How to Increase Property Value with Smart Technology
It’s no secret that sales of smart technology are on the rise. According to a survey conducted by Smart Home Week, 57% of homes in Britain now contain a smart device. This means it’s likely that potential buyers are going to expect this sort of technology to be installed in any modern home.
It’s hard to find consistent data on how much this tech does actually increase property value, as it’s a relatively new sector, but almost any article or survey you read agrees that it does add value and will make a home more appealing.
Let’s take a look at some of the main benefits of a smart home that make it more appealing to buyers.
Increased Safety
Security and safety is a huge concern for homeowners, whether they live alone or with a large family. As more and more news stories come out related to theft and burglary, it’s no surprise that a lot of people are scared.
A home with robust, smart security is going to be a huge selling point for every buyer. Smart security is proactive rather than reactive. A traditional home security system, such as an alarm, will notify the homeowner when the house is breached, by which point it may be too late to prevent it. A smart system, however, can alert you if a door is left unlocked or if motion sensors are activated in the night etc. These alerts all go to a smart device so action can be taken immediately.
Check out this article to find out more about the benefits of a smart security system.
Convenience
Another of the main benefits of a smart home system is convenience.
Being able to control your home’s devices and technology all from one place saves time and effort. Some of the things that can be controlled with a smart system are lighting, blinds and curtains, heating, air conditioning, doors and windows, security, and appliances.
Most smart systems even have the option of setting up scenes or sequences, so you can set your devices to perform certain actions at specified times. A few examples of this could be:
- Closing the blinds and turning on lights when the sun sets
- Opening the blinds and turning on heating when the sun rises
- Unlocking the front door and turning on interior lights when the garage opens
Easily Upgrade
Most smart systems can be easily upgraded or customised to include extra devices without any extra programming or wiring. This is great if you want to start small and work your way up to a fully smart home as you have that option available.
It’s also a benefit if you’re selling your home and the buyer wants to add or change the technology. For example, adding their own devices (such as TVs), customising existing devices (such as changing faceplates on smart doorbells) or editing preset sequences so they fit their own lifestyle more. All of these changes add to the convenience and ease of use of a smart home.
Bragging Rights
Let’s be honest, half the fun of having smart tech is being able to show off to your friends and family about how cool it is. Buying a home is as much to do with how it makes you feel as it is about the practical features.
A potential buyer might be more interested in purchasing a home if they can picture themselves in it immediately. Whilst smart tech won’t change their mind if they aren’t that interested to begin with, allowing them to imagine themselves with friends and family round to show off the cool home they’ve purchased could encourage an already keen buyer to raise a bid or make an offer quicker.
If you’re considering installing a smart home system then I think it’s fair to say it can only have a positive impact. While there’s not much consistent data out there to categorically say how much your property value will increase if you do, most experts agree that it will. A smart home will have more appeal than a home with the same footprint but no smart tech, and that will only continue to be more true as more and more people come to expect smart technology in homes as standard.
If you want advice on how to control your roller blinds with a smart home system, get in touch with Umbra. We are experts in all things motorisation and automation, so we can give you advice on the best blinds for your needs.