Every year there seems to be a new phone, gadget or product that is a must-have on everyone鈥檚 shopping list. But when it comes to shopping for a home, how does the newest home technology influence the buying and selling process? Do homeowners need to add smart home features to sell their homes? Should buyers be on the lookout for automation in their new home? If, like most people, you have questions about home automation and the real estate market, we have a few answers that may help you out.

Smart Home Standards Vary

If you are confused about whether smart home technologies are expected in homes in your area, your is to connect with a real estate agent. These professionals have more extensive knowledge regarding current home automation trends in their market and can help you decide whether it makes sense to add features to a home you are selling or look for them in a home you are buying. One key point to note is that a property鈥檚 age may influence how updated technology is inside of the home. are more likely to include automation, or at least the ability to easily be connected to trending devices. For older homes, automation may not be present, but it never hurts to add the necessary wiring to attract potential buyers.

Keep in mind that these small upgrades could help you sell your home faster, but Inc. notes are into smart homes. Some people dislike the idea of connecting everything in their home. Older buyers may be put off by complicated technology, while others may love the added convenience. Either way, simple upgrades like adding outlets shouldn鈥檛 negatively impact the buying or selling process.

Some Automations Are More Popular Than Others

When you think of home technology, do you think of sound systems and entertainment features? While these perks can make a home more attractive to buyers, or could attract you to a new home, most people are simply not looking for these kinds of features when they are really looking to buy a home. The technology that seems to appeal to most people are options that increase security, keep homes comfortable, and .

There are a variety of home security options available that will allow you to from afar. For example, video doorbells (doorbells with cameras built-in) allow you to livestream footage from your front door no matter where you are. You can also invest in classic outdoor and indoor cameras that stream video to your phone. Solar motion-sensing lights will light up your walkway and the perimeter of your home when movement is sensed. These use clean energy and deter potential burglars.

…But That Doesn’t Mean They Will Add Value

The kind of security offered by Nest has been a hit with homeowners, but Intelligencer explains聽 it will increase your property value or make your home more attractive to buyers. The real estate market can be finicky, so it may take time to see any return on investment. You may need to make more improvements in the future, or you may need to focus on other areas inside your home. Your best option may be to install automation that adds to your own experience in the home for the time-being, instead of being overly concerned with how that technology will affect your home鈥檚 value. After all, many of the most popular gadgets are mobile so you can always .

Home automation doesn鈥檛 have to be confusing if you are thinking of buying a new home or selling your old one. Just be sure to reach out to a licensed real estate agent who is familiar with these upgrades and take the guesswork out of all the new gadgets, technology, and devices that can affect the sale or purchase of a home.

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There鈥檚 no question that smart homes are a trend that鈥檚 here to stay. One research group estimates that . Although smart homes can surely make everyday activities a little more convenient, they can also put homeowners and property owners at risk if they aren鈥檛 secured properly. These devices are typically connected over a WiFi network, so it is important to make sure that your network is as secure as possible. Here are a few easy steps you can take to make sure your smart home devices give you maximum security.

Change Your Passwords

It might seem obvious that 鈥減ass12345鈥� is not a great password, but it is important to take stock of your online accounts and ensure your login credentials are secure. Generic passwords, while easier to remember, are generally less secure. Typically, more secure passwords contain special characters and numbers and are also unique and different for every account.

Changing the SSID (aka your WiFi network鈥檚 name) is also a good idea because it usually defaults to the specific router model you are using in your home. If you own a rental property or multiple properties, this could also be a great change, making it easier to keep multiple networks separate from each other.

Consider Using A Password Manager

In the same vein as cleaning up your passwords, using a password manager makes it even easier to remember more unique passwords, and gives you the freedom to not rely on the somewhat unreliable 鈥渞emember me鈥� feature on many login screens.  

Utilize Multiple WiFi Networks

It might not seem like much, but using multiple connected devices on one network can really bog down your network speed. If a household of four had one smart TV and a cell phone and laptop for each person, that鈥檚 nine devices right there. Creating a secondary network means you can designate the essential devices to the primary network and smart devices to the secondary network. That way slow internet speed and overworked bandwidth shouldn鈥檛 become an issue.

Upgrade Your Network Security

In the new work-from-home era, it is essential to make sure you keep your computer network safe and secure as well. The home office poses many risks for remote workers, so if your company has access to one, it might be a good idea to connect to a . These firewalls scan your incoming and outgoing network traffic for potential threats and blocks any potentially harmful activity.

Update Your Devices

Much like updating the software on your mobile device, you should be sure to update the software on your smart devices regularly. Software updates give developers a chance to patch any bugs that may prevent your devices from working properly, which is a vital part in keeping all devices running smoothly

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

While not all smart devices offer this feature, it鈥檚 an important one to take advantage of. Two-factor or multifactor authentication uses a secondary device and usually a PIN number to confirm your identity to access the specific program/application you are trying to use. This extra layer of security gives you an additional level of protection in your home.

Is It A Smart Investment?

Smart home devices can make mundane tasks a little easier but come with added security risks if not set up with care. They may be the new normal for homes, after all, considering 1 in 4 US adults now have smart home products in their home.

Some trends point out that can increase the value of your home by up to 5 percent compared to other non-technology compatible properties in the same neighborhood. Home and property owners can also save money with smart devices that can control heating/air conditioning, and turn lights on and off.

Ultimately, the choice is yours on whether the smart home trend is right for you. The more important point is that if you do use these devices, you make sure you are taking the proper measures to keep them, and your home, safe.

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Originally published in inman.com.

We are in an era where sustainability,聽energy savings, solar options, innovations, engineering and smart home tech knowledge are all extremely important to consumers, business leaders and employees trying to make a difference in the world.聽In 2018 alone, the U.S. spent $19.8 billion on smart home technology. I predict a new material called graphene will revolutionize the聽smart home聽industry and become a key factor in smart home technology advancements and innovations.

