Why ski property buyers are looking for ‘smart homes’

For anyone who’s making a major purchase, such as a ski home, you want the best. But the goalposts for what ‘the best’ is are constantly moving, driven by new trends and innovation. And, in property, we’re seeing more and more buyers in all parts of the market looking at the possibility to turn their apartment or house into a ‘smart home’.

Smart homes are digitally linked up and range from the simple convenience of being to control your home from your phone, such as lighting or heating, to machine learning and artificial intelligence that can monitor conditions. So what could you look for, or look to install, in a ski home.

Save energy and reduce bills

In a smart home, one of the basic functions is being able to control your home from any room, or indeed from outside, through either controls in your house or apps on your phone. For example, you can control lighting in different rooms, or set heating to come on in particular rooms only at particular times, and adjust as needed – as well as being able to see your spend. In many cases, in smart thermostats linked to your phone, your phone will automatically communicate when you go out, so that heating can be switched off or lowered. It all adds up to being much more energy efficient and simply saving yourself time.

Protect against snow damage

Take tips from the Canadians with automatic snow sensors. If you have a chalet with outside space, a snow melting system can mean you don’t need to shovel a pathway in the morning, but also avoids using chemicals or pollutants to disperse the snow.

You don’t want to come for a weekend away in your home, only to find that you need to deal with frozen pipes and gutters. Installing self-regulating cables, that recognise when temperatures drop below a certain limit, to keep gutters, downspouts, and even the roof free of frozen blockages. 

Keep your garden green

For many owners of ski homes, the property isn’t necessarily a full-time residence – but still needs maintenance when you’re not there. Smart home features can help you out here, too. A smart water controller, for example, can be set to turn on at a specific time, watering plant boxes or outside space in summer when needed.

Make more time for skiing

If you’re coming out to ski, the last thing you really want to be doing is mundane chores, like popping out for milk. Linked up white goods like your fridge can not only inform you when you’re running low, but even, in some cases, link up to shopping portals to build and order a grocery list. How’s that for time saving?

Keep your home secure

Technology makes for simple, cost-effective security measures. Ski resorts generally have low crime rates, but, for peace of mind, WiFi-enabled cameras, for instance, mean you can keep an eye on things wherever you are.

Ready to buy in 2020?

If this year’s the year you want to buy – smart home or not – don’t miss our free guides on how to buy in Europe and North America. And, with the Brexit deadline coming up soon, remember that British citizens can still buy: find out how in our Brexit guides.