The Hottest Must-Have for Homebuilders
Homebuilders at the TecHome Builder Summit become home automation entrepreneurs
By Kelly A. Mello, Staff Writer – March 10, 2014
If any home technology is being regarded by homebuilders as a must have today, it is home control and automation.
Homebuilders attending the TecHome Builder Summit last week in Austin learned how they can market, merchandise and install home control and automation systems in their homes and communities—and they had the opportunity to speak to a variety of home control companies there.
Many homebuilders left the Summit with one goal in mind: to make their new homes connected as soon as possible. They realize the connected home is not just for million-dollar homebuyers anymore. It has finally hit the mass market. Homeowners now want security cameras, locks, lights, blinds and more to be controlled with a push of a button. Or better yet, they want to ‘set it and forget it,’ leaving these items to do their thing automatically.
Take What You Learn, and Implement
At the inaugural TecHome Builder Summit, homebuilders had the opportunity to see a variety of products that will help them reach that goal. Paige Janey of modular homebuilder Clayton Homes, for example, is bringing what he learned back to his company. “We know where we need to go, we just need to get there and we need to get there fast. It’s the very reason we’re here,” he said.
One of the connected home standouts, according to Janey, was Savant Systems. Savant demonstrated its brand new Smart Series, a premium control and automation product line. Utilizing an app, a homeowner can manage their thermostat, lights, energy, shades and other products offered through Savant’s network of over 1,500 authorized integrators. This app is available on iOS and Android. These products can also “talk” through the Smart Host remote and controller that comes with the $1,599 package.
Savant has SmartLighting controllers embedded in Wi-Fi-connected smart light switches and dimmers, a SmartClimate thermostat processing unit that integrates into HVAC solutions and temperature sensors and SmartEnergy monitoring units and current transformers that allow users to track how much energy a single device is using, or a group of them.
“Our opportunity is to take this cool technology and get it to where the average homeowner can have it.” Janey said. “Make them feel like they are millionaires … that’s what we are trying to do.”
Before the Summit, Clayton Homes piecemealed technology into homes. Now, the company is in the midst of creating a complete smart home. Two weeks from now, Clayton Homes is organizing a show in Nashville of 40 houses where retailers will be shown around. One of the highlights is the “house of tomorrow,” which will be completely teched out. Savant is being invited beforehand and will have a hand in completing this home.
Many options for homebuilders are available to create the connected home—Andersen Window’s Verilock, Clare Controls ClareHome, Eaton Cooper’s Aspire, Elan Home System’s Elan g!, Insteon, Nexia—all have something to offer to the market. And the best time to start integrating these systems is now.
Smart Homes = Smart Homeowners = Smart Homebuilders
Builder Homesite Inc. and TecHome partner BDX CEO Tim Costello said having smart homes make buyers believe they are smart for having this technology. “It’s a status symbol. And this status can be shared amongst friends and family.” Some homebuilders, Costello said, are throwing housewarming parties for new buyers and generating sales leads from friends and family referrals. “They front $500 or so to feed a party of about 50 people and show them how these devices work in each room. In the end, partygoers leave saying, “That was so cool … I need one of those in my future home!”
Costello says this is a great model to follow because chances are a new homebuyer’s group of friends are in the same stage in life and therefore could also be in the market for a new home … whether it be 30-year-olds getting married and having babies or seniors looking for a safe home that will allow them to age in place.
The time to cash in on these markets is now. Unlike most homebuilders, the age group known as “Millennials” or “Gen Now” have grown up with their smartphones attached to them. They are the ones who will be buying the majority of homes in the next 10 plus years. That’s about 84 million potential clients. Now is the time to make your plan, build those homes and keep improving your product. That is the only way to stand out in the builder’s market. Chairman, CEO and co-founder of the advertising agency GSD&M Roy Spence said, “You’re not just builders. You are entrepreneurs.” And entrepreneurs are always working to make their product the best and most future-forward.
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