Studies continue to report that potential homebuyers are seeking homes with technology that makes their lives and their ability to run their households easier and more convenient.

Our real estate agentsknow that a home with updated technology is often more appealing to prospective buyers. Even if you don't anticipate selling your home in the future, adding a few new high-tech options can help you customize your home to your needs.

Here's what you need to know about the latest in in-home technology.

Home Technology Trends

• A Smart Home Hub
  A smart home hub is practically expected in a smart home. While most smart home hubs (like the Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings Hub, or Apple HomeKit) also function as a speaker, they make it simple to control or monitor the technology in your home. If you have a smart home hub that's a few years old, continue upgrading it to a newer version, as the 4th generation echo dot. This latest version of Amazon's smart home hub boasts a sleek, circular design and superior sound quality.

• Outdoor Smart Lights
  Smart lights are an effective way to keep the exterior of your home more secure and ensure that visitors can safely maneuver outside your home. The Ring Smart Lighting System is an excellent option that's affordable and easy to install. It lets you create a network of outdoor smart lights that can include floodlights, pathway lights, floodlights, and step lights. It's also compatible with the Ring smart doorbell and many smart home hubs. You can adjust the motion sensitivity of the lights and schedule certain sections to turn on and off at specific times.

• A Video Doorbell
  Thanks to the popularity and affordability of video doorbells, they're an excellent addition to your home. Not only do video doorbells allow you to safely determine who's at your door, but they're also triggered by motion, alerting you if anyone is outside your home or if you're receiving a delivery. The Ring video doorbell and Google Nest video doorbell are user-friendly alternatives that provide clear video and offer custom settings.

• A Smart Thermostat
  Smart thermostats make it simple to lower your energy usage without having to return to a freezing home. While you can set your home's temperature to adjust based on your schedule, over time, some newer smart thermostats learn about your energy usage and will make the adjustments for you. Google's Third Generation Nest Learning Thermostat is one of the latest learning thermostats. It's sleek, attractive, smart, and easy to set up and use. You also connect your smart thermostat to your smart home hub to effortlessly adjust the temperature.

• A Smart Lock
  With a smart lock, you don't have to worry about getting your key back after providing it to a contractor or rekeying your locks when your child loses their key. A smart lock allows you to issue virtual keys that you can revoke as necessary. You can access your home using a numerical or biometric code, or you may select a lock with the auto-unlock feature. The auto-unlock feature senses when you arrive home and will unlock the door for you. Or, use the coordinating app to remotely grant access to your home if you're expecting a delivery.  

• A Smart Display
  A smart display is a fun addition that maximizes the benefits and utility of your home's other devices. Use the display to take video calls or monitor your video doorbell or security camera. Smart displays also have voice control that allow you to pull up a recipe or your to-do list within seconds. Or, ask it to play the latest episode of your favorite show. The Echo Show 10 and Google Nest Hub Max are two of the most innovative options available.

• A Pet-Friendly Security Camera
  See what your pets are really up to during the day with a pet-friendly security camera. The Furbo Dog Camera even allows you to remotely give your pet a treat. Activate the notification setting, and it will let you know when your dog is barking.

• Smart Light Bulbs
  While smart light bulbs have been around for a while, they continue to incorporate more features that allow you to adjust them to your needs. The Wyze smart lightbulb can create over 16 million colors and allows you to create preset hues so that you can save the details for your favorite shade. Or, use one of the existing preset settings to quickly change the atmosphere in your home. You can also set up the bulbs in groups so that you can control the color and brightness of multiple bulbs at once. There's also the option to schedule them to turn on and off according to your specified times.

Ready to put your home on the market? Contact us today to begin the selling process!