diff --git a/jaraco/abode/client.py b/jaraco/abode/client.py
index b94b30a..71a250c 100644
--- a/jaraco/abode/client.py
+++ b/jaraco/abode/client.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 from . import config, settings
 from .automation import Automation
 from .devices import alarm as ALARM
-from .devices.base import Device
+from .devices.base import Device, Unknown
 from .event_controller import EventController
 from .exceptions import AuthenticationException
 from .helpers import errors as ERROR
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ def _reuse_device(self, doc):
     def _create_new_device(self, doc):
         device = Device.new(doc, self)
 
-        if not device:
+        if isinstance(device, Unknown):
             log.debug("Skipping unknown device: %s", doc)
             return
 
diff --git a/jaraco/abode/devices/alarm.py b/jaraco/abode/devices/alarm.py
index 13ce349..f351f40 100644
--- a/jaraco/abode/devices/alarm.py
+++ b/jaraco/abode/devices/alarm.py
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ def state_from_panel(panel_state, area='1'):
     alarm_state['id'] = id(area)
     alarm_state['type'] = 'Alarm'
     alarm_state['type_tag'] = 'device_type.alarm'
-    alarm_state['generic_type'] = 'alarm'
     return alarm_state
 
 
diff --git a/jaraco/abode/devices/base.py b/jaraco/abode/devices/base.py
index 73d9abc..37c8e00 100644
--- a/jaraco/abode/devices/base.py
+++ b/jaraco/abode/devices/base.py
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ class Device(Stateful):
     """Class to represent each Abode device."""
 
     tags: Tuple[str, ...] = ()
+    """
+    Each device has a ``type_tag``, something like "device_type.door_lock".
+    Each Device subclass declares the tags that it services (with the
+    "device_type." prefix omitted).
+    """
     _desc_t = '{name} (ID: {id}, UUID: {uuid}) - {type} - {status}'
     _url_t = urls.DEVICE
 
@@ -124,23 +129,6 @@ def device_uuid(self):
         )
         return self.uuid
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def resolve_type_unknown(state):
-        if state['generic_type'] != 'unknown':
-            return
-
-        from .sensor import Sensor
-
-        if Sensor.is_sensor(state):
-            state['generic_type'] = 'sensor'
-            return
-
-        version = state.get('version', '')
-
-        state['generic_type'] = (
-            'occupancy' if version.startswith('MINIPIR') else 'motion'
-        )
-
     @classmethod
     def new(cls, state, client):
         """Create new device object for the given type."""
@@ -150,31 +138,29 @@ def new(cls, state, client):
         except KeyError as exc:
             raise jaraco.abode.Exception(ERROR.UNABLE_TO_MAP_DEVICE) from exc
 
-        state['generic_type'] = cls.get_generic_type(type_tag)
-        cls.resolve_type_unknown(state)
-        sensor = cls.by_type().get(state['generic_type'], lambda *args: None)
-        return sensor(state, client)
+        return cls.resolve_class(type_tag).specialize(state)(state, client)
+
+    @property
+    def generic_type(self):
+        return self.__class__.__name__.lower()
 
     @classmethod
     def by_type(cls):
         return {sub_cls.__name__.lower(): sub_cls for sub_cls in iter_subclasses(cls)}
 
     @classmethod
-    def get_generic_type(cls, type_tag):
+    def resolve_class(cls, type_tag):
         lookup = {
-            f'device_type.{tag}': sub_cls.__name__.lower()
+            f'device_type.{tag}': sub_cls
             for sub_cls in iter_subclasses(cls)
             for tag in sub_cls.tags
         }
-        # These device types are all considered 'occupancy' but could apparently
-        # also be multi-sensors based on their state.
-        unknowns = (
-            'room_sensor',
-            'temperature_sensor',
-            # LM = LIGHT MOTION?
-            'lm',
-            'pir',
-            'povs',
-        )
-        lookup.update((f'device_type.{unknown}', 'unknown') for unknown in unknowns)
-        return lookup.get(type_tag.lower())
+        return lookup.get(type_tag.lower(), Unknown)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def specialize(cls, state):
+        return cls
+
+
+class Unknown(Device):
+    pass
diff --git a/jaraco/abode/devices/binary_sensor.py b/jaraco/abode/devices/binary_sensor.py
index 39e046d..17eebea 100644
--- a/jaraco/abode/devices/binary_sensor.py
+++ b/jaraco/abode/devices/binary_sensor.py
@@ -36,16 +36,23 @@ class Connectivity(BinarySensor):
     )
 
 
-class Moisture(BinarySensor):
-    pass
-
-
 class Motion(BinarySensor):
-    pass
+    # These device types are all considered 'occupancy' but could apparently
+    # also be multi-sensors based on their state.
+    tags = (
+        'room_sensor',
+        'temperature_sensor',
+        # LM = LIGHT MOTION?
+        'lm',
+        'pir',
+        'povs',
+    )
 
+    @classmethod
+    def specialize(cls, state):
+        from . import sensor
 
-class Occupancy(BinarySensor):
-    pass
+        return sensor.Sensor if sensor.Sensor.is_sensor(state) else cls
 
 
 class Door(BinarySensor):
diff --git a/newsfragments/28.feature.rst b/newsfragments/28.feature.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7242351
--- /dev/null
+++ b/newsfragments/28.feature.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Refactored sensor specialization.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/mock/devices/valve.py b/tests/mock/devices/valve.py
index 34ab298..f3cfb76 100644
--- a/tests/mock/devices/valve.py
+++ b/tests/mock/devices/valve.py
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ def device(devid=DEVICE_ID, status=STATUS.OPEN, low_battery=False, no_response=F
             'out_of_order': 0,
             'no_response': int(no_response),
         },
-        generic_type='valve',
         group_id='xxxxx',
         group_name='Water leak',
         has_subscription=None,