A new survey proves Americans are eager for home automation, proving that technology is a great way for builders to distinguish their new homes from the rest of the market.
About half of U.S. consumers believe home automation will be an everyday feature of their homes in less than a decade and almost a quarter believe it will be common in less than five years, according to a new survey by smart-home tech provider Savant.
“In a new home, [home automation] will become an expected feature much sooner than five years and we’re already seeing that,” says Tim McInerney, president of marketing at Savant. “People are starting to expect this.”
Yet, questions about the technology's cost, and cyber-security, are front of mind with the buying public. Consumers cite cost savings (41 percent) and safety and security (35 percent) as two primary considerations when adopting smart home automation systems.
With such high costs for some of these products, it’s important for builders to weigh what buyers most want and appreciate in a smart home—and it’s not entertainment. In fact, home entertainment is the least important aspect to consumers according to the survey, with 72 percent of respondents saying they are “not very concerned” or “not at all concerned” about it.
The survey revealed that consumers are most concerned with home energy use and overall home security, which is why smart thermostats have quickly gained popularity, and why Canary, a smart home security provider, raised nearly $2 million through an Indiegogo campaign. It’s about providing a needed service that makes life easier, not just better.
Buyers also want convenience and easy control, and nearly half (47 percent) said personalization was extremely/very important in their home automation technologies, according to the survey.
“People want ease of use and convenience. They don’t just want more gadgets in their home,” says McInerney. “They want something that really makes their busy lifestyle easier.”
Other survey findings can help customize the sales pitch by generation and gender. For instance, women (49 percent) are more likely than men (34 percent) to find low environmental impact as extremely/very important. And consumers 50 and older (77 percent) are more likely than all other age groups to rank ease-of-use as extremely/very important.
