Could smart mean serious when it comes to millennials buying homes? According to a recent survey by Protection1, millennials are almost twice as likely than any other age group to pay for a home that includes “smart technology”. This recent Market Watch article by Daniel Goldstein highlights the smart home technology that could attract potential home buyers.
While a good Wi-Fi connection still tops the list for the hottest high-tech upgrades that attract millennials, about three-fourths of those buyers want home security systems that they can access from their smart phones, according to a survey by Chicago-based Protection 1, a home-security company which is merging with Boca Raton, Fla.-based ADT Corp. ADT, -3.67%
And according to Protection 1, millennials are almost twice as likely than any other age group to pay more for a home that includes so-called “smart technology.”
Heather Barbosa, a 44-year-old architectural project manager in Fullerton, Calif., who owns a cabin in Big Bear, Calif. — near the popular ski resort — uses a smart door lock to control access to her renters on weekends or during the ski season. “It’s so convenient as there’s no losing keys or an issue of one key for five people,” she says. She also programs the smart locks to give periodic access to her cleaners between guests.
The most popular smart locks (which typically list online for between $110 and $335) can be programmed to only open with a tap from your cellphone like UniKey’s Kwikset Kevo lock ($199) or your finger while your phone stays in your pocket or purse with Bluetooth proximity sensing or program with a code for temporary or periodic access for contractors or house cleaners. You can also add a separate Bluetooth fob for kids or when you forget your smart phone so you’re not locked out of your own house. Some also include a back-up mechanical key for emergencies.
[Read the full article here]
