How Homes Are Being Equipped for the Future

With all of the new, innovative technological devices and gadgets being introduced these days, it’s no wonder those same applications are now being considered in the build-out of new homes. After all, consumers are always looking for ways to incorporate their “smart devices” into everyday life. According to a survey by Icontrol Networks, about one third of those in the market for real estate are technology enthusiasts – those interested in inventive smart home solutions that also include some “smartphone-inspired” features.

Some of the latest trends being incorporated involve the remote “control” of many different aspects of your home. Homeowners now have the ability, with an application on their smart phones, to control their garage door from anywhere, at any time. They even get an alert when their garage opens or closes; keeping them constantly updated and giving them a sense of security.

The idea of a keypad for entry into a garage or to open a door has been around a while, but there’s now a new smartphone-specific device that manages “virtual keys” through a special app that allows you to send, disable or delete “eKeys.” If a homeowner wants to get in, he or she simply needs to touch the lock – and if their smartphone is within a reasonable distance of it, it will open with ease. If that same homeowner is at work, but wants to open the house for the kids, or an out-of-town guest, permission can be sent to that person’s smartphone, and once they approach the door, and get near the lock, they’ll be granted entry inside. The “Kevo” application is a creative gadget that solves the “locked out of my house” issue, nationwide.

Another cool feature that’s being instituted in many new homes is something called “The Learning Thermostat,” by Nest, which actually discovers what temperatures the homeowners like, and allows them to create a schedule that remembers when to adjust and readjust the thermostat. There’s even a feature that can be accessed remotely to turn down the heat or turn up the air conditioning when no one is home, cutting energy costs across the board. This is fast becoming a way of life in brand new homes, as well as older homes. One report by Statista predicts that by 2017, more than 30 million home automation/smart home systems will be installed, as compared to only 5.5 million homes last year.

And it’s not just smartphone applications that are changing the way people live. A lot of new construction involves the integration of smart living, and green initiatives, as well. Kitchens now have dishwashers that use water saved from the previous cycle and cut H2O use by 33%. Bathrooms feature tiles with a coating that uses antimicrobial metals to dissolve pollutants and kill bacteria. And there are toilets on the market now that employ a vacuum assist technology to save nearly a gallon of water with each flush. Homes in Wellesley and Weston are being equipped with cabling in their garages for the plug-in of electric cars, as well.

The bottom line is, developers and builders are changing the way they work to accommodate the new generation of homeowners. If you’re remodeling your house with plans to list it in the next few years, you might want to consider a similar sort of action plan. Smart, green homes are the trend of tomorrow, so consider those features when you’re selling, buying, or building. Being equipped for the future will enable you to plan your next move with efficiency and save you two precious “natural” resources: your money and time.