If you’re one of the 200 million Americans who own smartphones, chances are you rely on your phone for almost everything - communication, social media, business and everyday productivity stuff. And with technology ever growing, new innovations are introduced almost everyday.
Now, here’s one innovation that you should be in the know as a rental property owner: the smart home. No, it’s not a home that helps you answer those tough Jeopardy questions on TV. Simply put, a smart home is a house with appliances, lighting, heating, air conditioning, security and camera systems that can be controlled remotely using a smartphone or a computer.
Imagine this: you left home in a hurry but forgot if you locked your door. You open your smartphone to check if you have locked your door. If not, just one tap and the door is locked. You come home at night to a nice, warm apartment because you already turned on the heater even before you arrive home. How convenient is that?
Convenience. It’s the biggest reason why tenants want a smart home. But aside from the convenience smart homes provide, there are more reasons why tenants are looking for smart homes. Here are 5 of them:
- Security and Peace of Mind. In the past, you would have to run back home to double check if you’ve locked the door or worse case scenario, come home with stuff missing. With smart homes, tenants can simply use their smartphones to lock the door and double check if the stove or shower is open. Tenants can relax knowing that all it takes to secure their homes is a tap on the screen.
- Dependence on Technology. Let’s face it: we rely on technology and connectivity so much. From ordering our food to commuting to and from work, technology and connectivity play a huge role on our daily lives. And it’s even more evident in our use of smartphones. There’s an app online for pretty much everything and on an average, we have 5 apps installed on our phones. This dependence on technology is the very reason why incorporating technology in your rental property is very important. It’s a natural fit to the tech-driven lifestyle of many people these days.
- Savings. If you’re a very busy person who always rush in the morning for work, chances are you’ve left the water or heater or stove or all of the above at least once. And when this happens while you’re gone for at least 8 hours, it reflects on your bill. This happening more than once, an even bigger headache.
Tenants prefer smart homes because it helps them save money. Certain technologies can track energy consumption and generate reports on residence usage allowing residents to monitor usage and proactively make adjustments so as not to break the bank. - The Wow Factor. Adding all these technology to your rental property is an upgrade that tenants would definitely like. When faced with the decision of choosing between two rental properties, learning that one of the properties is a smart home makes the choice easier.
- Better Rental Experience. Incorporating technology into your property adds to a more personalized and efficient resident experience. And when you provide an option to your tenants that simplifies and automates their day-to-day home activity, you’re providing a better resident experience.
Ready to transform your rental property into a smart home? Contact us and we’ll help set up everything for you.
