What is a Smart Home?

Our homes are major emotional and lifestyle investments. And now, with the development of Smart Home products, our homes want to play an even greater role as they know our habits, simplify our lives and save us time and money.

And those who are buying and selling homes are taking note. Homes – both new and existing – that go on the market with Smart Home products installed are gaining traction.

Coldwellbanker.com even tracks those which come on the market, starting with Diane Polland’s magnificent $100 million listing on Long Island Sound and followed by nearly 1,400 properties featuring Smart Home technology.

And while the revolution is well underway, we noticed that no one had defined for consumers what a Smart Home really is. So we sat down with the editors at CNET.com, the preeminent technology reviewer, to set the standard that was simple while allowing for choices:

Smart Home: A home that is equipped with network-connected products (i.e., “smart products,” connected via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or similar protocols) for controlling, automating and optimizing functions such as temperature, lighting, security, safety or entertainment, either remotely by a phone, tablet, computer or a separate system within the home itself. It must have a cable, satellite or DSL internet connection and equipped with at least three Smart Home features including security and/or temperature.

* Must have at least one

The hope – as CBS Marketwatch pointed out – is this definition will set the stage for home buyers and sellers to have a greater understanding of the benefits of their future homes.

Source: Coldwell Banker Blue Matter/David Siroty