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Architecture Guide
Cost vs. Value Report
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Take a Quiz
30 under 30
Young Professionals
REALTOR® EmeritusOnline Exclusives Published: 12/01/2007
Smart gadgets
High-Tech Homes
From advanced home sensors to computerized wine cellars, today's cutting-edge homes are starting to think on their own. Learn about the latest gadgets and trends.
George Jetson would be impressed if he could see the wide range of high-tech gadgets and systems that are on the market for today's homes.Though holographic phones and flying cars are still probably a few years off, today there are more space-age products than ever to improve safety, energy efficiency, and overall quality of life for home owners.
If one of your listings has built-in smart features, be sure to emphasize those features to potential buyers, experts say. After all, more and more consumers are falling into the category of "constantly connected" and likely will see the gadgets as a major selling point.
"The computer has become the central home appliance," Bernice Ross, CEO of RealEstateCoach.com, said during her presentation at the 2007 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. Ross noted that the typical American household now has 26 consumer electronic devices.
That's why it's more important than ever for salespeople to show buyers all of a home's tech-friendly features, she said.
But even old-fashioned buyers will appreciate the array of new products, which even make it simple for home owners to control their lighting and cut their utility bills by logging onto a Web site or activating a wireless control.
Here are 10 the latest smart home features you can find today:
Barbara Ballinger is a freelance writer with a passion for architecture and home design.
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