High-End Goes High-Tech

Can you remember a time when new homes did not come standard with washers, dryers, dishwashers, garbage disposals, compactors, central air conditioning, and the like?

Chances are slim that you remember when new homes were built with pretty much an empty shell and the buyers added the amenities – as these items were thought of – when they purchased.

But today, imagine purchasing a new home that doesn’t have air conditioning, or a garbage disposal. It’s almost unheard of. Not only do new home builders include these items as standard, but so-called upgrades of granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, ceramic tile floors, and other such items are also quickly becoming standard as well.

So if this is the case, when then sets apart the high-end home from something more middle class?

Typically for most, it’s not just a matter of square footage or architectural detail. These things are very important, as are the old “standby’s” of a view, a great location, and the like.

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No, for many homes what the wealthier home buyer is looking for are the electronics that are being built in to many new homes, especially those that are the most expensive.

What does this electronics package typically include? What are we speaking about here?

Most might immediately think of the so-called toys and entertainment available at home. Movie theatres in a home used to belong only in mansions; now, most million dollar and up homes have a nice-size room set aside that includes a built-in movie screen, projector, theatre-style seating, and even a wet bar. Many are built to accommodate more than just the family but are large enough for friends as well. Dolby surround sound, the type used in most movie theatres, is also standard in many of these homes so that you can get not only the look but the feel of a real movie as well.

According to a recent study, more than 70% of builders offer to include a space or portion of a room designated as an entertainment center, and 42% of the homes constructed in one recent year had such a space. Forty-two percent of builders actually install the electronic components in the homes they build, as opposed to just wiring. This number is expected to grow.

Audio systems that run through the entire house are also critical. A few years ago, it was believed that 60% of builders offered multi-room audio systems, and some stated that this feature was actually critical to the sale of the home itself. And of course this is an option that is probably just now starting to take off. With the proliferation of satellite radio, internet stations, and MP3 players becoming more common, it seems that each generation will have more demand for constant music than the one previous.

And of course as a home’s value increases, the demand for security in and around the home increases as well. It’s believed that some 80% of home builders offer security systems in their new homes that are at the million dollar mark and up, and many believe that these systems were critical to the sale of the home.

When speaking about home security systems, of course this means more than just an alarm that one might set at night – after all, this is a standard feature for many homes and businesses, regardless of cost or size. For high-end real estate, home security now means smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that are programmed to call police and emergency personnel automatically. Cameras can be installed in most rooms of the house for parents to keep an eye on children – or just the home itself – when they’re at work or otherwise away. Programmable flood lights around the exterior are also generally standard.

For those with certain medical conditions, home security can also mean a quick call to emergency services with the touch of a button.

Most of these high-end electronics can be controlled with a touch-screen that is completely mobile, or can be accessed online such as through email or a PDA. So, a homeowner can turn off alarms, turn down lights, and set some soothing music before he or she even pulls into the driveway. Additionally, appliances can be turned on or off as well, meaning more than just a coffee pot that begins brewing at a particular time in the morning.

It’s believed that buyer demand has prompted the majority of these amenities, but especially the security system installations in high-end real estate homes. Typically those who have money to spend on their home also have money to spend on their belongings as well. It would seem odd to have a home valued at over a million dollars that isn’t furnished with valuable antiques, artwork, and the like. It’s obvious therefore that a homeowner would want the absolute best in security when it’s time to protect those belongings.

And of course comfort is key as well. Years ago it was a amazing feature when a home offered a dimmer switch on overhead lighting; today, ambient lighting and the ability to adjust it to virtually any level is demanded in high-end homes. Temperature control in individual rooms and at the touch of a button is also desired.

Recently it was reported that 1/3 of builders offered control systems in their high-end real estate homes; HVAC and lighting are the most common capabilities connected with these control systems. This number has of course continued to rise over the years and will no doubt increase regularly.

The time of the modern home being built with simple, “bare bones” options seems to be gone. Modern conveniences are in high demand for real estate purchasers who have the money to spend on such conveniences and comforts. While it seems that there are only so many things that one can do to improve décor or square footage of a home, there will obviously be no end to the types of electronics that are constantly being marketed for private homes. And certainly the high-end real estate market will continue to set industry standards for including these amenities in their new construction as well.

Contents

• How Much Mortgage Can You Afford?
• Buying a Good Vacation Home
• Buying a Home for Resale Purposes
• Claremont is the Top Earner – and Most Expensive
• Commercial Real Estate Still a Safe Bet
• Determining Your Offer Price
• Empty Homes for Sale
• Exercise Caution When Flipping
• Expensive and Alternative Homes
• Figuring Property Taxes for the High-End Real Estate
• Florida’s High-End Real Estate Goes Limp
• Foreign Investors and the Hamptons
• German Investment in U.S. Real Estate Creates a Bidding War
• Getting Wealthy From Real Estate Investing
• Going Green
• High-End Goes High-Tech
• High-End Investors – Why Immune to the Real Estate Crunch?
• High-End Real Estate Feels the Crunch?

• High End Property Site Map