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Developing To Sell? The Most Popular Smart Home Devices That Hook Prospective Homebuyers

by with No Comment Smart Home Devices

Over the years, the smart home business has been growing exponentially. By 2020, the number of connected smart devices is expected to reach 20.4 billion and 12.8 billion of these will be for households, as per Forbes Middle East. With such numbers, it is important for developers and real estate specialists to study the smart home market to determine what potential home buyers want in a smart home. The Indian Government has launched several initiatives, including the ‘101 Smart Cities’ and ‘Housing For All by 2022’, which has led to increased investments and competition in the real estate industry. With the industry expected to hit $180 billion by 2020, smart home developers can outdo competitors by installing the most common smart devices, thereby increasing both the marketability and value.

Smart speakers

In the past, control was done by installing numerous smartphone apps, which was unreliable. Thanks to the rise of smart speakers, this problem is solved, and still the future holds more. The most reliable speakers currently dominating the market are Apple Homepad, Google Home, and Amazon Echo. Of these, the Apple Homepad is suitable for homes with Apple Kit as one can control devices using the IOS Home App. Similarly, Google Home has broader coverage, and Google Assistant, which powers the speaker is the easiest to talk to, as reported by TrustedReviews. Also, consumers claim that the Amazon Echo speakers offer the most extensive level of smart home control. For instance, with Amazon Alexa, you can operate multiple devices such as switching off music, heating, and lighting with one phrase. Marketers should be sure to install the choice that is compatible with popular devices.

Safety and security

Smart cameras capture what goes around your home and send notifications to your smartphone if they notice anything suspicious. For instance, smoke and carbon dioxide detectors are designed to contact your phone if they sense a fire. Similarly, smart home cameras let you see who is at the door even when you are not home. Also, pet cameras help keep an eye on your pets when you are out working. Online review sources show that when it comes to security, a majority of home buyers prefer outside models because most security threats come from outside. They, however, cost more and might need professional services.

Smart lighting and heating

Besides turning lights on and off via your phone or voice command, smart lighting entails a lot more. For example, with the right kit, you could set your lights to turn on if your camera detects motion. You could also have the lights turn on and off automatically when you are away, thereby fooling potential robbers into thinking you are home. Another entry point that home buyers look for is thermostats that sense when you are not home, whereby they change settings to away, a vice that helps save energy.

The leading smart home device manufacturers that are dominating India’s market are Apple, Amazon, and Google. As a developer or a property marketer, you should ensure to select the best provider depending on its respective popularity in your area. Also, since a significant part of the smart home technology is the ability for devices to integrate and communicate, when shopping consider checking the ‘works with’ information posted on the box.

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Enhancing Home Design using IoT Tech

by with No Comment Home automationResidential automation teamsTechnologyVilla automation teams

Enhancing Home Design using IoT Tech

In India, the number of IoT devices will increase to 2.7 billion units by 2020 according to a NASSCOM report. If you compare that with the 200 million units that the report states were available in 2016, you can see just how significant that increase will be. With this kind of forecast, it is not surprising that home designers and construction companies are looking into ways they can exploit these changes to increase the value of homes in India. IoT can be used to enhance security, entertainment and change the way you light your home.

IoT and Security

There are security cameras, door and window sensors and other gadgets that work using the internet of things. These devices can either be connected to the internet through Wi-Fi, or may use protocols like Zigbee to communicate with other devices in your home. For example, your connected security camera can send you a notification when someone is standing by your door when you are away from home. While this actually enhances your home security, it may make you vulnerable to hackers that could use the internet to access your home’s security cameras. To prevent this you may need to use technology that secures the networks your smart devices use to communicate with one another. One way to do this is by securing your PC, tablets and smartphones online using VPN. You may also turn to devices that use protocols such as Radio Frequency (RF), which are harder to hack.

IoT for maintaining your house structure

Any house buyer will appreciate technology that helps maintain the structure of their home to enhance its durability.  One way this can be done is by installing sensors in strategic areas of your plumbing system to help you detect water leaks before they become a major problem. These sensors can send notifications to your phone when there is a leak. Waterproofing your home prevents paint peels, warping of wood on wooden floors, cracks and other major issues. There are other IoT devices that can detect gas leaks, smoke and other air impurities in your home.

IoT and your Electricity Bill

Home designers that want to incorporate IoT devices in homes should care more about the benefits these devices bring to a home not their appearance. They should also be aware that a few quality smart devices in a home are better than a home cluttered with smart devices that may never be used.

Turning off all the lights and devices that use electricity when they are not being used is one way to cut your electricity bill. However, IoT based technologies can automatically regulate power supply associated with electronics or appliances in your home during peak usage periods. This can save many Kerala residents a lot of money especially during the summer months. If you cannot afford a full IoT electricity management system, you can still save energy and money by using devices such as smart thermostats, smart lights and smart plugs. For example, smart plugs can automatically turn off devices that may be wasting energy in your home, and smart lights can turn off if they detect that a room is not occupied.