My own home would qualify as a “smart house” using a common definition. Yes, our thermostat, Televisions, several lights, and electrical outlets are on the internet and can be controlled with a smart speaker or an app on my phone or tablet.
I love that my washing machine can be operated using my phone and it lets me know when the load is done. The dishwasher isn’t as smart but I can delay the wash cycle so that the dishes are washed at night and done before I get up in the morning.
There is smart home technology for monitoring moisture and for turning on the sprinklers. There are door cameras that allow homeowners to watch their packages being stolen. They won’t get the packages back but at least they get closure.
Some lights are set to go on at sunset, off at bedtime, and then on again in the morning and off at sunrise. There is more, mostly because I have always liked gadgets.
The National Association of Realtors encourages Realtors to be “smart home experts”. I think that is a bit out of the scope of a Realtor’s expertise. I believe we should recognize technology in the houses we sell and perhaps make sure the buyer is aware of all of the bells and whistles.
Most of us can spot a smart thermostat and we can tell if the refrigerator is online and even if it can talk to the pressure cooker.
I can not always tell if the light fixtures have smart bulbs in them. Light bulbs burn out. I am inclined to encourage the buyers to buy their own and the sellers to take the bulbs with them.
The best way to learn about smart home technology is to:
- Go to an electronic store like Best Buy and check it out.
- Read a book on the subject.
- Visit CNET or Wired on the Internet.
- Watch some videos on the subject on YouTube.
Technology changes much faster than the average person moves. If you bought a new mobile phone the same month you moved into your first home it would be obsolete long before you are ready to sell. In most cases deciding to buy a house because it has smart home technology in it may not even be smart.
I haven’t found a house yet that can not be retrofitted with new smart home technology. I am constantly adding to my own home. Next on my list are smart door locks, mainly so that I can check the doors without getting out of bed.
