I’ve been absolutely thrilled with how much I’ve been able to automate my weekend home in the desert. It all started with wanting to control my HVAC remotely, and now it’s turned into a full-blown smart home setup! 
I’ve got Vera handling most of the heavy lifting—HVAC, lighting, security sensors, and even my Schlage patio gate lock. I’ve also installed a bunch of in-wall scene controllers so I can control lighting from nearly every room. And let’s not forget the IP camera for keeping an eye on things when I’m away. 
One of my favorite features is the dynamic lighting scenes. Depending on whether I’m at the house or not, the evening lighting adjusts automatically. It’s such a small touch, but it makes a big difference in how the space feels. 
I did have some reliability issues in the early days, so I ended up setting up a simple timer to power-cycle Vera every other night. It’s a minor inconvenience, but it’s kept everything running smoothly. I’ve even got a Vera 2 sitting in the box, just in case I decide to upgrade my primary home setup. 
Overall, I can’t recommend Vera enough for remote management. It’s been a game-changer for managing my desert escape. If anyone has tips for squeezing even more out of Vera, I’d love to hear them! 