General repairs:Remove old caulking and apply new to bathroomReplace door locks to front and back entrancesInstall 2 batteries to smoke alarmsInstall 9 miniblindsClean windows and install 5 window screens.2 daysx 2 workers= 4 man-days of labor $480Materials= $146Total= $6263.

One other benefit is that batteries also qualify for the rebate and provide some power during a outage although they are expensive. 

The batteries will also need to be replaced about every 6 months.Overall, we enjoy having it, but we have had to work through some kinks.

That home is their place of refuge from the rest of the world...a place where they can recharge their batteries after a long day of work.

@Robert GilstrapI have NoiseAware and it works but it seems like I have to switch out the batteries every two weeks.

Costs of building solar and wind projects are at record lows and solar plus battery storage is now more competitive than fossil fuel generation. 

If so rents may go up with the VW battery plant coming and creating 3000 new jobs.It seems like a great way to get started.  

Pretty simple, have your smoke detectors (buy the 10-year battery ones) properly placed, Co2, and fire extinguishers.

I know there are a couple investments (GM Factory Zero and GM Lake Orion, Ford Battery facility) but it seems a lot of the auto manufacturing is moving to other states/countries, and these investments are merely replacing other facilities.

The good news is that it makes it easier to customize a solution that fits your unique situation though.We decided to base ours on Zwave due to longer battery life (since we are remote) and the ability to add other devices to the same network.