7 smart home products that could increase the value of your home
A lot of the smart home devices we write about at GearBrain are easy to pack up and take with you when it's time to move house. But some – like motorized blinds, wall switches, and smart irrigation systems – are a more embedded part of the property and could well be attractive to potential buyers when it's time to sell.
You will have to jump through a few hoops when handing over smart home devices, like logging out of all associated apps, deleting accounts, and ensuring the new owners knows you are no longer able to control the cameras and door locks. But these connected devices should help make your property stand out from the competition.
Security cameras, locks and alarm systems
A smart security system could increase the value of your home
One of the more obvious product categories to leave behind when moving home is the alarm, surveillance, and security system. And, when all linked together, they can act as a complete package that could well be enticing for tech-savvy buyers.
You don't have to buy everything from the same brand, as it's easy enough to control a camera system from Google Nest, a door lock from August, and cameras from Arlo, all with the same smart home system (like Amazon Alexa or Google Home) if that's the way you want to go.
That said, Nest is one of the most complete solutions out there today. The Google-owned company sells a range of indoor and outdoor surveillance cameras with varying features and degrees of intelligence, plus the Google Nest Video Doorbell, which can also double as a security camera.
Google Nest Video Doorbell available on Amazon
Google Nest also sells smart smoke and CO2 alarms, and its system is compatible with smart locks produced by Yale, Kwikset, Lockly, and Schlage. It also sells smart thermostats, which two are listed further down in this article. The company discontinued its Secure home security system, but a new partnership with security firm ADT provides a replacement system that allows users to integrate their Google Nest cameras and devices with the ADT smart home security system. This is a good option for users looking to add professional monitoring to their security cameras.
For something simpler, try a video doorbell like those sold by Amazon-owned Ring. The Ring Video Doorbell 4 (wireless) is very easy to unscrew from the door frame and take with you, while the Video Doorbell Elite is a professional-grade product that sinks neatly into the wall, is powered by Ethernet, and feels like part of your home.
If you are after a smart door lock, try August and its Smart Lock Pro + Connect. This works with your existing single-cylinder deadbolt and does not require professional installation. The lock opens when you approach it, or you can take manual control remotely via the smartphone app, thanks to its connection with your Wi-Fi router. Simply remove the lock from your August account when you move out, and the new owners can create an account of their own.
Other smart lock options come from traditional lock companies Schlage and Yale, as well as new players Level and Lockly.
Read More:
- Best smart home locks
- Seven video doorbells for your smart home
- Best smart home security systems
- How to fully reset your Ring Video Doorbell when moving house
- How to factory reset your Nest x Yale smart lock when moving
- How to factory reset an August smart lock when moving house
- How to factory reset Arlo security cameras and SmartHub
Check out The GearBrain, our smart home compatibility find engine, to see the other compatible products that work with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa-enabled devices.
Switches and wall outlets
Brilliant
Smart switches and control panels can give your home a futuristic feel
Other smart items you are likely to leave behind when you move, which could increase your home's value and desirability, include connected switches, control panels, and wall outlets.
Smart switches often replace your existing light switches and can be used to power and dim regular or smart bulbs. Companies selling these include GE"s Cync, Leviton, Switchmate, and Lutron. We explain much more about smart switches here.
Wall outlets have also got smarter in the last couple of years, as smart plug technology can now be integrated with the outlet itself. This makes for a much neater setup, as the outlet itself is connected to your Wi-Fi network, ready to be controlled via smartphone app or voice assistant, instead of you needing to plug in a bulky smart plug to a regular socket.
There are many options across a broad price range to pick from. Some multi-packs of smart wall outlets can cost as little as $18 each, while those with integrated USB ports tend to be less than $25. A dual outlet from TP-Link's Kasa range is around $23. You are unlikely to take these with you when you move. Still, a house full of smart wall sockets with integrated USB ports could be very appealing to potential buyers – make sure you reset everything to their factory default settings so the buyer can create a new account or log into the hardware with an account they already have. (Here is an article showing how to reset Kasa smart devices, including their smart outlets.)
