Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
Back in the days before the internet -- or even color television -- scientists, engineers, and even artists all predicted the home of the future would be the pinnacle of automation. Beds would make themselves, robots would clean your rugs, and dinner would be served to you at the push of a button. Sadly, we're not there quite yet -- but we're getting there.
In fact, the modern home still has more in common with the kind of fantastic technology from The Jetsons than not. The rise of mobile connectivity has led to not just the smartphone but an entire industry of "smart" connected devices. From televisions and set-top boxes to thermostats and central air units to appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, and even toaster ovens, smart home technology has captured the imagination of the average homeowner.
Smart technology is a game-changer for many homeowners. Being able to use an Amazon Alexa, for example, to check the weather, listen to your messages, or make purchases from the comfort of the couch simply through voice commands is the ultimate in convenience. Likewise, using the internet to access your Nest thermostat from the office and instructing it to turn the air conditioning on before you get home means you can step into a house that's already primed for your comfort.
Meanwhile, smart connectivity is being integrated into existing technologies at a rapid pace. New versions of the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner come with built-in WiFi so you can set up a cleaning schedule directly from your smartphone, and this feature is cropping up in competing models as well. Also, smart connectivity is becoming increasingly affordable thanks to add-on devices like smart plugs that can be used with a regular device like a desk lamp to offer remote control options over the internet.
There are a number of benefits to houses fitted with smart technology, and many of them are in the realm of real estate. Homes with smart connected fixtures that come part and parcel to the sale of the home not just increase the overall value of the property but also make it much more desirable in the eyes of anyone shopping for a new home. In other words, smart homes are likely to sell for a higher price and spend less time on the market overall.
Additionally, a smart home can be much easier to show to prospective home buyers. Instead of having to juggle keys to gain entry, realtors can simply use the access control built into homes with smart locks or other connected smart security features through a mobile app. This, in turn, provides opportunities for home buyers to see the benefits of smart technology in action in ways that you might not be able to showcase at an open house.
Smart technology is progressing at breakneck speed. It won't be long now before we all have at least one or two connected devices in all our homes, letting us keep track of that load of laundry in the basement or how much longer we have on that pot roast in the kitchen. Until then, though, realtors can capitalize on the benefits of smart connectivity and how valued they are by both house sellers and home buyers.
