What exactly is a smart home and can it be retrofitted?

I thought that if I could control the blinds like that, it would already be smart

That's so 90s...

What kind of smart home would you recommend to me? The extra cost should not be too high or as low as possible because many other things are still pending and eventually the money will run out

First of all, you should free yourself from the absurd terminology. There is no "smart home" that can be recommended because a smart home is not something tangible but a construct of devices that can communicate with each other in one way or another.

Basically, what is sold in the box and labeled as "smart home" is essentially pure deception and consumer fraud.

In your case, it looks like this:

You first need to clarify what is even feasible from the house electrician’s side. Because everything else is polemics and discussing this endlessly gets you nowhere.

what is also very important to me is that I can create new or change and configure existing settings, rules, automations in the "smart home" myself

That works with every modern system, no matter what the half-knowledge people want to tell you. The house resident always has the upper hand and just needs to be granted the possibilities. Of course, if they say nothing further, then they don’t get any and then the electrician always has to come.

@untergasse43

I am currently not an Apple user but I am considering switching to Apple with my next phone

you say a bus system is off the table for me because of the budget. What would a bus system cost as an approximate extra to the standard electrical installation? I know naming an amount is difficult, I would already be satisfied with an approximate range (around 4000 - 6000€ ??) House about 150 sqm 3 floors + basement

If a bus system is out of the question, then you have to rely on wireless. With wireless, you don’t have to do anything when building and just replace things later gradually, right?

A classic bus system can very quickly become very expensive. It is also difficult to say how high the additional cost is, as the electrical system is designed completely differently. You could only compare if you had both as offers with the same functional scope.
Just as a rough estimate:
Our architect had planned about €20K for conventional electrical work back then. We quickly decided that we wanted a bus system using KNX. In the end, we spent €60K on the electrical work. However, this also included other things like network, A/V door station and intercom system, outdoor cameras…
The pure bus part was probably around €40K, without knowing exactly. It could be more or less. But in that range.
Edit: something I should add to make my post clearer.
A bus system (a classic one) is not added on top of the normal electrical system but replaces it. That’s why it is hard to specify the cost difference.

oh yes, house, about 250 sqm including all rooms and garage (electrical wiring has to go everywhere), no basement

Thank you for your response.

That is obviously a huge price difference, I think the bus system is out for us. (since house prices have completely exploded recently, that is no longer feasible)

I could really spend a maximum of €5k on it, actually rather less.

Then I will probably have to use a wireless solution later.

Which overarching wireless solution (that combines various wireless technologies in one system, e.g. Zigbee, Z-Wave, enocean, Wi-Fi....) can you recommend to me?

What do you think of homee?

What is also important to me is that the system can be operated with Android or iOS phones in the end so that you remain free in product selection.

I think the bus system is out for us. (since house prices have completely exploded recently, that's no longer feasible)

The fact that the majority of bus systems are off the table has been clear since the initial post. You're actually just way too late for that.

which overarching radio solution (that unites different radio technologies in one system, e.g., Zigbee, Z-Z-Wave, enocean, Wifi....) can you recommend to me?

None at all, because all have major deficiencies. However, in this case, I would rely on an open system (which already excludes many) in your case probably Z-Z-Wave. It has the greatest potential and future prospects.

what is also important to me is that the system can ultimately be operated with Android or iOS phones so that you remain free in product selection

A problem that isn’t one. So far, everyone can open a browser.

So if the cables have not been laid yet, I would definitely not use a wireless system. Far too unstable and often still battery-powered (window contacts, sensors, etc.)

As an inexpensive solution on a small scale for controlling lights and roller shutters, a Siemens Logo 8 is recommended. Provided the electrician has not been there yet. The LOGO is then programmed once and can initially take over the basic things (roller shutter up/down, terrace door open = roller shutter up, light on/off, etc.). It is not yet smart, but you have the basis to expand/adjust it later (dimming, voice control, presence detection, heating, and who knows what) and these things are quite cheap to get.

Apps on the phone, as a previous poster already wrote, are only used for the first two days. Much too cumbersome to handle. The roller shutter has to go down by itself when I turn on the TV and the sun is shining, and that without my intervention and without an app. OK, I still turn on the fan via the app, but only because I am too lazy to get up and I don't yet know under which criteria it should turn on at all.