Something for Everyone
One selling point to the system is its scalability, says Core Brands Director of Home Control and Automation Joe Lautner. “The Elan system is a very powerful control platform that delivers very high-end features in a mass customized way.”
joe polillio
A basic package might only cover one or two systems, like exterior lighting control and a thermostat, while a more upgraded version could integrate with entertainment systems, irrigation, interior and exterior surveillance cameras, and smart shades and blinds.
Modularity is important for increasing buyer satisfaction with a system that meets their individual needs, as well as for boosting builder revenue, says Lautner. He points out that seeing the system in action dramatically increases consumers’ desire to implement it.
“When builders put in a price-competitive base package, the take rate for options goes from 12-15% to upwards of 50%,” Lautner says. “Buyers see the technology is there; it already is a smart home, so they’re over the hump of adding the technology and can add the upgrades.”
Goodjohn has had a similar experience. While Karoleena had previously seen some demand for smart home technology, many customers were unaware of its capabilities until the firm demonstrated it to them.
“It really started with us including [smart technology] in our homes, and seeing people’s reactions,” he says. “People loved it. And the more they see, the more they want.”
Ahead of the Curve
While many consumers may not be fully aware of smart home applications, that’s unlikely to remain true for long. “Demand is great right now,” Lautner says. “Awareness is a lot greater, and done right, it really is a good benefit.”
He recommends that builders do their homework to understand the system and partner with a trusted integrator. “When you have a system that the homeowner interacts with daily and actually uses to control their home, that’s where you get the stickiness,” says Lautner. “When it’s just a novelty and doesn’t engage the customer with the system, it becomes something you put it and don’t really use.”
That sort of seamless adoption has been the goal at Karoleena Homes, Goodjohn says. “We want to have technology built into the fabric of the home, but it’s not intrusive. It’s easy to use and it’s not frustrating.”
Goodjohn sees the benefits from home automation systems, such as enhanced convenience and energy savings, making them a must-have component in the future as connectivity becomes near-constant. With that in mind, early adoption of the technology is one more way for the company to be a step ahead of the game.
