Top 3 reasons why you should hire an agent who knows smart home
The popularity of connected devices has grown exponentially over the past several years. We've seen retail stores devote a few shelves to smart home devices a few years ago to entire sections featuring smart home devices today. The demand for making a standard item in our homes "smart" has reached a whole new level yet we are still at the beginning of this technological revolution.
While the use of smart home devices is more ubiquitous than ever, we have a long way to go in addressing what a smart home means as it relates to selling a home. Coldwell Banker partnered with CNET in 2016 to define smart home.
When selling your smart home, here are the top 3 reasons why you should hire an agent who knows smart home.
Your agent should be able to convey the benefits of a particular smart home device
Your agent's job is to educate the buyer and their agent on the benefits of the smart devices in your home. They must tell the story of that device and the lifestyle benefits it brings. The buyer may miss the awesome smart switch that allows you to control from anywhere and make it look like you're home even while on vacation. They may not realize the energy and potential monthly savings they can see compared to a similar home for sale down the street. These benefits give your home an advantage in the market.
Smart home isn't searchable on real estate websites
Your agent can't simply check a smart home box when entering your property details into their multiple listing service (MLS). That means a prospective buyer can't search for a smart home when conducting their search online. This reason alone makes it critical that you choose an agent who knows how to capitalize on your investment. Coldwell Banker has added this field on coldwellbanker.com but we have a long way from industry standardization.
It's a differentiating factor that needs creative marketing
Telling the story of your smart home requires more than what traditional marketing allows. There are plenty of creative marketing strategies to educate the buyer on the benefits of a smart home. Creating a video walkthrough talking about each product goes a long way in giving your property an edge. They can include the information about the smart products in the homebook that buyers can pick up after viewing your home. They can also create a 3d tour with callouts to feature the smart devices.
Smart home is a differentiator today but it will soon become the standard. There's no better time to take advantage of this technology.