system and checklist; you place and power the devices. Electrical wiring, HVAC changes, and difficult cable runs are reviewed separately and may need a qualified professional.
Rental restrictions
Tell Tara what you can change. Keep shared entrances and building-managed heating outside your plan unless their use is agreed. Removable sensors and compatible lamps may be a better starting point than replacing fixed hardware.
Existing products
Send exact model numbers for devices you want to keep. Compatibility and available features need review; an existing device is not automatically a supported replacement or a guaranteed discount.
Final purchase terms
Confirm the itemized product list, shipping and any taxes, delivery timing, warranty or return terms, and the support scope before accepting the quote. Optional third-party services can have separate fees.
How it works
From home count to reviewed plan.
- Choose a home-size baseline
- Adjust lights and sensors
- Submit the draft
- Confirm final scope before shipping
FAQ
Quick answers.
What changes the final price?
Home type and device counts change the online planning estimate. Exact models, compatibility, optional cameras, and the installation boundary determine the confirmed quote. The $2,999 example is not a fixed price for every one-bedroom home.
Does this include a required subscription?
No required monthly subscription is needed for core local routines. Optional third-party cloud features may have fees. Batteries, replacement devices, and separately agreed support are not a promise of free lifetime maintenance.
Is this an order or a planning request?
The configurator sends a planning request. It does not charge you or place an order. Tara confirms the product list, installation responsibilities, final price, delivery timing, and support terms with you before purchase.
Can I use the starter kit in a rental?
A rental can be planned around removable devices. Check permission before changing a thermostat, doorbell, switch, or mounting surface, and exclude shared-building systems you do not control. Tell Tara which devices must move with you.
Are exterior cameras included in the $2,999 example?
No. The example includes a doorbell but zero additional camera zones. Exterior cameras, recording storage, and any cabling are reviewed separately through the camera-kit path.
Your home, your scope
Start with the rooms you actually have.
Planning a home in Spokane? Tara is based here and also plans kits for homes elsewhere in the United States.
Share the layout and the devices you already own. Nothing is ordered when you send the plan. Questions before starting? Email hello@tarahome.ai.
Plan my starter kit