Smart Home Remodeling in Portland

These days, homeowners doing a remodel prior to listing their home on the Portland real estate market can opt for smart home security systems, sprinklers, thermostats, even light bulbs.

A “smart” device” is anything that can be monitored or controlled with a smartphone, tablet or computer. Why would you want to do that? Well, there are a few reasons.

Smart Pros and Cons

Adding one smart device to your home can be a “give a mouse a cookie” kind of situation. Give a house a smart garage door opener, and it’ll want a smart home security system to go with it! Costs can definitely add up. However, let’s take a look at the benefits:

– Smart devices can be controlled from anywhere. No more “Did I remember to leave the front porch light on?” You can do it from your phone after you get to work!

– Smart devices have handy features. You’ve probably already heard of the refrigerator that tells you when you’re out of milk. But how about a plumbing monitor that alerts you of water leaks before they become visible?

– Smart devices can keep you and your family safer. Although Portland is a relatively low-crime city, security systems appeal to homeowners pretty much anywhere. Everyone sleeps better knowing that they’ll be alerted to any suspicious activity on the premisis, and smart devices are exceptional at doing this.
– Smart devices save energy, from keeping your home at the optimal temperature to alerting you of energy-sucking appliances. It’s all about using power where and when you need it, and being able to shut it off when you don’t.

Could Your Home be Smarter?

A recent houzz.com survey found that out of 2,000 home renovations taking place in the United States, nearly half incorporate “smart” technology.

Of those who didn’t, lack of information and concerns about costs were among the reasons why.

So, how cost effective are smart home technologies – and how do they appeal to buyers?

The answer depends on what kind of technology you choose. Here are the top five that homeowners are choosing, and my best real estate agent analysis of how “smart” they’ll seem to potential home buyers.

1. Central Hub

As soon as you start adding more than two or three smart devices to a home, the need for a Smart Hub to control them all becomes necessary. A smart hub talks to your wirelessly connected lights, thermostats, smoke alarms, motion detectors, sound systems, appliances, etc. It can automate devices so they work with each other without any interaction from you. For example, you can set up simple scenarios such as having the system automatically turn on the lights whenever you unlock your front door.
If you’re installing multiple smart devices with future home buyers in mind, you’ll definitely want to start here so that the rest of the devices you install will be compatible. On the other hand, if you just want to upgrade, say, your lighting system to be smart, your home buyers can always add a hub later on if they want to connect the smart lights to something else — maybe a smart security system.
Price estimate: Between $80 and $200

2. Smart Security

Home security systems have huge buyer appeal, and smart security systems are considered top-of-the-line. In a 2013 survey by the National Association of Home Builders, 50% of home buyers considered smart home security systems to be a desirable feature in a home. Forty percent of those would like their next home to have smart security cameras.

Although not included in the survey, smart locks are another home security feature that can be integrated into the central hub system. Everyone wants to feel safe, and knowing what’s going on in your home remotely is a huge bonus. When integrated into your home’s smart security system, cameras and smart locks have the potential to boost your home value.
Price estimate: Depending on features, $200 – $1,000s of dollars.

3. Lighting

Smart lighting systems can literally dazzle home buyers as they walk through your door. Smart bulbs can change color on command (or as programmed), sync with music or other sound cues, or, on a more practical level, be controlled remotely so that they can be on when they’re need and off when they’re not.

But are smart lights worth the expense? In the Houzz survey, 90% of home remodelers upgraded their lighting, but only 12% purchased smart bulbs or other lighting devices. Bulbs are also problematic as a home-value booster because they’re more likely to be taken with the seller when they move out (talk to your real estate agent before you do that!). On the other hand, I can see them having great potential for improving home showings. Often the real estate agent showing your home will fail to turn on all the lights so that buyers can see everything well. A simple tap of your smartphone app remotely could take care of that problem so that the home is well lit moments before the Realtor and buyer show up. But is it worth the cost?
Price estimate: $40-$100 per bulb

4. Climate Control

I would put smart thermostats near the top of the buyer-appeal list of devices. They’re often one of the first points of interaction between the buyer and the home, and they signify that a home is energy-efficient because smart thermostats are so good at regulating temperature. Control from a smartphone means that you can turn the heat up a notch without ever leaving the couch. Not only are smart thermostats programmable, but when linked to a smart home security system, they can turn the heat or A/C on when you get home and turn it off when you leave, without the user having to so much as push a button.
Price estimate: $200-$300

5. Entertainment

If you’re planning on selling your home in the near future, spending money on a new home entertainment system might not give you the greatest return on investment. However, smart TVs, speakers and other devices have become quite popular — in fact, they beat out every other category of smart devices for dollars spent. They can certainly enhance the enjoyment of any home you are in! Some smart features can be built into the home, such as speakers and control hubs, and they just might give your home the leading edge on the Portland real estate market. However, because every buyer will have their own entertainment preferences, your money is probably better spent on smart devices that serve more basic needs, such as climate control and security.
Price estimate: $100 – $1,000s of dollars depending on how many devices you add.

Target your Demographic

Smart home devices are most likely to appeal to home buyers under 45. It can be tempting to spend lots of money on fun and fancy gadgets, but the good news is you don’t have to. As a real estate agent, my best advice is to focus on energy efficiency, which can save buyers money down the road. A couple of hundred bucks spent on items that buyers can see and appreciate the first time they tour your home with their real estate agent, whether that’s a smart lock, thermostat, or light bulb, has real potential to get your home sold more quickly – and getting full market value (or better) means you’ll be ready to trick out your next home!