Page 1: Affiliate Disclosure & Earnings Disclaimer

Note: The FTC requires this to be “clear and conspicuous.” You must link to this page in your footer, but you also need a 1-2 sentence summary at the very top of every buying guide and review.

Affiliate & Partnership Disclosure

Last Updated: [Date]

WisedHome is committed to transparency. We want you to know exactly how we make money and how it influences (or doesn’t influence) our content.

1. Affiliate Links & Commissions

WisedHome participates in various affiliate marketing programs. This means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products or services that you purchase through our links to retailer websites.

  • No Extra Cost to You: Clicking our links and making a purchase will never cost you more. The retailer simply shares a small percentage of the sale with us as a “thank you” for sending you their way.
  • Editorial Independence: We do not get paid to give positive reviews. Our “Best Of” lists and buying guides are based on hands-on testing, market research, and real-world performance. We will never recommend a subpar smart home device just because it has a higher commission rate.

2. Amazon Associates Program Statement

Required wording if you use Amazon affiliate links:

“WisedHome is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

3. Local Lead Generation & Service Providers

In addition to product recommendations, WisedHome helps connect homeowners with local smart home installers, electricians, and AV professionals.

  • If you fill out a quote request form or “Find a Pro” tool on our site, we may receive a referral fee from the local contractor who ultimately contacts you or completes the job.
  • We vet our partners, but WisedHome does not employ these contractors, nor do we guarantee their pricing, workmanship, or licensing. Any contracts you sign are strictly between you and the service provider.

4. Free Products for Review

Occasionally, smart home manufacturers may send us free or discounted products to test. We keep these products, but we do not guarantee a positive review. If a product underperforms, we will tell you, regardless of whether we bought it or received it for free.

Questions? Contact us at [info@wisedhome.com].

Page 2: Terms of Service

This protects you from liability, especially if someone wires a thermostat wrong or has a bad experience with a local contractor you recommended.

Terms of Service

Last Updated: [Date]

Welcome to WisedHome. By accessing and using [wisedhome.com] (the “Site”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

1. Intellectual Property

All content on WisedHome—including buying guides, reviews, logos, graphics, and site design—is the property of WisedHome and is protected by copyright and intellectual property laws. You may not scrape, copy, or republish our content for commercial purposes without explicit written permission.

2. Smart Home Advice & DIY Disclaimer

WisedHome provides informational and educational content regarding smart home technology, wiring, and installation.

  • Not Professional Advice: Our guides do not replace the advice of licensed electricians, HVAC technicians, or security professionals.
  • Assumption of Risk: Smart home installation often involves mains electricity, complex wiring, and network security. If you choose to DIY an installation based on our guides, you do so entirely at your own risk. WisedHome is not liable for property damage, voided warranties, personal injury, or electrical fires resulting from the use of our content.

3. Third-Party Services & Lead Generation

WisedHome provides tools to connect you with local contractors and service providers (“Third-Party Providers”).

  • We are a referral service, not a contractor. We do not employ the professionals you are matched with.
  • We do not guarantee the quality, pricing, licensing, or insurance of any Third-Party Provider.
  • It is your sole responsibility to verify the credentials, licenses, and insurance of any contractor before hiring them or allowing them into your home. WisedHome is not liable for any disputes, damages, or poor workmanship resulting from your engagement with a Third-Party Provider.

4. Affiliate Links & Third-Party Sites

Our Site contains links to third-party retailers and websites. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, return policies, or customer service of these external sites. Purchases made through third-party sites are governed by those sites’ own terms and conditions.

5. User Conduct

By using WisedHome, you agree not to:

  • Use the Site for any illegal purpose or to violate local, state, or federal laws.
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our servers, databases, or user data.
  • Submit false or misleading information through our lead-generation forms.
  • Spam our comment sections or contact forms.

6. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, WisedHome, its owners, and its contributors shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of or in connection with your use of the Site, our buying guides, or any third-party services recommended on the Site.

7. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of the Site constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

8. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [Your State/Country], without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Contact Us: If you have questions about these Terms, email [info@wisedhome.com].

Page 3: Cookie Policy

This is often required as a standalone page or a deep-dive section for GDPR (Europe) and ePrivacy compliance.

Cookie Policy

Last Updated: [Date]

This Cookie Policy explains how WisedHome (“we”, “us”, “our”) uses cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit [wisedhome.com].

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile) when you visit a website. They help websites remember your preferences, understand how you use the site, and improve your browsing experience.

2. How We Use Cookies

We use cookies to operate the Site, analyze traffic, and support our business model (affiliate marketing and lead generation). The cookies we use fall into the following categories:

A. Strictly Necessary Cookies

These are essential for the Site to function properly. They allow you to navigate the Site and use its features (e.g., remembering if you accepted our cookie banner). They do not track your browsing history on other sites.

B. Performance & Analytics Cookies

We use these cookies to understand how visitors interact with WisedHome. They collect anonymous data about which buying guides are most popular, how long users stay on a page, and if any error messages occur.

  • Example: Google Analytics helps us see which smart home categories are trending so we can write better content for you.

C. Affiliate & Advertising Cookies

Because WisedHome is supported by affiliate commissions and local lead generation, we use cookies to track referrals.

  • When you click an affiliate link (e.g., to Amazon or Best Buy), a cookie is placed on your browser by the retailer or affiliate network. This ensures that if you buy the smart thermostat we recommended, the retailer knows we sent you and pays us a small commission.
  • These cookies do not collect your personal data (like your name or address); they simply track the click. They typically expire after a set period (usually 24 hours to 30 days).

3. How to Manage or Disable Cookies

You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies. You can manage your cookie preferences in the following ways:

  • Browser Settings: Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can set your browser to block all cookies or to alert you when a cookie is being sent. (Note: If you block strictly necessary cookies, parts of our Site may not function correctly).
  • Opt-Out Links: You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
  • Affiliate Cookies: If you do not want affiliate cookies tracking your purchases, you can visit the retailer’s website directly (by typing the URL into your browser) rather than clicking our links.

4. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our data practices. We encourage you to check this page periodically.

Contact Us: For questions about our use of cookies, please contact us at [info@wisedhome.com]