In 2015, about 68% of Americans owned smartphones and that number was expected to rise on an upward trajectory. Consumers’ love of technology has hit every industry, including remodeling. It probably isn’t surprising to most remodelers to find that your clients want to know more about some of the smart home technology available.

At the same time, the smart home market has struggled a bit to really take off in the United States. Part of the problem is that the consumer doesn't fully understand how different system components work together or the best place to start. This is where you come in and where you can fill the chasm to help homeowners figure out where best to start with smart home technology.

Here are some potential benefits to keep in mind when working with clients who either want smart technology or you feel would benefit from it.

Home Safety
In 2010, there were an estimated 2.2 million home burglaries. Break-ins happen in all areas and under different circumstances. Suggesting a smart home security system to your clients is a smart move, because it both protects them from these statistics and also shows them that you care about their well-being.

Smart security can alert homeowners to activity around doors and windows. It can include motion detectors, cameras, and even the ability to call out to a potential intruder via an app so that it sounds like someone is at home. This alone may be enough to deter some burglary attempts.

Energy Savings
Your clients likely want to save money on energy. After all, if they are spending big bucks on a remodeling project, they want that investment to count. Smart energy savings is a simple matter of approaching the problem on multiple fronts.

You likely already know about items such as smart thermostats, but you can also suggest smart technology that can automatically turn the lights on and off, smart appliances, and advanced windows with smart insulation and controls.

Better Building Materials
Advanced technology has led to advances in building materials as well. For example, cool roofs are now coated with materials that contain pigments meant to reflect the sunlight rather than absorbing it the way a standard roof does. Over time, as this technology improves, homes will get more and more energy efficient.

In addition to reflective roofing, insulation has gotten smarter, and your clients need to know all the options available for such modifications in the building/remodeling process. For example, foam insulation has been around for a while, but is still getting better. Help your clients get smarter in the choices they make in building materials and they’ll thank you for many years to come.

Peace of Mind
Do you have a client who seems particularly nervous and frazzled? Point out some of the smart home technology trends that can help the client have peace of mind. For example, people often worry about whether they’ve left the garage door up when on vacation. It is common for one person in the family to gasp in the middle of a trans-Atlantic flight and say, “I can’t remember if I closed the garage door.”

With some of the smart garage door openers out there, the consumer simply pulls up an app on their smartphone, checks to see if the garage is open or closed, and can shut the door should it be left open. Other garage door units will automatically close the door after it has been left up for a certain amount of time.

Lifestyle Convenience
Another aspect of smart technology that your clients will appreciate is convenience. For example, your client works long hours but needs to let in a plumber to make a repair while he is at work. With smart locks, he can key in a one-time code (usually via his cell phone) that will allow the plumber to gain access to the home.

Other elements, such as cameras can track the plumber and make sure he isn’t rifling through the jewelry drawer while there alone. Once the repairman leaves, the one-time code will not work again.

At the same time, an integrated smart technology system can reduce clutter as you only need one device to enter your home, turn on the lights, and set the thermostat.

Smart technology has already changed the way we live and the way we remodel. It is only a matter of time before even more advances are made and these technologies become as ordinary as installing a ceiling fan.