Builders have a new way to offer a whole-house entertainment solution to their clients. Autonomic, maker of whole-house audio systems, can now integrate with the Lutron RadioRA 2 home lighting control system. The Autonomic music systems, already compatible with the Lutron HomeWorks QS home lighting control system, allows builders and integrators to provide new or existing clients […]
Tag: smart home
BDX’s Tim Costello Issues Builders “A Call to Arms” on Technology at 2017 TecHome Builder Summit
Start offering home control and connectivity as standards NOW and prepare to ride the next, bigger wave of value coming with artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things! Builders who are not already offering strong home control and connectivity features in their homes are behind the curve and need to dive into home technology products […]
Best Overall Brilliance Award Winner Values Recognition From Peers
Delta Products’ multifunctional fan earned the Best Overall TecHome Brilliance Award at the TecHome Builder Summit in December. At the 2017 TecHome Builder Summit, the TecHome Brilliance Awards were presented to companies that were deemed to be best accelerating the application of residential technologies. In total, 21 products and communities were recognized for their innovations. […]
Big Tech Options for the Tiny Apartment Trend
At the 2016 TecHome Builder Summit, Kasita CEO Jeff Wilson and Ori Systems CEO Hasier Larrea discussed why the tiny apartment trend will continue to grow and how tech is playing a major role. The way people view living spaces is changing. It now has become much more about location and affordability, and the place […]
Builder Philosophy: “Tech vs. Technique” to Conquer the Cutting Edge
When it comes to blending cutting edge technology and building, quality is not an add-on. It needs to be designed in from the very beginning—at least, that’s how Jeff Ainslie feels about the process. “You need to spend the time up front to understand the technology you’re putting in,” says Ainslie, the president of Ainslie […]
Builder Recognizes Need to Take the Lead on Tech
HiVol builder Greg Sewell says the TecHome Builder Summit makes him realize the potential for tech to separate him from others in his market. In markets in which no builder has taken the lead on embracing a strong tech strategy, the opportunity exists for one to take charge and become a trendsetter. For those that […]
Builder Turns to Tech to Give Disabled Hero Freedom
United States Marine Corps Corporal Christian Brown led 163 combat missions as a squad leader in Afghanistan, the makings of an American hero. In December 2011, while leading his squad on a foot patrol, Christian stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). Both his hands and arms were hurt and his legs had to be […]
Control4 Creates Smart Home in Custom Airstream
Control4 customized an Airstream to create a fully automated mobile smart home. The Airstream made its debut at Boston Design Week, kicking off its 12-week “Smart Design, Smart Living” tour. The tour took the mobile smart home to major cities around the country and offered designers the opportunity to learn about designing for the connected […]
Deako Smart Lighting Brightening Up Arizona Development
At last year’s TecHome Builder Summit, Shea Homes leaders recognized the opportunity presented by Deako, and now they are offering its products as standard in a new community with the potential for even more. For builders looking to entice buyers with smart home options, there is some financial risk by including high-priced tech products they […]
Developer’s Take on Transformative Tech Trends in Multifamily
The student became the teacher, and vice versa, as one developer learns the value of tailored multifamily education during this year’s TecHome Builder Summits’ Executive Program. This year’s Executive Program covered a wide range of educational topics in the luxury, high-volume and multifamily sectors of the TecHome industry. Among the multifamily guests was Cindy Park—SVP […]
Digital Habits Are Changing How People Buy Homes
Avid Ratings used the TecHome Builder Summit to explain how builders can use tech to improve the buying experience for customers. As much of the country has embraced the digital age, in many ways, the homebuilding industry is lagging. Homebuyers are spending more time on their mobile devices and using them as research tools, but […]
First-Time Summit Sponsor Olibra Forms Bonds With Builders
Representatives from the company and its BOND product held quality engagements with high-volume and luxury builders, which have led to meaningful next steps for all the builders with whom they met. At the 2018 TecHome Builder Summit, there were representatives from 123 vendor companies from all areas of home technology in attendance to meet with […]
For LUX Builder Guests, Tech and Family Define Their Business
Rex and Evan Bost of Bost Custom Homes are focusing on tech to deliver next-level homes to their clients. The evolution of Bost Custom Homes began three decades ago, and as the company celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, it is continuing to find ways to innovate. Bost Custom Homes president Rex Bost built his […]
For Summit Veteran, There’s Always Something New
Chad Williams of Pepper Viner Homes has attended nearly every TecHome Builder Summit, and though he’s learned a lot, he manages to always find something he didn’t know. The TecHome Builder Summit, much like technology itself, evolves every year. With each new edition of the event come timely general session topics, a different mix of […]
