Building a New Home? Make it a Smart Home

When it comes to finding the perfect home, many families are taking an "out with the old, in with the new" approach.

With more than 1.3 million new homes started in the past year, new homebuyers are snatching up brand new homes in neighborhoods or building custom homes to suit their needs.

According to a Trulia survey of more than 2000 people, modern features and the ability to customize your new home are the top two reasons people opt to purchase new construction over an existing home.

Adding smart home technology to your home is a perfect way to do both—it gives your home modern, convenient elements while allowing a level of personalization depending on your family’s needs.

Why should I add smart home technology?

If you haven't given much thought to customizing your new home beyond countertops or flooring, consider some of the benefits that adding smart home technology will bring to your new construction:

• Savings. Many smart home components have energy-saving features that not only conserve energy, but help you cut costs on your utility bills. More on that below.
• Protect your investment. Although the price of new construction varies widely, homeowners spend on average more than $66,000 more on new construction than on existing homes. Smart homes often include security systems, which help you project your investment and its contents.
• Improve your home's saleability. Smart home technology is in demand for both renters and buyers. If you ever decide to sell or rent your home as an investment property, the presence of smart home technology can help prevent it from sitting on the market; in one survey, 86 percent of millennials were willing to pay more for a place with home automation and smart features.

The best smart home features for new homes

Because your smart home can be set up and configured in a way that best fits your family's needs, every smart home will look a little different regarding features and capabilities.

That said, there are some smart home upgrades that make sense to install in your home while in the construction phase or shortly after completion.

Take a look at some of the most popular smart home features you can customize to your needs in your new construction:

Security systems to protect your investment

Safety should always be the top priority. A security system with 24/7 monitoring provides peace of mind for homeowners and can be especially important in newer neighborhoods where residential construction sites often attract burglars thanks to pricey tools, equipment, brand new fixtures, appliances, and goods.

In addition to burglary detection features like motion detectors, glass break sensors, and door sensors, a well-rounded smart home security system should also include both outdoor and indoor surveillance cameras.

Home automation for greater convenience

A comprehensive home automation system provides the ultimate in convenience and control of your home. The Vivint system, for instance, enables your devices to work together, while you can control them from a single location in your home via a smart home hub or through an easy-to-use smart home app.

Controlling your home—whether it's locking your doors, adjusting your temperature, or turning lights on and off—has never been easier or more convenient. It also takes the worry out of forgetful moments, like wondering whether you left your garage door open or forgot to arm your security system.

Smart door locks secure your front porch

One of the most popular smart home features is a smart door lock, and it's easy to see why. You can lock and unlock your front door from your smartphone, or set custom rules for greater convenience, like automatically locking the door a few minutes after entering the home. It's also convenient for guests, deliveries, and kids; everyone gets their own code, so you'll never have to make key copies again.

Smart thermostats combine comfort and energy savings

One of the appeals of new construction is energy efficiency. Newer homes take advantage of the latest energy-saving technology, and that includes smart thermostats, which are becoming a staple in new construction.

The Vivint Smart Thermostat, for example, uses the security sensors in the home to learn your temperature preferences, location, and local climate and automatically adjusts the temperature to keep you comfortable. When used with a home automation system, you can even control your smart thermostat with your voice. “Hey Google. Turn down the temperature 5 degrees.”

Build a safer, smarter home

One of the best things about new construction is the ability to personalize your new home to make it everything you want it to be, whether that's safer, smarter, or more convenient. If you're building a new home, there's no better time to make it your own with a smart home system.

Give us a call today at 844.481.8630 for a free smart home consultation.