While neutral walls and good curb appeal are still necessary, smart home technology is the latest way to increase the speed of your home sale. Studies have found that consumers want the addition of technology in their home to increase safety, comfort and efficiency.
Safety
Safety is the number one reason people want smart home features. Consider adding mobile device-operated or computer-controlled home systems such as a doorbell camera, keyless entry, garage door opener, or indoor and outdoor surveillance cameras. These features allow users to monitor their home from anywhere in the world.
According to the National Fire Protection Association from 2007 to 2011, almost a quarter of home fire-related deaths in the US occurred in home with non-working smoke alarms. Smart devices can help prevent or detect a fire in your home. For example, a smart smoke detector will send an alarm to your smart phone when smoke is detected. Some smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, like the Nest Protect, offer the ability to flash smart bulbs to alert you and light your way when the alarm goes off. Additionally, they have the ability to shut off your HVAC unit in an emergency. Additionally, these devices won’t beep when the battery is low; instead they send an alert to your smart phone.
Comfort Appliances
Imagine waking up in the morning and turning on your espresso machine from your bed via your smartphone. Click another app on your phone and your blinds open. You get up go to the bathroom and look in your smart HiMirror. The smart device analyzes and assesses your skin conditions, and then recommends customized skincare routes to help improve those blemishes. From work, you can turn off the lights you accidentally left on. Envision being able to see what is in your in fridge from the convenience of work and providing the most up-to-date grocery list.
This type of comfort and convenience was unimaginable in the past, but with the new wave of smart home devices, these devices could be yours. While it is not cost prohibitive to invest in every smart home appliance, smart lighting, thermostats and built in speakers are worth looking into and considered a solid investment by many real estate professionals.
Energy Efficiency
A study conducted through the company Under One found that 68% of respondents cited energy efficiency as a driving factor enticing them to add technology to their home. According to the Department of Energy, heating and cooling accounts for about 48% of the energy use in a typical U.S. house. Smart thermostats typically save 10% – 12% on heating and around 15% on cooling.
Just like other smart home appliances, the thermostat can be controlled through an app. This means if you are returning from vacation, you can tell your home to heat up or cool down from the airport. Research by the International Energy Agency (IEA), 19% of global electricity generation is used for lighting. Smart bulbs use less energy and last a lot longer than traditional bulbs. Smart bulbs can be put on a schedule or controlled remotely, which is great if you forgot to turn off the lights when leaving the house. Some bulbs even pair with other systems, like Amazon’s Alexa, enabling you to turn them on or off with your voice.
Now you can see how smart homes enhance quality of life. However, there are also security concerns that need to be addressed. As with any new technology security protocols are important. To help keep your smart home safe, you should: use multifactor authentication, perform security updates and install malware protection. And, don’t use public Wi-Fi.
In the past, home automation systems were high-tech curiosities that were not affordable or accessible to the majority of homeowners. Now just about anyone can take advantage of home automation to simplify their lives and increase their home’s market value.