Integrating smart home technology into a property can significantly enhance its appeal to potential buyers. Features like smart thermostats, security systems, and automated lighting not only offer convenience but can also increase a home’s market value. In fact, buyers are often willing to pay a premium for homes equipped with these modern amenities.

Let’s dive into the best 3-step strategy to prepare yourself to sell a smart home!

1. Decide what stays before listing

As a home seller or a real estate agent representing the seller, you need to decide what devices to include in the home sale. This step is imperative before you begin marketing the listing. Ideally, you want your real estate images and listing descriptions to reflect only the products that stay with the house.

Take some time during the pre-listing process to sit down and determine what should stay and what should go. Smart home systems are desirable to most buyers, especially if they offer energy savings. 

What to keep and what to leave behind

Typically, sellers leave items like appliances, light bulbs/fixtures, thermostats, and smoke detectors. The listing is more likely to stand out against its competition if the devices are high-tech. Think connected thermostats, smart door locks, and smoke alarm listening devices. 

Likewise, consider removing any cumbersome or buggy tech products before you list. Just as smart products can boost your listing, they can also hurt the home sale if they glitch during showings. 

how to sell a smart home
Photo by John Tekeridis

2. Highlight the technology

Once you decide which smart home devices and appliances stay, highlight them in your marketing efforts. For example, give the products a shout-out in the listing description. 

When you hire a professional photographer, ask them to take a few close-up images of the smart home gadgets. Some buyers are eager to see which brands your listing includes. 

What if the home has limited smart technology?

If you don’t have smart-tech home products in the home you’re selling, you can add a few without spending a fortune. Consider enhancing your home with movement sensing dimmer switches or wi-fi-connected smoke detectors. Installing smart home devices can increase your home’s value, just as updating your kitchen backsplash or adding a fresh coat of paint does. 

Make sure you’re knowledgeable on smart home technology

Keep in mind, it isn’t easy to highlight the technology if you don’t know how to use it. Before listing a smart home, make sure you understand precisely how the products work. The last thing you want during a showing is a buyer thinking the appliances and electronics are too tedious to use. 

3. Don’t forget to factory reset

This step is crucial to help both the seller and the buyer avoid future frustration and headache. Right before you close on your listing, make sure to factory reset every device in the home. You can do most factory resets online. Sometimes though, you must do a factory reset directly to the device itself. 

If you forget this step in the home selling process, that’s ok. It’s typical for the buyer’s agent to work alongside the seller’s agent after closing when necessary. 

Tips if you’re buying a smart home

There are a few essential steps to consider when buying a smart home. As mentioned above, you want all of the devices to be in factory reset mode. This default mode protects your family and you from potentially getting hacked. Ask your real estate agent to include a factory reset requirement in the contract. 

Additionally, you need to understand how the home’s smart devices work. Take note of which brands your listing includes and research the products online. A simple YouTube search shows how-to guides for a variety of smart products. You should request that the seller leaves any installation guides in the home for you to review post-closing. 

Lastly, review the warranties for the tech devices. Some smart home products do not transfer owners, while others do. If you find that any products included in your listing sale do not transfer from the previous owner, ask that the seller replace the devices before closing. 

Ensuring a smooth smart home sale

Selling a smart home involves strategic planning to effectively showcase the property’s technological advantages. By determining which devices will remain, emphasizing smart features in marketing efforts, educating potential buyers, and ensuring all devices are properly reset before transfer, you can enhance the property’s appeal and potentially increase its market value.​

Leverage Virtuance to showcase your smart home

At Virtuance, we specialize in capturing the unique features of your property, including smart home technologies, through professional real estate photography. Our high-quality images and virtual tours can help you attract more buyers and showcase the full potential of your smart home. Schedule a shoot with us today to elevate your listing.

FAQ

Smart home features can increase a property’s value by offering enhanced convenience, security, and energy efficiency, making it more attractive to buyers.

Not necessarily. It’s important to decide which devices will stay and clearly communicate this in the listing to set proper buyer expectations.

Showcase smart features effectively with Virtuance’s high-quality photos and virtual tours, paired with detailed descriptions that highlight their benefits.

Yes, performing a factory reset on all devices protects your personal information and allows the new owners to set up their own accounts.

While particularly attractive to tech-savvy buyers, smart home features like energy savings and security enhancements can appeal to a broad range of potential buyers.