Lastly, for this section, is the wall-mounted control panel, like those made by Brilliant. These replace your existing light switches and can be bought with a single switch or a video display, touchscreen, and multiple switches. These add a great futuristic look to your home with their touch-sensitive light dimmers and touch screens for controlling smart locks, lights, music systems, and thermostats. You can also view live video feeds from security cameras on the display, and Alexa is built-in for voice control. Users can also use Brilliant switches as a hub for their smart home. Brilliant has a robust ecosystem of smart integrations with companies like Ring, Samsung SmartThings, Lutron, TP-Link, Honeywell, Philips Hue, and more.
Irrigation system
Rachio
The Rachio 3 can lower your water usage and automate garden irrigation
A smart irrigation system is something you might also plan on leaving behind when you move house – and it also acts as a great way to sell the garden to new buyers.
Devices like those from Rachio, Orbit, and now Moen can fit into your existing irrigation system, then connect to the internet and deliver exactly the right amount of water, depending on the type of plants and soil and the weather forecast for your exact location.
Not only are these systems' automated nature a good selling point, but smart irrigation systems can also save their owner money by only using the water your plants need, without waste.
Read More:
- 8 smart garden irrigation systems to save water and lower your bills
- How to factory reset a Rachio controller when moving
Buy Rachio 3 on Amazon
Motorized blinds
Smart blinds are a luxury addition which you are unlikely to take to your new home
It is unlikely that any smart motorized blinds you install in your current home will fit your new property. So, while spending (in many cases) a significant of money on something you leave behind may sound painful, new buyers will likely pay a premium for a home with such a luxury item installed.
No doubt, reminding buyers of a five-star hotel, smart blinds from the likes of Lutron, Pella, Ryse, SwitchBot, and Somfy can be controlled via their own remotes or by using a smartphone or smart speaker running Alexa or Google Assistant. Many systems can also be automated to raise and lower during the day or when you depart and arrive at the property.
Although generally expensive, Ikea now offers the Kadrilj and Fyrtur smart blind systems, which cost around $130 per window.
Lutron Caseta Wireless Smart Lighting Kit is available on Amazon
Read More:
Garage door opener
A garage door which automatically opens when you arrive is an attractive feature for your home to have
On a similar theme, the motorized garage door opener is a useful device that could make your home more desirable - especially when it's a smart one. Being smart means the door can be controlled from a smartphone app, or by speaking to a voice assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant.
They can also keep an eye on your location (or rather, the location of your smartphone) then open and close accordingly.
Options here include garage openers from Chamberlain, LiftMaster, Senclo, Nexx, Genie, GarageMate, and Datonten.
Chamberlain MyQ Bridge Available on Amazon - only $50
Read More:
Thermostat
The thermostat is another smart device you will likely leave behind when moving home (unless you keep the one it replaced and plan to reinstall it). Examples like the Learning Thermostat from Google-owned Nest raise and lower the home's temperature to keep you comfortable but also uses less energy and save you money.
Options are available from Nest, as well as Ecobee, Honeywell (Resideo), Mysa, Cync, and American Standard. Some claim to lower your energy bills in the region of 10-20 percent, and many connect to smart home systems like Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT (If This, Then That), the smart home automation platform.
Telling a potential buyer about your home that it has smart devices – like the thermostat and irrigation system – designed to save money is surely a strong sales pitch.
Honeywell Smart Thermostats available on Amazon
Read More:
- Automate your home and lower your energy bills with these smart thermostats
- IFTTT: What is If This, Then That and how to get started
- How to factory reset your Nest Thermostat when moving house
Smart lighting
Smart lighting can be tricky to hand over to a new owner, but should raise the value of your home
Quickly becoming a staple of the smart home, smart lighting from companies like Philips, LIFX (now owned by Feit), Ikea, and Wiz use LED bulbs that consume far less energy than traditional incandescent ones.
If you only have a handful of bulbs, you may well want to take these with you to your next property.
But if you have invested heavily in fitting smart lighting to every room, complete with LED light strips under the kitchen counters and even around the garden, you could leave everything in place and offer it to potential buyers as an added extra.
As with all other options given in this article, you'll need to log out of the account used to control the lighting, then have the new owners create their own account and log in. This can be a fiddly process, especially if the buyer wants to create a range of rooms and 'scenes' within the app for controlling select groups of bulbs. But if they see the value in the installation, then hopefully the extra they pay for your home will be worth the headache of setting everything up again.
Read More:
- Smart light buying guide 2023
- Seven of the best smart light systems to transform your home
- How to factory reset Cync (C by GE) smart home lighting
- How to factory reset your Philips Hue smart lighting system
