SANTA CLARA, Calif.,
Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A new
survey from realtor.com® found that interest in smart
home technology has increased since the pandemic began. A quarter
(25%) of Americans said they are more interested in smart home
technology now that they're spending more time at home and 41% of
smart home technology owners have bought at least one device or
feature since the pandemic began. These numbers were even higher
for 18-34 year-olds, with 37% showing increased interest and 48% of
current owners having purchased at least one device or feature
since the start of the pandemic.
Realtor.com® and YouGov surveyed more than 2,000
Americans between Dec. 3-7 about
their thoughts on smart home technology. More than half (57%) of
all Americans and 61% of younger Americans (18-34 year-olds)
already own some smart home technology. The most commonly owned
products were: smart TVs (36%), smart home speakers (22%), smart
doorbells (12%), robot vacuums (10%) and connected climate control
systems/smart thermostats (10%).
"The survey results show that many Americans, and especially
younger people, are leveraging smart home technologies to enhance
their quality of life, even more so now that most of us re-shaped
our homes into live, work, learn and play spaces," said
realtor.com®. Senior Economist, George Ratiu. "In a year defined by a global
pandemic, and fraught with civil unrest and economic volatility,
it's not surprising that people are prioritizing the safety and
security of their home, their finances, and having a comfortable
place to relax and unwind."
Safety and security are top priorities
Survey
respondents were particularly interested in technology that
enhances the safety and security of their home. Specifically:
- When asked to select just one smart home feature to add
to their home, a high-tech security system ranked first (21%)
- When choosing a smart home feature that would make a new home
most desirable, two of the most popular responses were a smart
doorbell with camera (36%) and a high-tech security system
(34%)
- A larger share of respondents were willing to pay more for a
home with a high-tech security system (21%) and a smart doorbell
with a camera (21%)
- When asked to describe a futuristic home, 22% selected a
'fortress of safety' that can protect against climate-related
challenges
Energy efficiency and environmentally-friendly features rank
high
When describing a futuristic home with smart features,
the most popular selection by far (35%) was a green,
energy-efficient home. Further:
- When asked which feature would make a new home more desirable,
solar roof tiles (37%), a home battery pack to store solar energy
(32%), and standalone solar panels (24%) were among the top
responses
- Many consumers would be willing to pay more for these green
features that could have a return on investment (24%, 20%, and 17%,
respectively)
- When asked to pick just one smart home feature that
would improve their current living space, a connected climate
control system/smart thermostat (17%) was the second most popular
choice
At-home entertainment and relaxation are more important than
ever
2020 was a year with many outside stressors, which led
respondents to think about their home as a place for relaxation and
entertainment. As such:
- When asked which features would make a new home more desirable,
26% said a high-tech home theater, and 18% want TVs that pop up out
of dressers or drop down from the ceiling
- Eighteen percent signaled that a sleep sanctuary with ambient
sound, soothing music and a bed that automatically adjusts for the
perfect night's sleep would be among the features which could most
improve their current living space
- Fifteen percent selected a high-tech massage chair, and
- Six percent of respondents were interested in an automatic
cocktail maker
Methodology: Realtor.com® commissioned YouGov America
to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are
from YouGov America. The total sample size was 2,284 adults.
Fieldwork was undertaken Dec. 3-7,
2020. The survey was carried out online. The figures have
been weighted and are representative of all U.S. adults (aged 18+).
About realtor.com®
Realtor.com® makes buying, selling,
renting and living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone.
Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than
20 years ago, and today through its website and mobile apps is a
trusted source for the information, tools and professional
expertise that help people move confidently through every step of
their home journey. Using proprietary data science and machine
learning technology, realtor.com® pairs buyers and sellers with
local agents in their market, helping take the guesswork out of
buying and selling a home. For professionals, realtor.com® is a
trusted provider of consumer connections and branding solutions
that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is
operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV]
subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National
Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit
realtor.com®.
Media Contact
Nicole
Murphy, nicole.murphy@move.com
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SOURCE realtor.com