Four Things To Know About Avid Ratings’ New GoTour
Virtual and augmented reality gives customers the ability to tour and customize a home before it’s even built. This unique marketing technique extends to energy-efficient and other smart tech packages. Avid Ratings’ GoTour program is one of the virtual reality choices currently on the market. It essentially enables the builder to present a home with […]
Heatworks Launches Kickstarter Campaign for New Tankless Water Heater
Company turns to crowdfunding for its connected Model 3. As Heatworks looks to revolutionize the water heating industry, the company is launching a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for its new Model 3. The tankless heater promises to deliver purer water more efficiently than what traditional water heaters can provide. The Model 3 uses patented Ohmic […]
HiVol Homebuilder Commits to Cost-Effective Home Automation Standard
Production builders have hesitantly approached smart home technology in the past, but one high-volume builder is diving deep into home automation to target Millennials and first time buyers. North Carolina-based Shenandoah Homes has partnered with home automation platform TiO to offer a standard smart home package to homebuyers. Shenandoah is a high-volume builder with more […]
iDevices Using New Knowledge to Prepare for TecHome Builder Summit
Leaders with the smart device company say the things they learned at last year’s event are helping them get ready for this year’s Summit. When iDevices attended its first TecHome Builder Summit in 2016, company leaders were hoping to develop new business relationships and let builders know about its unique products. Little did they know […]
Investigating Interoperability Issues and Protocols
Tech experts discuss the importance of understanding interoperability to make sure all the devices builders choose to install actually connect to the smart home system. During the 2016 TecHome Builder Summit, Z-Wave Alliance executive director Mitchell Klein and Domotz VP of business development Patrick Hagerman explained what builders need to consider in order to ensure a […]
Kansas City Builder Takes Business-Changing Lessons from Tiny Apartment Educational Session
Gloria Ortiz-Fisher says the TecHome Builder Summit gave her a new understanding of how to maximize the space constraints of city living. As urban builders are further being restricted by size limitations, they are being forced to come up with creative ways to make the most out of the limited living space. That was the […]
Lennar Becomes First Builder to Offer Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Smart Homes
The national homebuilder is partnering with the Wi-Fi Alliance to launch its Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Home Design program. Lennar is taking the next step forward in advancing the smart home. The homebuilder announced Wednesday it is the first in the world to embrace the Wi-Fi Alliance’s Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Home Design program, which enables seamless voice control, […]
LUX Living and Lighting Control Among Highlights for “Solar Chic” Home
This green smart home was featured at the International Builders Show for its use of Lutron technology and unique design to appeal to clients who value home control and entertaining. The modern “Solar Chic” project was Hardwick General Contracting’s featured home for the NAHB’s Custom Home Tour at the International Builders Show in Orlando, Florida. […]
Major Home Tech Companies Praise TecHome Builder Summits
The typical show floor environment was nowhere to be seen at this year’s TecHome Builder Summits in Fort Worth, Texas, and the home tech vendors whose products lined the aisles certainly noticed the difference. “People aren’t just going around collecting chotskies,” says Lyuba Wolf, business development at ChargePoint. “They actually want face time and to […]
Multifamily Builder Installing First Smart Apartment System
After meeting with Parakeet at the TecHome Builder Summit, Stephen Kromer decided to launch a pilot program at a new development. Kromer Investments has been starting to add simple smart devices to its apartments in the last couple years, such as smart locks and thermostats, but only in a handful of units. Now, the time […]
Multifamily Roundtable Session to Highlight Generational Characteristics on Tech
The TecHome Builder Summit will feature expert research from Parks Associates on how different demographics make their tech decisions. One of the signature events of the TecHome Builder Summit educational program is the roundtable session. Designed to get the best practice-sharing juices flowing, guests are tasked with working through challenge questions based on an initial […]
My First TecHome: Controlled Lighting Lessons and the Power of Choice
From lighting control to fully-automated platforms, Greg Hardwick’s custom homes have certainly evolved over the past eight years. Every home is different, of course. In custom homebuilding there are no models or specs, so the ultimate product boils down to whatever the client is looking to accomplish. In the early 2010s, one of Hardwick’s clients asked […]
My First TecHome: Custom Home with “All the Bells and Whistles”
A custom homebuilder is learning the value of technology, integrator partnerships and client communication through his very first TecHome—a project complete with “all the bells and whistles.” Chris Tennant’s journey began at TecHome Builder’s 2014 LUX summit, in Pasadena, and the subsequent year’s Orlando event. Here, the vice president of Mt. Lincoln Construction was referred […]
