I’m new to smart home / automation and was looking for advice on starting from scratch at a new home. I see a lot of folks here mention Home Assistant and the debate on whether to use wifi/cloud connected devices vs a local network.

Given I’m not a computer expert, looking for suggestions on how to get started on making my home smart with a centralized control type panel and recommendations on the items you like most. For context, I’m hoping to have smart locks, smart bulbs/lightswitches that can be controlled by phone and voice, smart garage opener, smart plugs, tvs if possible (and open to other suggestions)

Thanks for your time and assistance!