How to Speak Smart Home Technology to Clients
Homes are becoming smarter. According to IHS Markit, in 2016 80 million smart home devices were delivered worldwide, a 64 percent increase from 2015. As a Realtor® it’s important to stay ahead of the curve and position yourself as an authority figure to clients who may be unsure of smart home technology and how it works.
What is a Smart Home?
A smart home is essentially a home that has a network of automated devices that can be controlled from a computer, smartphone, or tablet. This is achieved simply by having an internet connection and a means to connect to the devices, typically via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
What kind of devices are there?
The wide array of smart home technology generally falls into four categories: home security, entertainment, efficiency, and convenience. Depending on the preferences of the client, some of these particular devices may be better selling points than others – for example, new parents may be keen on video monitoring devices, while a client who travels often might find smoke alarm notifications to be a big plus.
Most popular devices?
According to Business Insider, in 2016 the Amazon Echo reached worldwide sales of 5.2 million units. Powered by Amazon’s Alexa, the Echo works with a number of smart home devices directly through voice command. For home security, the Adobe Home Security Starter Kit is easy to install and can be paired with dozens of Z-Wave and ZigBee smart home products, including door locks, lights, and smart switches. Check out this list of other popular smart home devices in order to get a better idea of what suggestions you could make to clients wanting to invest in smart home technology.
Are there risks?
There are always two sides to a coin. Luckily, for smart home devices, the pros certainly outweigh the cons, but you should still make your clients aware of the potential risks associated with having smart home technology. The biggest concern is hackers being able to break into a home’s network and control devices. While things like lights or laundry machines aren’t a huge issue, more personal devices such as in-home cameras or baby monitors can definitely be cause for concern. Check here to find out different kinds of security precautions and be sure to inform clients on the steps they can take to reduce the risk of being hacked.
Smart home technology is rapidly becoming an expectation not only for millennials but all generations of homebuyers. By better understanding smart home technology, you will be better equipped to accommodate your client’s needs and wants, while turning possible confusion into a selling point.
