Most homeowners would renovate a house with one of two intentions – added value or better looks. This usually involves doing something like remodelling the kitchen, adding a spare bedroom or even connecting your solar panels to the grid with specialist solar cables. But of late a lot more homeowners are interested in ‘smart homes’. Connected devices and security systems can certainly make your home a lot more livable, but can they also add value?
Well, it depends on what you buy and how much it costs. The Internet of Things is pretty much inevitable, but if you’re trying to boost your property value you need to keep an eye out for the essentials.
Svenja Gudell, chief economist at Zillow, believes that the most useful gizmos can actually help boost property prices. Keyless entry, smart lighting, solar roofs, smart thermostats, a nifty surveillance system and a smart smoke detector can all help you reduce bills and convince buyers to spend more when they’re negotiating.
Most experts believe that the ‘wow’ factor counts for a lot when trying to sell real estate. If something looks impressive, it’s likely to add value from the buyer’s perspective. Young buyers are especially likely to either want a smart home or invest money in upgrading their home with tech, so that’s the target market for this sort of thing.
Last year property company Coldwell Banker Real Estate interviewed over 4,000 US residents and found that 27 percent of people said they would like to incorporate technology into their homes over the coming year. Almost two-thirds of the respondents agreed that keyless entry and smart alarms were enough to make a home ‘smart’. Nearly as many respondents said they prefer a house with carbon monoxide detectors, nightlights, smart lighting and connected thermostats. Smart HVAC systems and the latest TVs were also up there with the most desired items in a house. In other words, people love technology and can’t wait to integrate it into their homes.
This shows that investing in smart home tech is usually a good idea, so long as you don’t overspend. Every investment needs to be done with an eye on costs to make sure you get your money’s worth. Here’s a list of the most worthwhile home tech you could invest in right away:
- Proximity security locks that can let visitors into the house while you’re away
- Smart thermostats that can help you control the temperature and save energy.
- Smart surveillance that can help you monitor the house from anywhere in the world.
- Moisture and humidity sensors
- Automated home cleaners like a robotic vacuum cleaner that cleans up while you’re away.
Homes are getting smarter alongside all the other tech in our lives. If you’re looking to add value and sell your house to a growing base of young buyers, perhaps it’s worth investing in some of these smart home technologies.