When looking to increase the value of one’s home before selling, common renovations include updating flooring, changing countertops, slapping a fresh coat of paint on the front door and maybe updating some of the home’s appliances.
Although all of these renovations are great ways to up the value of a home, technology trends in smart home appliances are seriously upping the game for those looking to sell their home.
In fact, integrating smart home hardware in the home can directly increase the value of the property. Buyers are increasingly being lured in with IoT (Internet of Things) devices that can be integrated with their smart home hub.
Because Amazon’s Alexa-enabled Echo and Echo Dot are among the most popular home assistants, here are five of the Amazon Echo-compatible smart home upgrades that can be integrated in the home to increase its value and lure in potential buyers.
1. Lighting
Smart lights involve replacing the lightbulbs in the home with “smart” bulbs. The Amazon Echo device can control these energy efficient light bulbs.
Smart lights are an excellent way to up the value of one’s home because they essentially allow for voice activation of all of the lights throughout the home, which enable homeowners to turn on lights in specific rooms, dim lights and even change the color of the lighting with a simple command to their Echo hub.
This simple upgrade to the home will not break the bank, but will be a great feature to attract buyers. And it’ll look flashy when you show the home.
2. Security
The Echo integrates with a wide variety of home hardware to keep a homeowner’s property secure. Investing in these smart security features will provide homeowners with extra peace of mind — a huge bonus, especially if the home isn’t in the best neighborhood.
Consider including smart locks, which when configured with the Echo, can lock and unlock on command.
Smart locks allow users to check in when they are not home, so homeowners can be certain they locked the front door before running out of the house — without having to turn the car around.
Another popular smart security feature to consider are security cameras and video doorbells. Video doorbells are sleek and modern. They simply turn on when someone rings the doorbell.
This allows the homeowner to watch live on their smartphone or Echo Show when someone knocks — whether the owner is home or not — and ensures their home is secure.
The security cameras work the same way; they stay on and record any activity around the property without looking old and clunky like traditional security cameras.
By having these pieces of smart hardware already integrated in the home, homesellers will most likely be adding value with items buyers didn’t even know they would like, which gives the listing an edge above the rest.
3. Heating and cooling
Nest has finally been integrated with the Echo, an advancement that allows homeowners to control the home’s heating and cooling through their Echo device.
Nest is a widely popular smart heating and cooling thermostat. It learns the behaviors of the homeowner and adapts based on the season and time of day, which ensures the home is always a comfortable temperature based on the homeowner’s specific preferences.
It knows when the homeowners are not home — and when they will be home — and adjusts itself to be eco-friendly. Nest is quickly becoming a household name, so adding this appliance to the home will definitely be a nice feature.
4. Watering the garden
The Echo is automating all the responsibilities homeowners have (and sometimes despise), and watering the lawn and garden is at the top of the list.
The GreenIQ Smart Garden Hub allows homeowners to control their sprinklers from the convenience of their smart home device.
Additionally, this tech can control landscape lighting, which replaces outdated landscape maintenance systems. GreenIQ Smart Garden Hub voice activates these little chores with ease.
5. Garage door integration
Homeowners can now open the garage door without moving from the couch! The Garageio is a device that connects to up to three garage doors, which allows homeowners to either use their smartphone or their Amazon Echo to open the garage.
With a simple, “Alexa, open the garage door,” the owner can easily allow guests entry without having to stop what they are doing to let them in.
A home can be listed as a “smart home” when these Amazon Echo-integrated smart hardware devices are installed and without too much of an investment on the seller’s behalf.
This can be a huge selling point for tech-savvy millennials and parents with small children who are starting the house hunting process.
By integrating Amazon Echo-compatible home technologies, homeowners will be upping the value of the home and getting an edge on the competition.
Sean Killian is a product marketer at Enola Labs Software, located in Austin, Texas.
