Real estate and lifestyle have always been closely related. Where you live or have lived defines the way you think, look and act i.e. your lifestyle.

In modern times, real estate is not just about where you are i.e. your location. Real estate also includes what you can actually do in a given location. What you can do is greatly influenced by smart technology.

Technology is something that has a great impact on the lives we lead. It is something that makes our lives easier and as technology continues to advance, so too will our lifestyles continue to improve.

With the emergence of smart home devices: the real estate industry has progressed to the next level. It is these, Internet of Things (IoT) enabled, home devices that have led to the concept of the smart home. Smart home automation (also called domotics) has become increasingly popular across Africa, in places like Nigeria: particularly with regards to buying luxury housing.

In this guide we’ll discuss how smart home technology is impacting the contemporary housing market, some of the benefits, as well as present a few popular home automation systems.

What is smart home technology

Have you ever wondered if you have switched off the air conditioning in your room or locked the door after you on your way to work? These are the sorts of questions smart home technology can answer for you.

Smart home technology is based on the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT refers to appliances or products that are interconnected and communicate through digital networks. Many of the electronic home devices and products you purchase today are IoT ready, from your fridge to your heater to your television.

The growing popularity of smart homes

From bungalows to apartments to grand mansions, residents across the world are experiencing the luxury lifestyle that can come about with smart home devices.

The global demand for smart home automation has consistently risen, primarily from house buyers under the age of 40.

In Nigeria, the need for smart home technology is also fueled by the high number of brand new residential developments springing up: especially in Abuja and Lagos. As awareness of the technology continues to grow and prices become more affordable, adoption rates will only increase.

Accordingly, numerous prominent real estate development companies have invested in smart home technology. This has allowed them to differentiate themselves from competitors, by enhancing their offerings in a competitive market.

Benefits of smart home technology

If you haven’t already thought about buying a smart home or adding smart technology to your existing house, you would do well to consider some of the benefits this will bring to you:

Convenience

Convenience is among the top reasons for purchasing a smart home. Smart tech gives people control and easy access to many of the systems in their properties such as cooling, heating, entertainment, intercoms, security and lighting.

Savings

Many smart home devices are eco-friendly, with energy-saving features that allow you to reduce utility bills like electricity, gas or water.

Security

Smart homes can have security systems which help to protect your property from both internal and external dangers.

Increased home value

As smart home technology is in demand, from both those looking to buy as well as rent, home automation increases the value of real estate. This gives investors potentially higher returns on investment if and when they decide to sell.

Smart home real estate sells faster

Although there is no telling exactly how long it will take for a house to sell, there are factors that influence this. Apart from price, location and condition: a homes features has an effect on its selling time. A house with smart technology usually has more features, distinguishing it from other houses, thus allowing it to sell faster than a house without smart tech.

How to implement smart home technology

Although smart home technology can be implemented into an existing home, if you are buying a property off plan or are building a house yourself from scratch, it is best to make provisions for a smart home network and related infrastructure. This is true both with regards to how your home is actually designed as well as making room for appropriate wiring to be fixed.

A home network is made up of the intranet and internet. The intranet controls communication within a home while the internet enables you to communicate with your property when not present.

It is important that homeowners have reliable wireless and wired network systems, as all smart devices will need to connect to the central hub. This can involve significant planning and execution. If you are not buying a home with inbuilt smart features, it’s best to talk with a professional for guidance.

Most popular smart home features

The core smart home tech elements include:

  • Lighting
  • Heating & cooling
  • Security

However, there are a several other home automation solutions currently available, each providing a number of benefits and catering to a variety of specific homeowner needs.

  • Smart lighting systems can be customized and controlled remotely. Further, such systems can detect when rooms are occupied and adjust the lighting as required
  • Thermostats allow for energy savings and comfort. Thermostats use sensors to learn your preferences and automatically adjust room temperatures to keep you comfortable
  • Smart TVs can be turned on with voice or gesture recognition. Additionally, they can automatically download and save your favorite TV shows: ready for you to watch later
  • Smart locks can detect when owners are nearby and automatically open doors for them. These systems can also be used to remotely grant or deny visitors access to certain rooms in your home
  • Smart security cameras allow house owners to keep an eye on their homes from anywhere around the world
  • Burglar detection devices such as glass break sensors, motion detectors and door sensors: provide extra security
  • Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras can read your car plate number and open the front gates for your automatically
  • Smart kitchen appliances make house chores such as doing laundry, home cleaning as well cooking much easier. For instance, fridges can keep track of food expiration dates and tell you when it’s time to do some shopping!

Final thoughts

The use of smart home technology is growing globally. In Nigeria, home automation is evolving fast, with a number of modern luxury houses having been built.

Smart home technology allows for multiple benefits including giving you comfort, being able to use energy more efficiently as well as being able to secure your property.

Doors, windows, air conditioners, heaters, cameras etc.: can all be controlled with a flick of a button on your smartphone, or in some cases work automatically without input.

As well as allowing you to maintain your property easier, home automation also increases the value of real estate and makes your home easier to sell.