Imagup General Magazine 2024
The coronavirus pandemic has transformed the way we live and work. The number of people shifting to a hybrid working model has soared over the past few years, contributing to increased demand for smarter homes.
There has also been a change in the way houses are bought and sold, with many people willing to make an offer on a house based solely on videos and online viewings.
So, if you’re looking to put your house on the market in 2024, which tech tools will help you sell and which smart home technology will most appeal to buyers? We’ve scoured the most popular house selling and home technology to help you identify the best tech tools to invest in when upgrading and marketing your home.
The Best Tech Tools for Selling a House
Investing in this technology will help you market your home and make the house sale process run smoothly for you and your buyer.
1. Drone Photography
If you’re selling a large and/or expensive property, drone photography is a great way to achieve professional aerial photographs that showcase your property’s size, grounds and location. It’s also a fantastic way to highlight impressive views.
Drone, or UVA, photography allows interested parties to view a property from every angle. This is especially helpful when viewing properties online, which is how the vast majority of property searches begin — and often end — in the current market. Drone footage also allows potential buyers to view the local areas to see if there are green spaces nearby or other areas of interest.
2. 3D Floor Plans
3D floor plans are one of the most effective ways to show potential buyers how the rooms in a house are connected, their relative sizes and how the property is laid out.
The most advanced floorplans are interactive — users can click on a particular area or arrow and move between rooms. This allows people to conduct a virtual walkthrough and get a feel for the property, increasing the chances they will book a viewing. It also helps manage expectations and avoid homeowners wasting time hosting viewings for people who will never offer because the property is not as they hoped.
4. Virtual Home Staging
Home staging has been a favourite house-selling tactic of estate agents and property professionals for years. But virtual home staging is relatively new.
When house viewings moved online during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, estate agents and sellers had to find creative ways to showcase the potential of their properties. Traditional staging — dressing a home with attractive furniture, decorations and props — is time-consuming and expensive. It is also unnecessary when properties are largely sold via online or virtual methods.
Virtual staging involves digitally adding decor, furniture and fittings to photographs of a property to help potential buyers envision it as a prospective home. It is especially useful for marketing empty properties, visit this site to learn more.
5. Mobile Apps
Apps that make it easier for people to search for, view and arrange to visit properties are in high demand, especially from younger buyers who rely on their mobile phones to house hunt.
Sellers, or their estate agents, need to ensure their listings look attractive and can be easily interacted with on mobile devices. This means including plenty of high-quality photographs and videos.
Apps can also be used to keep the sales process running smoothly after an offer has been accepted. Buyers and sellers can use an online portal to upload documents, communicate with their estate agent and track the progress of their transactions.
6. Social Media
Estate agents are relying on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram more and more to promote their brand and the properties on their books.
If you’re selling your home privately, social media is an essential tool for marketing — remember, individuals cannot advertise on the major property portals such as Rightmove.
If you want to speed up the house sale process and avoid the hassle of marketing your property, hosting viewings and the expense of estate agent fees, contact a genuine cash house buying company — House Buyer Bureau — for a free, no-obligation cash offer today.
The Most Popular Smart Home Gadgets
According to recent research, 24% of people in the UK have invested in at least three smart devices since the beginning of the first lockdown in March 2020, and 74% of the nation now owns a smart device. But which pieces of smart tech are most likely to be a hit with potential buyers?
1. Smart Thermostats
With energy prices soaring, a smart thermostat is an attractive option for many homeowners as it can maintain a comfortable temperature while making the owner significant cost savings.
You can programme a smart thermostat to turn on shortly before you return for the day, so you receive a warm welcome and don’t waste money heating an empty home. One of the most popular models, the Nest smart thermostat, claims to reduce energy costs by 10-15%. A smart thermostat also makes it easy to track energy usage.
2. Smart Smoke Detectors
A smart smoke detector can detect fires much more quickly than a traditional version. It can detect when a room becomes too hot or there is a significant increase in temperature. In comparison, a traditional smoke alarm is only triggered by excessive smoke inside a property.
Another benefit of a smart smoke detector is that it can be set up to send notifications to individuals and/or the fire department if a fire is detected. Furthermore, they typically require less frequent battery replacement than traditional models.
3. Smart Home Security Cameras
The home security tech industry has boomed in recent years, and one in five Brits now have a video doorbell. There is also a rapidly expanding market for home security cameras that can be accessed and operated from a mobile phone.
One of the biggest advantages of a smart home security system is how easily it connects to other smart devices in the home, such as lighting and door locks, to create a safe and secure environment. Being able to access the security system from any location 24/7 gives maximum control and peace of mind.
4. Smart Locks
Enhance your new smart security system by installing a smart lock.
Smart locks allow homeowners to lock and unlock using an entry code, fingerprint or voice command, rather than keys. Not only do smart locks make a property more secure and eradicate the risk of lost keys, but they also allow for doors and windows to be controlled remotely.
5. Smart Light Bulbs
These long-lasting LED light bulbs can be controlled remotely via smart technology. Many people choose to operate them via a voice-controlled home assistant, such as Alexa or Google Home.
Smart light bulbs are more energy-efficient, making them cheaper and more environmentally friendly. They also have a longer lifespan and can help enhance the security of a home when connected to a smart video doorbell, for example.
Upgrading your home with the latest smart technology can be a savvy investment as demand for smart homes has soared in recent years. And don’t forget to take advantage of the latest tech tools available for marketing your home — these can boost your chances of securing viewings and make the house sale process run much more smoothly for you and your buyer.
