Years ago, The Jetsons dared viewers to imagine a smart home. The cartoon portrayed a contemporary family living in the year 2062 in a fully automated home, complete with labor-saving devices, touch-of-a-button ease, and customized commands that could be controlled by George, Jane, Judy and Elroy alike. This conceptual home, and way of life, redefined the enticing vision of the “House of Tomorrow”.
Today, smart homes are a reality, complete with one-touch control of lifestyle, labor and energy-saving efficiencies. Whole-home communications, lighting and temperature control, entertainment, and security solutions that once were offered only to high-end custom homeowners are now increasingly accessible to the broad consumer market. The advent of more affordable, scalable and easily-installed home control and automation products provides greater opportunity for home building and remodeling professionals to turn the smart home trend into profit. By working closely with custom electronic designers and integrators, home builders and remodelers can maximize this growing revenue stream.
Seek and Work With Experts
Most custom home professionals (builders, remodelers and integrators) are trained and experienced in their respective trades. Save valuable time and money by seeking and working with certified, complementary businesses. Through cooperation, each business will be able to offer its smart home-seeking clients a greater selection of building, design and integration resources.
Build Your Reputation as a Forward-Thinking Builder
A smart home (or building) relies on its structured wiring infrastructure to enable electronic devices to be networked and controlled. When working on a new home construction, invite a certified integrator into the planning process to determine the wiring needs of the home. Proper in-wall wiring will ensure that all home electronics (HDTV, media center, lighting, shades, locks) can communicate with each other, and be easily controlled via a single operating system. By doing so, you’ll satisfy the homeowner’s technology needs of today, and tomorrow, help retain home value and position yourself as a forward-thinking builder.
“Smart Home” is Not Synonymous with “New Home”
As the current economy halts new construction, remodelers must be armed with solutions to update existing homes’ technology to meet varying home demands and budget sizes. Integrators can select home control and consumer electronics products that offer wireless home networking solutions that are affordable and scalable. They can specify an appropriate system without the hassle and cost of pulling wires or major home reconstruction, and provide long-term service and technical support.
Embrace The Smart Home as a Means to “Green”
Consumers’ efforts to reduce their carbon footprints are not new, but how new technologies can be integrated into smart homes to help homeowners achieve maximum energy (and hence, cost) savings is. Electronic integrators can provide homeowners with home operating systems that provide one-touch control over lighting, temperature, networked appliances and entertainment systems. Together, you can provide homeowners with the eco-conscious dwelling they seek, while providing your business with an edge over the competition.
Differentiating your smart home business can be a challenge, but a concerted plan that gives homebuyers easy-to-use, affordable, high-tech automation solutions can be the difference between making a sale and a house sitting empty.
Article contributions from Katie Short of Caster Communications, Inc. (http://www.castercomm.com)
April 2010 (9.2 MB)