Smart-home features can boost a home’s sale value by up to 5 percent. That totals about $15,000 on a $300,000 home—no chump change to a seller.
Home appraisers are now starting to factor in the value of smart-home features into their valuations as well, according to a recent article at
realtor.com®.
So what exactly are the perks of a smart home if you ever find you’re selling one? The article points to some of the following benefits:
Smart homes are safer. A survey by August Home, which makes smart door locks, found that 63 percent of consumers cite home security as the biggest motivation to buy a smart-home device. Numerous smart-home devices are aimed at beefing up a home’s security, from cameras that can detect break-ins to safety devices that can detect smoke, fire, carbon monoxide, and moisture levels. Homeowners can activate their smart locks from anywhere, locking or unlocking them as needed.
Smart homes can save money. Nest boasts that its smart thermostat can save consumers an average of 10 to 12 percent on heating costs and 15 percent on cooling costs. That could translate to about $131 to $145 a year. Smart lighting, dishwashers, and water-efficient laundry machines boast more potential savings.
Smart homes can save you time and stress. Smart homes promise to make homeowners’ lives easier. You can operate or monitor a home’s systems and appliances via your smartphone or even through voice-assistance devices, like Amazon Echo or Google Home.
They’re easy to use. Many smart-home devices operate wirelessly and often can be controlled by your smartphone or tablet. You don’t have to be tech-savvy to install or operate them.
Source: “Want a Smart Home? 5 Reasons to Get Started Now — and How,” realtor.com(R) (May 16, 2017)
