What is a smart home? Ten years ago, the concept of a smart home conjured up images of the Jetsons. Even five years ago the smart home was only for the luxury homeowner. But today, with hundreds of connected home products on the shelves and new innovations hitting the market daily, it begs the question – what is a smart home, really?
That’s why Coldwell Banker and CNET, the world’s largest and most trusted online source of consumer technology news and reviews, collaborated to create the first-ever smart home definition to help real estate sales associates, as well as home buyers and sellers, accurately pinpoint and describe a smart home.
So is your home smart enough to be at the top of its class? Check out the full smart home definition below and see for yourself!
“Smart home: A home that is equipped with network-connected products (aka “smart products,” connected via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or similar protocols) for controlling, automating and optimizing functions such as temperature, lighting, security, safety or entertainment, either remotely by a phone, tablet, computer or a separate system within the home itself.”
In order to be categorized as a smart home, the property must have a smart security feature that either controls access or monitors the property or a smart temperature feature, as well as two others from a varied list, in addition to a reliable Internet connection. The definition is outlined below:
Must Have
| Category | Examples |
| Internet Connection | Cable, satellite or DSL |
Must Have At Least Three
*One of the categories must be security or temperature
| Category | Examples |
| Appliances | Smart refrigerators, smart washer / dryers |
| Entertainment | Smart TVs, TV streaming service |
| Heating / Cooling | Smart HVAC system, smart fans or vents |
| Lighting | Smart light bulbs, lighting systems |
| Outdoors | Smart Plant sensors, smart watering systems |
| Safety | Smart fire / carbon monoxide detectors, nightlights |
| Security* | Smart locks, networked security cameras |
| Temperature* | Smart thermostats |
We already know that over the past couple of years, demand has increased significantly for smart homes in the real estate market. This standardized definition gives us an opportunity to pinpoint exactly what constitutes a smart home for buyers and sellers, so that they can make informed decisions.
Coldwell Banker is following up with an education course for its agents, and an icon on www.coldwellbanker.com for property listings that meet the definition.
You can also browse smart homes currently on the market here.
I think it’s great that we finally have a criteria that makes a home ‘smart’. Thanks for doing this!
I think it’s a good idea with the smart home it also is a lot safer for people expectually with large families