My Name is Marcus Webb
I was born and raised in a small town outside of Fort Worth, Texas. Things were fine until they weren’t. Lost my job at a warehouse in 2012, then my apartment two months later. By the end of that year I was living on the streets in Dallas. I was 41.
I spent the next three years in and out of shelters. The Bridge, Austin Street Center, places like that. If you’ve never been homeless, it’s hard to explain what it does to your head. You stop thinking about the future. You just think about tonight – where you’re sleeping, whether your stuff will still be there in the morning.
Getting Back Up
In 2015 I got into a transitional housing program through a local church. They helped me get a part-time job doing maintenance at an apartment complex. I was good with my hands – always had been – and the building manager noticed. Within six months I was full-time.
By 2017 I had saved enough for a deposit on a studio apartment in Mesquite. 400 square feet. Cheapest unit in the building. I didn’t care. It was mine. The first night I just sat on the floor and stared at the walls. I had walls.
The Smart Plug That Changed Everything
A coworker gave me a used smart plug for Christmas. You could control it from your phone – turn a lamp on and off from anywhere. Sounds like nothing, right? But for someone who spent years with zero control over his environment, it was everything. I could turn on my lamp before I got home. My apartment would be lit up when I walked in. It sounds stupid but it made me feel like a person again.
After that I went down the rabbit hole. Smart bulbs, a cheap security camera, then a thermostat. All budget stuff – I wasn’t making much money. But I was learning. YouTube videos, Reddit threads, trial and error. Every time I automated something small, it felt like I was building the home I never thought I’d have.
Where I Am Now
In 2021 I moved to Pennsylvania for a maintenance supervisor job at a larger property management company. Better pay, better benefits. In 2023 I bought a small house in the Lehigh Valley area. Three bedrooms, a garage, a yard. I still can’t believe it sometimes.
The house is fully automated now. Not with expensive gear – I still buy budget and mid-range. Smart thermostat saves me about $40 a month. Cameras cover every entry point. Lights run on schedules and motion sensors. I even set up a smart lock so I never have to worry about keys again. Total investment over the years: probably around $800. That’s it.
Why I Started This Blog
Most smart home blogs are written by tech reviewers who get free products from companies. They’ll tell you to buy a $300 thermostat when a $60 one does the same thing. I write for people like me – people who watch every dollar and want their home to work better without going broke.
I also write for people who are rebuilding. Maybe you just got your first apartment after a rough stretch. Maybe you’re in transitional housing and want to make your space feel like yours. A $10 smart bulb can do more for your mental health than you’d think. I know because I’ve been there.
If you have questions about any setup or want a recommendation, hit me up on the contact page. I read everything.
– Marcus Webb, Lehigh Valley, PA