Pandemic stirs greater interest in smart home technology
A new realtor.com survey found interest in smart home technology has increased since the pandemic began. Now that they are spending more time at home, a quarter of Americans are more interested in smart home technology. These numbers were even higher for young adults age 18 to 34, with 37 percent showing increased interest. Fortyeight percent of current owners have purchased at least one smart device or feature since the start of the pandemic.
The survey of more than 2,000 Americans conducted by the real estate website and Yougov between Dec. 3-7, 2020 found more than half (57%) of Americans and
61 percent of younger adults already own some smart home technology. The most common owned products were smart TV (36%), smart home speakers (22%), smart doorbells (12%), robot vacuum (10%) and climate control systems/ smart thermostat (10%).
“The survey results show that many Americans, and especially younger people, are leveraging smart home technologies to enhance their quality of life, even more so now that most of us re-shaped our homes into live, work, learn and play spaces,” said realtor.com. senior economist George Ratiu. “In a year defined by a global pandemic, and fraught with civil unrest and economic volatility, it is not surprising that people are prioritizing the safety and security of their home, their finances, and having a comfortable place to relax and unwind.”
Safety and security are top priorities among those surveyed. When asked to select one smart home feature to add to their home, a high-tech security system ranked first (21%). When choosing a smart home feature that would make a new home most desirable, two most popular answers were a smart doorbell with camera (36%) and a high-tech security system (34%). Asked to describe a futuristic home, 22 percent selected a ‘fortress of safety’ that can protect against climate-related challenges.
Energy efficiency and environmentally friendly features rank high. The most popular selection for a futuristic home was a green, energyefficient home (35%). Respondents’ picks for a desirable feature in a new home were solar roof tiles (37%), a home battery pack to store solar energy (32%), and standalone solar panels (24%).
At-home entertainment and relaxation are more important than ever. When asked which features would make a new home more desirable, 26 percent said a high-tech home theater; 18 percent a TV that pop up out of dressers or drop down from the ceiling; 18 percent a sleep sanctuary with soothing music and bed that automatically adjusts for the perfect night’s sleep; 15 percent a high-tech massage chair; and 6 percent an automatic cocktail maker.
Joanne Fraser, 2021 president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, said smart technology was trending in the Bay Area even before COVID-19 hit the state. She is not surprised that the pandemic has upped the desire for smart features even more. “With Silicon Valley’s high population of tech workers, smart technology is present in many homes. We’re seeing homebuyers willing to pay a premium for homes with security, energy efficient and environmentally friendly smart features already installed.”
Information provided in this column is presented by the Realtor members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at www.silvar.org. Send questions on any topic to rmeily@silvar.org.