Home & Garden
Be "Smart" and Make These Smart Home Upgrades
Debi Benoit is a Principal of Benoit Mizner Simon & Co. in Wellesley and Weston
It’s a hot market right now, and if you’re looking to sell your home this season, you might want to go the extra mile. Research from Strategic Analytics shows that sales of smart home features will surpass sales of smartphones by 2023. Smart home devices can increase your property value and give you an edge on the competitor. Just as you would spend a weekend updating your house with a fresh coat of paint before putting it on the market, many of these devices can be installed just as quickly. Also, to appeal to the millennial audience that is largely responsible for the buyer’s market right now, upgrading to a tech-friendly home is a smart move. These three devices are some of the most popular additions:
Smart Thermostat:
A smart thermostat is convenient and easy to learn because it allows you to change the temperature of your home from your smart phone or tablet. This feature also allows you to save money, because you can turn the AC (or heat) off when you leave and turn it back on shortly before you return home! Similarly, your smart thermostat will eventually learn the patterns of your home, so you don’t have to manually change it as often as you would with a regular thermostat.
Smart Lock:
Similar to the thermostat, a smart lock is accessible through an app on your phone. This eliminates the frustration of losing your keys and being locked out. Because you decide who has access to the app and the ability to unlock your door, this feature will put potential buyers at ease and make them feel safe. Nothing is worse than leaving the house and trying to remember if you locked the door or not, but with a smart lock, you can check on your phone whenever you choose.
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Smart Speakers:
Smart speakers are becoming quite common, so it might be a good investment for potential sellers who will want to stand out from the crowd. Smart speakers around the house are a good feature to demonstrate a fun atmosphere during an open house. Smart speakers are easy to set up and extremely convenient, as most of them do more than just play music.
Its important to emphasize that the smart features in your home would be a part of the house and not to be taken with you. Remember, it is an investment for sellers to increase the price of your home. It also will help potential buyers envision themselves using these devices every day.