In the past 24 months, nine of 10 realtors have been involved in buying, selling, or showing a home with technology ranging from more established systems such as monitored security to newer technologies like home automation/management systems and energy management systems.

Realtors are not just encountering home technologies, but over half of the realtors report they are excited by these homes and believe their clients’ enthusiasm for technology mirrors their own, with almost two-thirds of realtors stating their clients are excited to see technologies in homes.

The survey of 1,793 realtors who were members of the National Association of Realtors® in April, sought to understand realtors’ experiences with homes which have installed technologies and their perception of the technology.

“There is a strong relationship between home technologies and the real estate market. While the market needs to recover before home technologies play a more important role in home sales,” stated Rhonda Daniel, manager of market research, “the industry can help prepare realtors to be comfortable in discussing these types of systems with their clients.”

Half of realtors expressed interest in learning more about installed home technologies and CEA noted that efforts should begin to educate them on these technologies and lay the groundwork now to take advantage of the eventual upswing in the real estate market.

Publication date: 08/22/2011