Do smart features sell homes?

Smart home features have become popular in recent years, helping homes become more comfortable, safe and convenient.

A smart home has an integrated system of technology.

As appealing as that may sound, it is good to consider how often buyers want them and which will stay or go after the sale has gone through.

Explaining what options are available, RE/MAX of Southern Africa explains some smart home features that one can add to their home:

• Smart security system: an alarm system including window and door sensors and outdoor sensors monitored and controlled through a smartphone.

• Voice assistant: Voice-activated software that carries out simple commands like telling the TV to turn on or lowering the volume of the home’s surround sound system.

• Smart lock and doorbell: A Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled door lock that works on an app and allows homeowners to leave their keys at home. The doorbell can have an integrated camera to allow homeowners, via an app, to see who is there when they are not home.

• Smart garage door: A Wi-Fi-enabled device that allows you to check on the garage door, and open and shut it when you are away from home.

To consider whether the smart home feature will add value, regional director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, Adrian Goslett, suggested considering which items will remain in the home after they sell the home.

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“Some smart home features will go with the seller once they sell the home. Anything that is an app and is not fixed to the home, like a robot vacuum or a streaming device that connects to all the other devices in the home will not come with the sale, so it won’t add value to the home,” he explained.

While today’s home buyers may be used to digital features in the home and may find having them appealing, they seldom list these features as the make-or-break factors when searching for a home.

“Most buyers still look for the basics like the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and outdoor living space. Unless buyers are looking in the luxury housing market, they considered smart home features only a bonus,” said Goslett.

However, Goslett noted buyers might be after different things depending on the suburb and the price bracket.

“In deciding whether smart home features will add value, it is best to speak to a local RE/MAX agent to find out what features are more likely to make the home more desirable to potential buyers,” he concluded.

For more real estate advice or to get in touch with your nearest RE/MAX office, visit www.remax.co.za.

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