After the death of his mother, 13-year-old Ben Cooper takes it upon himself to take care of the household, and he, his single father Nick, and his little sister Angie are struggling to balance household chores, school, and work in Monroe County, New York. Ben enters a competition to win a Smart House, which will take care of all their needs via computer. The family wins the house (named Pat) and move in, and are introduced to its creator, Sara Barnes.