The Smart Home Revolution: Why Developments Need to Embrace Intelligent Technology
As property developers, meeting the evolving expectations of homebuyers is a constant challenge. Today, one trend is clear: the demand for smart home technology is not just growing; it’s becoming an essential feature in modern homes. According to a recent survey by Statista, the global smart home market is projected to grow at an annual rate of over 25%, reaching a market value of approximately £160 billion by 2025. In high-end developments, integrating smart solutions is no longer optional—it’s the new standard.
1. Meeting the Demands of the Modern Buyer
Today’s buyers expect more than high-quality finishes—they want personalisation, convenience, and efficiency. Features like automated lighting, multi-room audio, and intelligent climate control are now seen as must-haves rather than extras.
With the Avande Select Portal, developers can offer buyers the flexibility to customise their smart home technology even before they move in. The portal provides a curated selection of smart features specifically tailored to each home, allowing buyers to select the options that fit their lifestyle and budget—without any additional burden on the developer.
Industry Insight: A report from Knight Frank shows that 57% of luxury buyers consider smart technology a key factor when purchasing a property. This shift indicates that smart home features have moved from being a luxury to a necessity in today’s market.
2. Enhancing Property Value with Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is a significant factor in property valuation, especially in the face of new regulations like the UK’s Future Homes Standard. Automated smart systems, such as intelligent heating and lighting, can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%, cutting costs for homeowners while enhancing a property’s appeal to eco-conscious buyers.
According to Savills, the market for “green” properties is expanding as buyers become increasingly environmentally conscious. “Energy-efficient features are not just a bonus; they’re a necessity in high-end developments,” says Savills’ Head of Residential Research. By incorporating these features, developers can not only meet regulatory standards but also add significant value to their properties.
3. Creating Bespoke Living Experiences
In a competitive luxury market, personalisation is key. Buyers want to tailor their living spaces to fit their individual lifestyles, and smart home technology enables this. With Avande Select, developers provide a flexible, personalised experience through which homeowners can set custom lighting scenes, control zonal heating, or integrate a full home automation system—all with the ease of an intuitive portal.
Case Study: At The Stage Shoreditch, a luxury mixed-use development in London, integrating smart home technology through the Avande Select Portal led to a 20% higher pre-sale rate compared to similar developments in the area. Offering residents the ability to personalise their spaces with smart controls made the development stand out in a competitive market.
4. The Growing Trend of Wellness-Centric Design
Wellness has become a key factor in luxury property development. Smart home technology contributes to this by enabling features like circadian lighting, air quality monitoring, and smart blinds that adjust to natural light patterns. These features not only enhance the well-being of residents but also add substantial value to properties.
According to the Global Wellness Institute, the wellness real estate market is projected to reach over £180 billion by 2027. Smart technology that supports wellness is a significant driver of this growth, making it essential for developers to incorporate these features into their designs.
4. Seamless Integration of Smart Technology—No Disruption to Developers
So, the important pillars of affordability and desirability are in-place, but how does the developer achieve all of these without any risk?
The issue has always been that the developer has no way of knowing what each purchaser will want as part of their smart home before the marketing phase begins. This final hurdle has now been removed as the smart home market has moved to online purchasing platforms where the entire interaction including cost, takes place between the homeowner and the smart home provider, the developer carries no cost or resource burden.
The buyer makes their smart home choices using an online portal dedicated to their property just before they move in, during the purchasing phase, or indeed after they have moved. The home is then furnished with what is required. The smart home provider also takes care of any support or maintenance of the system from the date of its installation.
