There is a lot of buzz about ‘smart homes’ at the moment, and if you’re a fan of tech and looking to spruce up your home, then you might be tempted to buy yourself some new gadgets.
If you’re just thinking of buying some new gadgets for your own enjoyment, then absolutely go for it! However, if you’re thinking that making your home a smart home will add to your property value, then it’s worth giving the project some further thought.
What Is A Smart Home?
Smart homes are houses where the appliances can be controlled remotely, often using your mobile phone, over the internet.
All of your devices will be connected to one another over the internet. You will then be able to control them using your mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop, or a PC, or even a gaming console.
Smart devices can also be taught your schedule, so your heating will learn when to come on, and your oven will learn when to heat. You can even get smart fridges that will send you a message to remind you to buy milk!
Get To Know Your Target Market
Although there are a lot of pros to smart homes, there are also some cons. By connecting your smart devices to the internet, you are giving hackers an opportunity that they wouldn’t previously have had.
Security is a big concern for the manufacturers of smart technology, so this risk is pretty low. However, if you are trying to sell or rent your home to someone concerned about this, your smart home could actually put them off.
The best way to ascertain which type of person is likely to be your target market is to speak to someone who knows your town and who will be buying or renting there. For example, estate agents Cheshunt could tell you what your target market is likely to like and what they aren’t. You can then use this information to help you to make an informed decision about how to proceed with your smart home project.
Why A Smart Home?
It has been claimed that spending just £179 on making your home into a smart home can add £16,000 to its value. Of course, this very much depends on who you are selling to!
A great selling point for a smart home is actually security, despite the concern over hackers! A smart doorbell allows you to see who is at the door before opening it and even to talk with them over an intercom.
A smart doorbell combined with an intercom and smart lights is a great security feature. For example, the camera on your smart doorbell might pick up that someone is behaving suspiciously at your property. You would be able to see this over the internet and then switch on the lights to make it appear as though you were at home or speak through the intercom to unnerve the potential intruder and make them leave.
As you would know instantly if someone were trying to break into your home, you could even notify the police from wherever you were. This would mean that the police could catch them in the act.
