What to Do When Selling Your Smart Home

Over the years, homeowners have become more interested in smart technology. For the most part, smart homes sell faster due to their superior security, modernity, and easy-to-use automation features. If you own one of these homes and are looking to sell, here’s how to do it.

Speak to Your Realtor First

When selling your home, it’s a good idea to speak to a licensed real estate professional first. 

Selling a home on your own is rarely advantageous, especially when you’re trying to show off smart technology. Several people are turned off by home automation due to its perceived complexity or ethical issues, and you need to dispel these concerns immediately.

Negotiation is a learnable skill, but even the most competent salespeople have issues explaining technology to the average Joe. What’s more, your realtor may not have a grasp on the benefits of your smart home gadgets or how to demo them as a way to sell your home.

For these reasons, it’s important to find a realtor who can either:

• Learn how to use, display, and demo your smart home with little training or;

• Knows how to use, display, and demo your tech to potential buyers.

It’s better to find someone who is particularly tech-savvy as they’re able to fully sell the products in your home. Tech-savvy realtors can also gauge the local housing market and neighborhood to determine whether a piece of technology can improve or hurt your sale prospects.

Highlight their Ease of Use

It’s human nature to assume that anything new will be difficult to learn, accomplish or initiate because we’re not sure how to tackle a problem effectively. If you don’t demo your smart devices, your potential buyers are more likely to feel intimidated or unintelligent.

Negotiations won’t start on the right foot if your potential buyers already have a negative association with your home. That’s why it’s crucial for you and your realtor to display that you have easy-to-use smart devices and that you'll demo on-sight in your marketing.

Don’t put “on request” because that may discourage buyers from asking for a demo. As the seller, your job is to show your realtor how everything works and the location of each device.

Either you or your realtor should demonstrate how to use all smart devices in your home. Then, show them how they can integrate the systems into an app on their smartphone. Be sure to also explain where to download these apps and how to use them to simplify the process.

Emphasize Safety Considerations

One in every thirty-six homes were burglarized by 2017, but 60% of convicted burglars said security systems influenced their decision to target a less secure home. Realtors should highlight the following reasons why smart home security will protect them and their families:

• Burglars enter through unlocked homes often because it's easier. Smart homes will notify you if you have any unsecured doors or windows when you leave home.

• Closed blinds coupled with lights that don’t turn off for a prolonged period signal to burglars that you aren’t home, but smart lights can turn on and off to deter bandits.

• Since most home break-ins don’t actually happen at night, the majority take place between 10 am and 3 pm when you’re at work, but an alarm will scare burglars away.

• 3 out of every 10 burglaries are done with the owner present at home. Smart security systems equipped with a camera will notify you if someone is approaching your property, so you can either hit the panic button, scare the intruder off or call the police.

If you have a smart security system, don’t forget to tell potential buyers how safe they’re going to feel once they’re living here. Demonstrate how they can look at your cameras and use the system. If you have a panic button, show them how to install it or use it next to their bed.

Decide What You’re Taking With You

Don’t leave behind any smart devices you don’t intend to sell. The only smart devices you should keep out are ones used explicitly for selling. Otherwise, you’ll have to have the awkward “this is just for staging” conversation after potential buyers show interest in your devices.

Before the open house date, tell your agent what is and isn’t for sale and swap out devices well beforehand. This way, potential buyers will understand that the connectivity is for sale (if loose wires or hubs are present), but your specific devices aren’t included in the selling price.

Display What You Have

Don’t invest in smart products just to sell your home because it won’t increase its value. However, like updating your baseboards, smart devices can help you sell your house if you already have them. Only upgrade using marquee brands if you need to replace anything. 

Alternatively, you could swap out a few light switches with motion-sensing dimmers because they’re inexpensive, and many of them don’t require a hub to work. Smart blinds, washers, and dryers are things you may want to leave behind when selling as they add flair to your listing.

Mute all Microphones

Nothing is more unsettling to customers than knowing they’re being watched or listened to. You can either take the device with you, program it, so it recognizes your realtor's voice, or turn it off.

In the end, it’s better to turn off or mute microphones before the open house and visibly show potential buyers that you’re turning them on for a demo so they’re confident they aren’t being recorded. Then, show them how you turn the device on and off during the walkthrough. 

When using a realtor to sell your property, direct them to do this every time they’re showing the home to a different person, even if multiple parties are in the house simultaneously.

Factory Reset Your Devices

If your buyers are inheriting some of your smart devices, you need to speak to the Federal Trade Commission so they’re aware these objects are in your home. Then, factory reset your devices and delete your devices from your accounts or delete your accounts altogether.

Most factory reset settings are easy to find online, and some are easier than others. For example, light bulbs are disconnected by flicking their connected switch several times. 

If you choose to delete your account, know that it’s easier to start from scratch than it is to manually check if a device is still connected to your previous home. Plus, it’s much safer.

Conclusion

Selling a smart home is like selling any other home, just with a few extra steps. Since smart homes are still considered a new concept, several realtors may not know how to sell them for you. Sellers may have to demo their own smart devices or teach their agents how to do so.

Be sure to focus on key selling points like safety, ease of use, and demoing for buyers. Sellers should make sure they take their device with them, sell what they have, and mute and reset all devices in their homes. Otherwise, your buyers may be confused or uncomfortable with what you’re selling.