Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa Real Estate Investor Magazine - September 2017 | Page 25

TECHNOLOGY
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Smart homes on the rise
BY MONIQUE DU TOIT
T
he gap between fact and fiction is closing fast, with
daily additions being made to the world of smart
home technology.
Toasters talking to phones, lights sensing the right time to
switch on and off, doors that unlock remotely. No longer the
stuff of fantasy (or nightmares), the Internet of Things (IoT)
is fast becoming a part of homes worldwide. Smart homes, by
definition, are enabling users to be more efficient and connect-
ed. By using users’ data, along with If-This-Then-That (IFTT),
devices are able to preempt our needs and act accordingly.
Why would we want some machine to have access to our
homes’ data? While security risks are, at this stage, a very real
concern, the advantages are intriguing to say the least. South
Africa has been slow to embrace smart homes, largely due to
high costs and lacking infrastructure. With each new neigh-
bourhood or lifestyle estate being built, however, this divide
between global and local trends is closing.
only is this great for safety, it’s also sneakily convenient.
Automated lights are one of the trendier aspects of a smart
home. Home owners are able to dim, switch on, or even
change the colour of lights. Several types of automated lights
are available, ranging in spec and price. While this is fun, it’s
also practical. You are able to remotely switch on your lights if
you know you’ll get home late or set certain lights to switch on
at certain times if you’re away on holiday.
Environmentally conscious
The IoT makes it possible for anything in your home to be
connected. This opens up a world of opportunity for conve-
nience and efficiency. With all the big names in tech (in-
cluding Amazon and Google) making their steps into Smart
Homes, the industry seems primed for further exploration.
Within the South African context, Smart Homes offer sev-
eral distinct advantages (to those who can afford it, of course): The current drought experienced by several South African
cities proves that more needs to be done to reduce water us-
age. Luckily, there’s an app for that. Or, more accurately, an
automated system. As many of us already know, we are able
to install automated irrigation systems in your garden. Now,
however, it’s possible to monitor how much water you’ve actu-
ally used - and adapt usage accordingly.
South Africa makes up for its water shortage with heaps of
sunshine. As a result, solar power is taking off as a viable alter-
native to traditional methods. Linking solar power to a smart
home makes sense, as is seen in several new products to hit the
market. Customers are able to instruct power-hungry appliances
to run off of battery power, thus lowering electricity usage when
home owners return from work at the end of the day. Not only
will this save money in terms of utility bills, but also greatly mi-
nimises the strain on the national electricity network.
Security cameras are already popular with South African home
owners, offering them the option to monitor activities in or
around their homes from anywhere with an internet connection.
A smart home incorporates this - and many more. Smart garage
doors enable you to remotely keep tabs on your cars’ home and
even allows you to open or close it at the push of a button. Not Whilst many may consider a smart home to be little more than
a passing fad, studies have shown that this type of integra-
tion leads to higher selling prices. In a market where more and
more young, tech-savvy buyers are looking to set down roots, it
is essential for investors and developers to stay up to date with
the latest advancements.
Conveniently clever
Safety and security:
The bottom line
SA Real Estate Investor Magazine SEPTEMBER 2017
23