Whether you’re building a new home or already own your pride and joy, Americans today want tech-savvy homes. A U.S. Houzz Smart Home Trends Study from 2016 found the top reasons homeowners install smart home devices are for security/safety, entertainment, climate control, and lighting.
New homes today are likely equipped with some version of a digital home integration package which could include convenient tech-savvy items such as video doorbells and virtual assistant technology. Many contractors like Toll Brothers are offering the best from the latest and greatest tech giants to provide personalized functionality throughout your new home investment. Think pre-installed Wi-Fi access points and smart-home features such as thermostats, lighting, irrigation controllers, garage door openers, surveillance cameras, and Bluetooth door locks – all offering remote features and/or controllability from a central smart home hub.
If you’re a DIY type, home automation companies such as Wink offer basic domestic security hubs for around $200, which offers you peace of mind with 24/7 monitoring capability. Swapping out old appliances for efficient Energy Star versions can provide upgraded features you didn’t even know you needed, as well as overall energy savings. If you’re not sure which appliance to start with, EnergyStar.gov advises “clothes dryers use more energy than any other household appliance.” There’s also an informative Flip Your Fridge calculator that offers a savings estimate of removing/replacing an old fridge with its Energy Star counterpart.
A home automation system can also reduce energy costs, making them a huge benefit for you as a homeowner. For example, using a smart thermostat alone to control airflow and temperature provides savings of up to 30%. It’s good to note the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers recommends setting your thermostat to 70° for heating and 78° for cooling. Keeping steady temperatures without a huge fluctuation year-round is a great way to save money overall. Better management of your energy use can include utilizing smart power bars when recharging your devices and using motion detectors to limit the use of your outdoor lighting.
Incorporating smart home technology into your home will increase the value of your property. A 2017 Concept Community survey found there’s an estimated return on investment (ROI) of 11% for tech-savvy products, and according to a Coldwell Banker Real Estate survey, more than 60% of participants want a digital home integration system pre-installed in the next home they buy. If you can also squeeze in a dedicated home office space with plenty of plug sockets, you’ll be in line with what many Americans want, especially with today’s fluid marketplace contributing to a rise in work-from-home opportunities.
An investment in smart-home innovations is a great way to protect the most valuable asset you own. The easy-to-use DomiDocs platform is dedicated to ensuring your home runs smoothly by offering everything from regularly scheduled maintenance reminders and a trusted service provider directory to the secure online storage of your important homeowner documents.
Author: Connie Motz
