A specialized technology Thomas included in one of her homes is a sensor that alerts the homeowners when someone drives up their driveway.

To maximize technology’s value it’s important for an appraiser to understand the value of whatever home technology is included in a home. Thomas has never encountered a situation where a bank says the technology isn’t worth what it’s worth, “But I know there are appraisers that only go by square footage. If there’s an allowance for technology and it’s built into the price of the house, we’ve never heard that an appraisal was less than the true value. Still, make sure appraisers value technology,” she says.

Install the Basics

Technology products with good margins for builders include security system prewire, a base security system, the ability to handle high-definition television throughout the house, and a prewire for distributed audio in every room and surround-sound systems in a room or two, Cioe notes. But the key to maximizing profit for a builder, and enjoyment for a homeowner, is letting the client know the home is wired for the future.

“Some builders put $2,000 of structured wiring in a home but don’t tell the homeowner it’s in there,” Sasser says. “If a builder is not going to market the fact that the wire is there, or tell anyone it’s in there, it’s a waste of time and money. A builder has got to sell what’s there.”

Sasser suggests builders focus on a home’s infrastructure, especially planning out the space during the design stage. For free, Playback will help with laying out a space so technology doesn’t become an afterthought. “When I walk into a house that was thought through and well laid out, it’s much better than having a homeowner who wants a TV on the wall but the builder didn’t plan for power nearby, and didn’t include a recessed area for the TV. It’s all the simple things that with foresight make a home look more complete and more valuable,” he says.