Will Smart Home Features Increase Home Values?

As a homeowner, you want to add the upgrade that will increase the value of your home while making it more comfortable and functional. Home automation has gained ground during the past decade. People are looking at devices and apps that automatically turn on the lights, change the interior temperature, and increase their home’s security.

What is Available in Smart Home Features?

Smart home features can fall into broad categories based on what changes you want to make to the house, how you want to control the device, and how much you want to spend. Many devices offer these benefits:

• Increasing the security of the home
• Making the home more energy efficient
• Offering more comfort and functionality

Some items that have become highly popular include smart lights, smart thermostats, smart doorbells, smart security systems, and smart appliances. Here are some items that are both affordable and offer a lot of functionality:

Smart Lights

Smart lights can do some amazing things, from being operated just by a touch on a smartphone app to playing music from tiny speakers. Two popular smart light systems include the Caseta Wireless Lighting Control and the Sengled Pulse Light Bulb.

The Caseta lighting control allows you to turn on any light from your smartphone, tablet or smartwatch, which can increase the security of your home when you are away. You can also control the window blinds and change the indoor temperature with this system.

The Sengled Pulse Light Bulb makes listening to music more relaxing. Hidden speakers in the bulb can play your music wirelessly. The bulbs can fit into existing fixture so you don’t have to rewire your home to use these bulbs.

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats, such as the Nest thermostat featured above, are designed to learn more about the homeowner’s temperature preferences and then create an indoor environment that is suitable to them. These thermostats can be controlled directly from a smartphone app. They also offer energy savings as they can sense when nobody is home and lower the temperature to save money.

Smart Cameras

Smart cameras help to increase the security of your home. The company Ring offers a smart camera system that allows you to monitor the outside of your home from your smartphone as it has motion detection, floodlight systems and a siren. Recordings are sent to the cloud as you pay a subscription fee. N

Smart Fans, Fireplaces & Drapery

Bond allows you to voice control your existing ceiling fan or fireplace using WiFi. The system works with Alexa, Google Home, and by remote control with an app, with iPhone or Android. Curtain call helps you to control your curtains from your phone. Their hardware involves an electronic remote control drapery system which can work with Amazon Echo, Google Home and Apple Siri.

Will Smart Features Add Value to My Home?

When thinking about adding smart features to increase home value, you want to separate them based on luxury versus necessity. A smart entertainment system won’t really increase a home’s property value. Yet a smart HVAC system that lowers utility bills, smart appliances or a smart security system possibly could add value. You’ll also have to take into account the type of home you are selling (luxury versus middle class) and whether you plan to take the smart feature with you as the new homeowner won’t get the added benefits when you sell the property.