Tech Upgrades That'll Boost the Value of Your Home

Over the years, smart home technology has been on the come up. If you’re like many homeowners, you may only believe that tech upgrades are valuable because they’re convenient and can save you money. While this is true, what many people fail to realize is that tech upgrades for the home can boost your property’s value as well. So if, for example, you’re planning to make changes within your home this year, first consider all of the ways smart features can add value to your residence. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some smart home upgrades that are sure to not only improve your life at home but increase your property value as well.

Home Surveillance

Smart home surveillance systems are some of the most popular home tech upgrades that can increase your home’s value. Regardless of age, marital status, or family size, prospective buyers want peace of mind when it comes to their homes. So, if adding a surveillance system will help to provide that for them, it may be in your best interest to install a system and in return, boost your home’s asking price when it comes time to sell.

One of the more obvious ways that a surveillance system can provide peace of mind is through safety. Homebuyers, especially those with families, know that you can never be “too safe” so they tend to lean toward property listings with surveillance cameras already installed. Once installed in or around your home, you are much less prone to break-ins, and if one does occur action can be taken immediately. Fortunately, home surveillance technology is some of the most advanced technology on the market making it incredibly effective where safety is a concern. For example, many modern security cameras (such as this 3MP bullet from Uniarch) not only provide traditional security measures but can be programmed to flash bright lights and sound an alarm when someone walks onto your property during certain hours – providing both active deterrence and passive surveillance.

In addition to the protection security cameras naturally provide, they’re also very easy to use. For example, our consumer-friendly R-Series or Uniarch product lines make operating the surveillance system a breeze. Essentially, you are able to view and control every camera from every angle all throughout the smartphone app. So naturally, you’ll have some peace of mind in knowing you can monitor your home no matter where you are.

Security and user-friendly capabilities aside, smart home surveillance offers a great future-proof infrastructure for the home, allowing your system to remain effective regardless of any advancements in technology, home construction, etc.

Usually if a homeowner is looking to install an IP security camera system, they have to run Ethernet cables from every camera to a central location for a network video recorder (NVR) or to a switch. This can be a tedious and expensive task. However, if the home already has the infrastructure for these systems in place, this can save potential home buyers time and money while also increasing the home’s value.

So considering all the valuable features that a home surveillance system can provide for prospective buyers, it may be worth exploring as an addition to your home before you sell.

Eco-Friendly Tech

In today’s housing market the idea of “going green” is of great appeal to potential buyers and as a result, many homes with environmental upgrades tend to sell faster. In fact, the number of realtors who have sold a home with green features increased by 32% in the past year according to a recent study from the National Association of Realtors. So for anyone looking to sell, you may want to take advantage of this opportunity to “go green” and increase your home’s value.

To start, you may want to look into smart thermostats. Alarm.com ’s Energy-Star certified smart thermostat, for example, has a ton of features to keep your electric bills low but your comfort and convenience high. Smart thermostats trump their traditional counterparts for various reasons. For starters, with regular thermostats, it may be hard to find a temperature that everyone in the home agrees on. The constant switching of the temperature settings and causing unnecessary cooling cycles can be environmentally unfriendly and cost you lots of money. Furthermore, if you leave your house without adjusting your thermostat, you could be wasting energy and money keeping your house at a comfortable temperature when nobody is home to enjoy it. Luckily, our smart thermostat allows you to have full control over the temperature cycles and make any adjustments easily through your Alarm.com app. You can also set up automated routines to allow the thermostat to adjust itself based on the time of day or based on when you leave the house.

Another eco-friendly tech system to keep in mind is Alarm.com ’s smart water valve and meter. According to the EPA, the average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted yearly. Fixing these leaks can save homeowners up to 10% on their water bills, which is where a smart water valve and meter comes into play. Essentially, the system monitors your water usage and detects leaks of any size, whether it’s a worn toilet flapper or a dripping faucet. The smart water valve and meter is another integration within the Alarm.com app making it that much easier to reference all your smart systems in one place.

Lastly, installing solar panels is another eco-friendly, high-tech addition that adds value to the home. While you may have always been eco-conscious, it’s unlikely that you incorporated the costs of solar panels into your budget when you purchased your home. However, after doing some research, you may come to realize that, they not only actually help the environment but

also provide a long-term return on investment for your property. In other words, the money you’ll end up making after selling offsets the initial costs of the panels themselves. Not only are solar panels a great way to increase the value of your home and significantly reduce your monthly electric bills, they are also one of the most sustainable upgrades you can make to your home. Installing solar panels will help you reduce your carbon footprint almost immediately by reducing the number of greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere on account of your home.

Smart Smoke Detectors

Another example of a smart home system that can boost home value is a smart smoke detector. Like a traditional smoke detector, this device is essential for safety throughout the home; however, the capabilities of a smart home detector, in particular, are virtually endless in comparison. Not only do smart smoke detectors detect smoke, but they can also detect the rapid rise in heat that can come from electrical fires which typically lack smoke. Our smart smoke detectors (both the 2GIG model and the Qolsys model) also integrate with your Alarm.com app so you can manage it alongside any other smart systems you may have in the app. Additionally, these smart home detectors can be included in your monitoring packages. Any issues will notify the fire department immediately and automatically if anything goes wrong.

Aside from adding safety to your home, these smoke alarms may be able to save some money on your homeowner’s insurance rates. Depending on where you live, you may qualify for a discount if you’ve installed smoke alarms or any home monitoring systems throughout the home with State Farm’s homeowner’s insurance discounts. Typically, if you’re making additions to your home that increase safety, most insurers are willing to award you a small discount for that. Keep in mind that all insurance discounts are different, so be sure to speak with an agent before making any decisions.

With smart smoke detectors in place, not only can you add value to your home once it’s time to sell, but you can also save yourself a little money in the meantime.

Smart Locks

Doors equipped with smart locks are among the most sought out features of smart home upgrades. They’re a great way to add security to your home without the bulkiness of a traditional lock system. Along with the additional security, smart locks are super convenient. Like many of our other smart features, these locks can be integrated with your Alarm.com app, allowing you to unlock your door right through the app and eliminating the need for keys. These locks also come with a handy rekey tool, allowing you to rekey every lock in your house without having to change hardware. Since changing locks is one of the first things a homeowner will do, this is a great feature for any house on the market. If you’re using it with a 2GIG EDGE panel or Qolsys IQ Panel 4, it can be programmed to lock and unlock automatically based on a Bluetooth connection. Say goodbye to your bulky keychains and hello to an increase in the safety and value of your home with smart locks.

Final Thoughts

It’s safe to say that there are many ways smart home technology can boost the value of your home. Installing these tech home upgrades benefits everyone— homeowners will see an increase in value, security, and sustainability, while potential buyers seek convenience and value. So, when it comes time to sell your property, buyers will appreciate the fact that these additions are ready and available upon move-in, making it a win-win for everyone involved.