Americans are already riding the smart home wave – in fact, 44 percent of buyers who want move-in ready homes say smart home tech is a must. To help make getting a smart home easier Coldwell Banker introduced a Smart Home Staging Kit.
As with any new technology, there is an adoption curve when it comes to smart home. “We’re only in its infancy,” said Angel Piontek, an avid smart home fan and Realtor Associate with Coldwell Banker Elite in Fredericksburg, VA. “Demand for smart homes will only increase, and it’s important that buyers educate themselves on the technology and what they want as they begin touring smart homes.”
“Buyers now are willing to pay more and lean towards buying a smart home, while sellers are seeing smart home technology as an easy investment which will give their home a competitive advantage in a saturated market,” said Danny Hertzberg, a Sales Associate with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate in Miami Beach, FL. “Selling a smart home allows your property to stand out– it will likely sell sooner and sell for more money.”
And the numbers back this up – our 2016 Smart Home Marketplace survey found that over half of American homeowners would purchase or install smart home products if they were selling their home and knew that doing so would make it sell faster.
Both agents agree – money and energy savings are the two components of smart technology that their clients ask about most frequently.
“If stuck between two homes that are very similar, it comes down to the true cost of homeownership. If the seller is able to tell the buyer how much he or she saved on heating or cooling because of the pre-installed smart devices, the buyer will see something that sets the home apart and enhances their lifestyle in the long run,” says Angel.
So, what are the questions you should be asking your agent when buying a smart home?
- Is the smart home tech I see in the house going to stay installed after closing?
- Are there any service agreements or costs I’ll need to factor in?
- Can I test the smart home tech during my tour? If not, can the agent demo it for me?
And for those who are selling smart homes, here are some pro tips:
- Demo the products with your agent if they are unfamiliar with them. If the agent is able to show prospective buyers how to use the devices during the tour, the buyer will see its value and may be more likely to put in an offer quickly.
- Think about setting up a guest Wi-Fi account so that people touring your home can play with the smart home technology with their phones and get a feel for it. Seeing it in action will make them more likely to see its value.
- Of course, safety first! At closing, make sure you check in with your agent and the manufacturer to make sure all smart tech is reset to the factory defaults. This will keep all of your devices secure and make sure the new owners can customize as they’d like!
- If a home doesn’t have smart home technology consider these quick upgrades to make it a Coldwell Banker certified smart home.
Photo credit for cover image to Felipe Ariano
