Determining which smart devices to include in your new home build often comes with a fair amount of self-inflicted pressure, since building a home is a time-sensitive project. It’s usually less expensive to add smart home features when you’re in the building process, since you won’t be wasting money on items you’re just going to replace. In addition, less work is necessary when you include the features you want from the beginning.
Where Should You Start?
Before you can determine which smart features you need, you’ll want to make sure your home has the capability to run it all. The most important – and most-overlooked – step in building a smart home is installing an enterprise-grade network system. You’ll need plenty of bandwidth to run multiple smart devices as well as provide streaming and surfing capabilities for everyone in the house.
What Will Help Your Resale Value?
After you’ve established a network that can handle it all, take a look at the most popular smart home features home buyers are in the market for:
- HVAC and Thermostat
Control.
More and more buyers are gravitating toward systems that allow complete control
of a multi-zoned HVAC system.
- Security Systems. A dedicated security
system with constant home access is essential to many buyers. However, consider
just how much of your home access you wish to entrust to the stability of your
internet connection; outages can mean difficulties controlling smart door
locks, garage doors, and more.
- Wireless, Multi-zone
Audio Systems.
The availability of a wireless audio system with the capability of playing
audio throughout the home has been a popular selling feature for the past few
years.
Which Features Are Important to You?
Avoid installing smart home technology you won’t use; instead, make the majority of your smart home decisions based on your family’s needs and wants. Think about whether your family would benefit from features like:
- Wi-Fi 6. Even if you have a
broadband network, you’ll still likely want Wi-Fi in your home to supplement
all the smart devices within. If you have a family with multiple devices, a
Wi-Fi 6 hub can provide nearly boundless connection with your internet service
provider.
- Lighting Control. Lighting control is
highly customizable, appearing on only the control switches you wish to
include.
- Wireless Charging. Another feature
highly useful for connected families is wireless charging capabilities. New
technology has made it possible to charge all devices in a room using a safe
and invisible light.
Ultimately, how smart you should make your home is a decision that rests almost entirely on your family’s needs. Building a home that has the capabilities in place so either you or future buyers can make smart additions in the future is smart.
Ready to plan your smart home build?
Premier Builders can help you through the decision-making process so you’re sure to have all the smart features you need, and none you won’t use. Contact us to make an appointment today.