Although there have been attempts to study graphene since the mid-1800s, it wasn鈥檛 until 2004 when scientists discovered and isolated a single atomic layer of carbon for the first time. Since then, research has skyrocketed, and graphene is now considered to be the strongest substance known to science and might be one of the world鈥檚 most useful 鈥渨onder鈥� materials.

Graphene forms a nearly transparent, flexible sheet about one atom thick (which, to put in perspective, is one million times smaller than the diameter of a single human hair). It is 200 times stronger than steel yet six times lighter. It is a conductor of electrical and thermal energy, and it is eco-friendly and sustainable, with unlimited possibilities to create the perfect smart home (and more).

Smart building

Concrete is the most common building material, along with steel, but greenhouse gas emissions from concrete and cement-making remain high. Cement-making accounts for 6 percent of global carbon emissions.

Use of graphene, when incorporated into concrete and cement, makes for a stronger, more water-resistant composite material that could reduce emissions. This material can be used directly on building sites, enabling the construction of strong and durable buildings using less concrete and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This process reduces roughly half the amount of materials used to make concrete, all at a lower cost.

Smart paint

Imagine being able to paint your house with a special coating that changes color when it senses that the underlying structure is in need of repairs. Researchers have created a smart graphene coating that indicates breaks and fractures by changing color. This could revolutionize the home inspection process.

Graphene also has been used to make eco-friendly paint. Because graphene is a superconductor, the addition of graphene to paint can improve the thermal regulation of buildings, requiring less heating and air conditioning. Graphene鈥檚 inclusion in paints, coatings and other building materials greatly enhances strength, durability and coverage.

Smart solar

Solar panels on a home are a great source of energy. Graphene can be made into transparent solar cells that can turn virtually any surface into a source of electric power. This technology could give homeowners the opportunity to turn something like a garage door, window or roof into a solar conductor, all while maintaining the desired look of the home.

Smart light

Glowing walls could soon replace the light bulb, allowing for the introduction of glowing 鈥渨allpaper.鈥� This would provide a more pleasant, adjustable light across a room compared to lightbulbs, and it can also be made more energy-efficient.

It鈥檚 also a highly efficient conductor of both heat and electricity and conducts electricity better than copper.

Smart sound

To produce sound, regular speakers create a pressure wave in the air by physically moving back and forth. Graphene can create a non-moving solid-state audio device that would eliminate the need for a large sound system and speakers.

Researchers believe they can incorporate speakers into ultra-thin touch screen technologies, in which the screen is able to produce sound on its own and could probably be incorporated onto walls.

Smart battery

Graphene can make batteries that are light, durable and suitable for high capacity energy storage, as well as shorten charging times. It will extend the battery鈥檚 lifetime and will add conductivity without requiring the amounts of carbon that are used in conventional batteries. Graphene can also be used to create new batteries that recharge quickly.

Smart water

Water conservation is a high priority in our country. It is expected that by 2020, 25 million people (in seven states), including Arizona and Nevada, will be forced to cut back on water usage as Lake Mead and Lake Powell essentially run dry. Graphene membranes can be used as water filters, filtering 85 percent of salt out of seawater.

Although this percentage is not quite pure enough for drinking purposes, it is perfect for agricultural and landscaping use. This can help regions affected by the drought, that are located near large bodies of water and maintain modern, low-water landscaping using a better eco-friendy solution.

Combining all of graphene鈥檚 amazing properties could create a holistic impact on the world of smarter homes, and its participation as a change agent is not far away.

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Smart homes are the next big thing. You may not realize it yet, but somewhere your day will be easier because of it. Smart home technology is not only impacting the homes its installed into. Its reach stretches to other industries like business, science and even health care.

Disruptive Growth

The rapid rate of growth in the smart home industry has an effect on all kinds of industries. The easiest way to track this is to follow the money. In 2018 alone, the US has spent $19.8 billion on smart home technology. This may seem like a low amount compared to the total size of the American Gross Domestic Product. But, keep in mind that smart homes are all about connecting different types of technology. It uses the Internet of Things (IoT) to do this. It鈥檚 estimated that by 2020 IoT will generate revenue exceeding $300 billion. The influential power of that $19 million (spent in 2018) suddenly looks very promising

Home Automation

Smart homes have you in mind. Its very existence is to make your life easier and cheaper. Different products will have differing applications. You can be sure that any room in your house can be automated in some way through this technology.

Smart Kitchens

Smart ovens, smart refrigerators, smart microwaves and the list goes on. You are now able to monitor and control certain functions in your kitchen from your smartphone. You aren鈥檛 alone in the kitchen anymore. Smart kitchens have your back!

Smart Climate Control

You can program your thermostat and air conditioning from an app. Schedule and control these devices through a wireless connection via the internet. Be your own weatherman and decide the climate of your house. Or save unnecessary costs by stopping these units from consuming gas and electricity beyond your budget.

Smart Security

Be the king of your castle as you track monitor and control vulnerable aspects of your home. Use home security systems like smart CCTV, smart locks, smart sensors and alarms to enjoy absolute control over what is yours. Sixty two percent of Americans claim smart security as the top benefit of owning smart homes. Three out of every five Americans who own smart homes will use a smartphone to monitor their houses. Total control is now possible on the go.

Taking the nation at large!

The world is becoming a smaller place, and smarter too. Smart homes have bridged many gaps to make life easier for its owners. America is leading the global charge with 7.5 percent of homes already adopting the technology. In 2022 that number is expected to hit 19.5 percent. Life as you know it is changing every day due to smart homes. Click here to see an detailing the history and changes caused by smart homes.

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