Baby Boomers don't always connect with connected homes, but their kids, so-called "Echo Boomers" say Mom and Pop had better have plenty of phone jacks and electrical outlets at the new home when it's time to move.

That, in part, is according to a somewhat self-serving study from a company the sells goods and services that require phone jacks and electrical outlets.

"The U.S. Connected Home Market," late last year, found that only about 17 percent of households were interested in a so-called "connected home," a home where computers, televisions, lighting and heating-ventilation-air conditioning (HVAC) and home security systems, among other things, are linked to a centrally controlled network.

On the other hand, 42 percent of those aged 18-24 said a well-wired home was the most important amenity when choosing a home. One in 10 younger Americans selected, high-speed Internet access availability as their most desired single feature when offered choices that included walk-in closets, fireplace, and a gourmet kitchen, according to SBC Communications Inc. a corporate giant offering everything from telephone service to DSL Internet access.

By contrast, those 55 to 64 (well within the baby boomer crowd of those born between between 1946 and 1964) selected either a well-wired home or a walk-in closet as their most desirable feature. The study also found 25 percent of the older people preferred a gourmet kitchen and 12 percent said a fireplace was tops, in both cases ranking their choices above broadband availability.

In the SBC national telephone survey to examine concerns about moving to a new home, pollsters randomly interviewed 1,018 households from March 7-10, 2003.

The survey found that once families arrive at their new destination, the telephone, rather than the computer still rules the roost in terms of reconnecting.

The first thing unpacked after moving was

• The phone for 47 percent.
• The microwave for 20 percent.
• The television for 16 percent.
• The computer for only 10 percent.

During the move, however, keeping in touch takes a back seat as

• Packing for the move is most important for 40 percent of those polled.
• Sweating the details (forwarding mail, switching utilities) is most important for 24 percent.
• Keeping in touch with family and friends was most important for only 15 percent.
• Locating important things in the new neighborhood was tops for 14 percent.

  SBC, of course, says a move is smoother if you consider the benefits of technology.

  • Remain reachable. Consider using a wireless phone, voice mail or services such as call forwarding.
  • Ensure new connections will be ready when you arrive. Inquire if you can keep your same phone number, if not, ask your phone service provider to redirect your phone calls.
  • Use the Web to plan your move. The Web offers access to moving companies, services that rate movers, relocation services that do it all, new community information, and more.

Published: May 8, 2003

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

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Broderick Perkins parlayed a career in old-school journalism into a contemporary digital news service that really hits home. The award-winning consumer journalist, originally from Wilmington, DE, is founder, publisher and executive editor of the bootstrap DeadlineNews Group, a Silicon Valley-based editorial content and consulting service specializing in residential real estate, consumer news and related editorial consulting services. The DeadlineNews Group includes the website, DeadlineNews.com, offering real estate editorial content and consulting services, and its back shop, the Deadline Newsroom, an open house on news that really hits home. Perkins obtained his formal journalism education from University of Delaware and a journalism boot camp, the Institute of Journalism Education at the University of California-Berkeley. He went on to 20 years of service as a daily newspaper journalist at the Wilmington, DE News Journal and San Jose, CA Mercury News. Perkins covered housing on the San Jose Mercury News reporting team which earned a General News Reporting Pulitzer Prize in 1989 for coverage of the Loma Prieta earthquake. He has also produced real estate, consumer and small business content for the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, RealtyTimes.com, Nolo.com, Better Homes and Gardens, the National Association of Realtors, Homestore/Move and Intuit/Quicken among more than three dozen publications. In addition to managing the DeadlineNews Group, Perkins most recently served as chief editorial consultant for Nolo's Essential Guide To Buying Your First Home, Nolo, and writes real estate television scripts for RealtyTimes.com.