A growing number of homes have smart devices, especially newer properties. When buyers tour a new build or updated home, they expect to see some intelligent product, whether it’s a thermostat, a security system, or an automated lock.
If your home features intelligent tech devices, you’ll need to consider a few things before listing.
Decide What Stays Before Listing
As a home seller or a real estate agent representing the seller, you need to decide what devices to include in the home sale. This step is imperative before you begin marketing the listing. Ideally, you want your real estate images and listing descriptions to reflect only the products that stay with the house.
Take some time during the pre-listing process to sit down and determine what should stay and what should go. Smart home systems are desirable to most buyers, especially if they offer energy savings.
Typically, sellers leave items like appliances, light bulbs/fixtures, thermostats, and smoke detectors. The listing is more likely to stand out against its competition if the devices are high-tech. Think connected thermostats, smart door locks, and smoke alarm listening devices.
Likewise, consider removing any cumbersome or buggy tech products before you list. Just as smart products can boost your listing, they can also hurt the home sale if they glitch during showings.
Highlight the Technology
Once you decide which smart home devices and appliances stay, highlight them in your marketing efforts. For example, give the products a shout-out in the listing description.
When you hire a professional photographer, ask them to take a few close-up images of the smart home gadgets. Some buyers are eager to see which brands your listing includes.
If you don’t have smart-tech home products in the home you’re selling, you can add a few without spending a fortune. Consider enhancing your home with movement sensing dimmer switches or wi-fi-connected smoke detectors. Installing smart home devices can increase your home’s value, just as updating your kitchen backsplash or adding a fresh coat of paint does.
Keep in mind, it isn’t easy to highlight the technology if you don’t know how to use it. Before listing a smart home, make sure you understand precisely how the products work. The last thing you want during a showing is a buyer thinking the appliances and electronics are too tedious to use.
Factory Reset
This step is crucial to help both the seller and the buyer avoid future frustration and headache. Right before you close on your listing, make sure to factory reset every device in the home. You can do most factory resets online. Sometimes though, you must do a factory reset directly to the device itself.
If you forget this step in the home selling process, that’s ok. It’s typical for the buyer’s agent to work alongside the seller’s agent after closing when necessary.
If You’re Buying a Smart Home
There are a few essential steps to consider when buying a smart home. As mentioned above, you want all of the devices to be in factory reset mode. This default mode protects your family and you from potentially getting hacked. Ask your real estate agent to include a factory reset requirement in the contract.
Additionally, you need to understand how the home’s smart devices work. Take note of which brands your listing includes and research the products online. A simple YouTube search shows how-to guides for a variety of smart products. You should request that the seller leaves any installation guides in the home for you to review post-closing.
Lastly, review the warranties for the tech devices. Some smart home products do not transfer owners, while others do. If you find that any products included in your listing sale do not transfer from the previous owner, ask that the seller replace the devices before closing.
A smart home stands out on third-party listing websites like Zillow. Often, a smart home will practically sell itself. If you really want to impress buyers, highlight the technology that comes with the house in your marketing efforts with professional real estate images and a well-written listing description.
Once you enter the closing process, change the devices back to factory reset mode and review the warranty for information on transferring ownership.
A smart home is intriguing to many buyers and a must-have for most tech-savvy young professionals. In today’s world, the more home tech, the better!
