A year ago I wrote an article about Smart Homes where I went into detail to help all of us understand the attraction to Smart Homes. Looks like you can put most smart devices into 5 categories: Energy Efficiency, Security, Entertainment, Mood and, of course, FUN! I am on a personal journey to slowly smarten up my home as I replace needed appliances and devices. I started with my WIFI-enabled garage door opener - that would be security as it alerts me if it’s open after 11:00 pm, plus Amazon is offering a service to open the garage and place packages inside. I can open it, close it and even check if it’s closed from anywhere in the world. Next I put up Bluetooth Christmas lights, which allow me to choose from 140 colors and effects - that would be for fun. Got a Nest thermostat and can go anywhere and check temperatures and change them and, while at it, I bought a WIFI camera to use when I am away for an extended length of time. I’m redoing the irrigation system with a new WIFI controller to notify me of a problem and to control it from anywhere. I have a new refrigerator coming in a few weeks with WIFI and all kinds of features, including alerting me if the door is ajar. Smart door locks are on my shortlist, but it all costs money! Which leads into why all REALTORS® need to be smart about smart homes.
All these upgrades cost money and should be considered when selling a home.
The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) did a report on Smart Homes and REALTORS® a few years back. When I compare the NAR report with newer studies it looks like things are about the same. I am going to call this Smart Homes for REALTORS® 101 as you should be somewhat knowledgeable in these areas. PLEASE know that you are not expected to be an expert, but to just understand the basics. So, what is on today’s homeowners shopping list and importance in a Smart Home? Locks, cameras and video doorbells as security is at the top of the list, followed by temperature control, which makes sense as an energy saving device and as a comfort device. The next area of interest is what I call mood, which includes lighting and entertainment, whether sound or some sort of video. You can start for about $15 for a smart plug to control one light up to paying big dollars for more advanced equipment. Here’s a question: how much of that equipment is not included when listing a home? Door locks and mounted devices are one thing, but plug-in equipment is another. Do your homework. Appliances are also an area to consider. Understanding the features, energy savings plus the fact smart appliances can cost 30% to 50% more than regular appliances.
Preparing for this article I read many reports and articles. One of the articles went step by step adding more smart devices in a road map to turn your dumb house into a smart house. By the time I finished the article we were talking about $15,000 worth of upgrades to make a house smart!
As smart home technology continues to grow and homeowners and homebuyers increase what they have or want, it becomes more apparent that REALTORS® need to understand the technology. I spent a few hours reading and taking notes, and if the next buyer or seller wants to discuss smart homes with me I am better prepared – you need to do the same! I found it all very interesting but, then again, I am a geek!
