Just like any home improvement, installing smart home technology is an investment, and it’s one where homeowners should expect a return.
Depending on their goals and aims, that return might be in the form of lifestyle, it might offer cost savings in the long run, or it could be a return that adds value to their property for later sale.
Here are four reasons the smart home offers a worthwhile investment.
Property value
With over half of all Australians now embracing the smart home journey, the digital age is beginning to see smart technology as a feature many people now expect in their new home.
Earlier this year Budget Direct noted 58.2 per cent of people either already owned a smart home, or intended to buy one, with 25 to 34 year old’s leading the way in both categories.
Meanwhile, they cited US figures that indicate buyers will pay more for a home with smart capabilities.
“While there are no hard and fast facts based on the Australian real estate scene, US research shows smart homes are, on average, selling for 5 per cent more and having reduced time on market compared to “like” properties in the same market.”
The Daily Telegraph further illustrated the growing trend reporting: “Switched on developers and vendors are plugging into the growing trend for hi tech homes that can do everything from monitoring energy usage so power bills stay low, to keeping an artificial eye out for intruders”.
The reality is, smart home capability and installation is becoming a factor that buyers actively seek, allowing home owners to offer a point of difference to their property.
Convenience
Of course, installing smart home technology isn’t just about preparing your home for sale, for many people it’s an investment in convenience and their lifestyle.
Home automation helps simplify mundane everyday tasks, eliminating repetitive chores like opening the garage door, physically unlocking the front door or setting the music and lights to improve the ambience of a home.
In a time-poor era this saves precious hours around the home, while also making it more comfortable, livable and secure.
Ultimately these factors add peace of mind, comfort and amenity to a property, and, although it’s hard to put a dollar value on that, we all know time is increasingly money.
Future living
One of the major reasons smart home technology is so popular is that it can assist in future proofing people’s lifestyle. That’s why automation is becoming a must-have feature in over 50s communities, retirement villages and homes accommodating those with disabilities.
The same smart home features and functions that offer convenience and livability in a family home can help people live more independently and securely as they age or if they have disabilities.
With automation, remote monitoring and voice control, the smart home can assist with mobility issues, and it can support people who are losing their hearing or losing their sight.
Energy efficiency
If there’s one common theme in the headlines right now, it’s the rising cost of energy bills. As a result, more and more Australian homes are looking for effective methods to curb their electricity use.
This is one of the tasks the smart home caters to beautifully, allowing homeowners to see what electricity their appliances are drawing, program them to better use off-peak periods, and even shut them down remotely so they use less or even no power.
In fact, energy monitoring and minimisation ranks among the top reasons people consider investing in a smart home as they look to curb their living costs.
Maximum bang for your investment buck
As with any investment, installing a smart home takes thought, consideration and planning.
In other words, many homeowners want assurance that the money they spend now will offer maximum bang for their buck.
Installing smart home technology is not just about implementing smart products throughout the home, with a real smart home offering interconnectivity that allows people ultimate control and monitoring of their home environment.
To ensure your smart home is a worthwhile investment now and in the future, here are our top tips.
Infrastructure
Look to the infrastructure you employ throughout your home. This is the backbone of your smart home ecosystem and should consider future and current use of smart products and connectivity.
Although smart products will evolve and improve over the next few years, the right ecosystem will support, cater to and allow for the changes that will come.
Installation
The installation of your smart home infrastructure and products is the difference between simply employing smart products and having a truly automated home.
Look for installers who work with you to understand your vision, offer techniques that will stand the test of time, and walk you through the programming and operation of your system that will allow you to alter your home as required in the future.
Products
When purchasing products for your smart home, look for items that utilise the right smart home languages like Z-Wave.
Registered products using this communication method are purpose-designed for smart living, are created to be compatible with each other, are considered the way of the future, and feature advanced security and networking.
Programming
A true smart home is automated. That means it can be programmed to make your life more convenient by performing everyday routine tasks and enacting scenes on your behalf.
The right smart home installer will program your home to achieve these things, but also offer an insight into how you can best do this yourself.
About Lera Smart Home Solutions
Lera Smart Home Solutions is a leading installer of smart home technology in the greater Sydney region. Our team boasts over 20 years’ experience in IT networking, programming and the electrical industry.
We have sourced the most reliable and cost efficient solutions from around the world to provide the very best in smart home solutions, and work with our clients to understand their needs.
You can learn more about transforming your house into a smart home here, access our smart home calculators here or contact us directly for further advice.
