When I first started building my smart home, I did what most people do: I bought a bunch of off-the-shelf smart devices, installed their apps, and connected them to my network. Some of them I’ve had for years, but as time went on, I realized I don’t truly “own” these devices. From lights to smart plugs and even voice a**istants, I endeavored to replace them with my own alternatives… or at the very least, take back control of them.