My First TecHome: Incremental Learning and the Power of Integrators
The TecHome turning point for Barry Hensley of NorthStar Luxury Homes came in 2007, when the builder constructed his very first home with a fully integrated system. Looking around at the integrated CCTV cameras, thermostat controls, alarm system and luxury home theater within his company’s landmark home, Hensley reflected on the importance of integrators in […]
My First TecHome: Tackling Immediacy to Stay on the Leading Edge
Innovation moves fast. If you don’t keep up with the changes, your business could suffer. Just ask Jeff Hansell. The co-owner of Swiftwater Custom Homes in Washington has learned a lot about technology’s evolution since including solar hot water systems in his first projects back in 1981. “Back then, in the Pacific Northwest, this was […]
Nation’s Top Builders to Attend Fifth Annual TecHome Builder Summit
When the 2018 TecHome Builder Summit kicks off in Phoenix, more than 250 of the most progressive high-volume, luxury and multifamily builders in the United States will be ready to take the next steps in developing their home tech strategy. As more and more builders recognize the value of the TecHome Builder Summit, the event […]
National Homebuilders Surge in the Fortune 500 Rankings
This year’s Fortune 500 ranking features four national homebuilders, three of which include tech in their homes. The annual Fortune 500 list released in early June, ranks U.S. based companies with publicly available earnings and financial information. Four national homebuilders rose in Fortune’s rankings, indicating that the industry’s strong momentum has continued to improve. The four […]
New ADT Partnership Blends Insurance, Security and Automation
A new partnership between insurance company Chubb and ADT Security Services is providing protection to clients of the connected home and could change the way builders do business. This relationship between Chubb and ADT is designed to provide ADT’s specialized home protection services to Chubb’s high-net-worth personal insurance customers in the United States. “There is […]
New Texas Neighborhood to Feature High-End Tech
The massive Fort Worth development keeps an eye toward the future by making sure to prepare for the tech of tomorrow. In the shadows of downtown Fort Worth, Texas is what is currently a large construction site. Eventually, it will become home to about 50,000 people and will be a driver of technology. The neighborhood […]
Nexia Adds Vognition Voice Control to Home Bridge
Home automation platform Nexia has added voice control from Vognition to its Home Bridge. It’s a move that builds upon the voice control trends currently dominating the TecHome industry. Vognition is an Oakland-based, natural-voice-control startup that was incubated in the NJIT Enterprise Development Center in Newark, N.J. The company’s voice control operates through a mobile app with a microphone button prominently displayed […]
Offering Standard Tech Packages Can Lead to Upgrades
Homebuyers increasingly want tech options included in their homes, and starting with standard package options can lead to more upgrade sales later. As the average homebuyer trends younger and younger, the need for builders to include tech in their homes is increasing. One session at the 2017 TecHome Builder Summit was designed to help builders […]
Pardee Prospers with Flagstone Community
Versatile floor plans, stunning outdoor spaces and state-of-the-art tech features characterize a new Inland Empire community from national homebuilder, Pardee Homes. Flagstone—presiding in Pardee’s Beaumont, CA master-planned community Sundance—features one and two-story designs and a wide range of standard and optional tech features. This wealth of inviting options is designed for changing family needs, and […]
Photo Gallery: TecHome Builder LUX 2014
Take a look back at some highlights from TecHome Builder LUX 2014 at the Langham Huntington in Pasadena, Calif.
Photo Gallery: TecHome Builder Summit 2015
Take a look back at some highlights from the 2015 TecHome Builder Summit at the Hyatt Regency in Austin, Texas.
Production Homebuilder Taps Savant as Partner in Tech Standard
First Texas Homes, a production builder, has introduced a new smart home technology standard, tapping Savant as its key partner. Savant just made the announcement about the partnership that started this summer, which provides built-in home automation and control in all new production homes. First Texas Homes are being pre-wired with structured wiring and include a Savant […]
Savant Extends Home Control With Nest, iPort Partnerships
Luxury home automation platform Savant expands its partner program to include Nest’s smart thermostat and iPort. The new integration partnership was announced, today, at CEDIA 2016 and builds off of Savant’s existing partner program that includes other major connected device makers such as Lutron and Sonos. According to the press release, Savant’s decision to choose Nest and […]
Savant Releases New Skill for Amazon Alexa
The new functionality allows users to have an enhanced interaction with their Savant smart home using voice control. Savant Systems has taken another step forward in voice control. The company has released a new skill that integrates it with Amazon Alexa, allowing users another way to communicate with their smart home system. The new skill […]
Savant Tech Comes Standard Through New Developer Partnership
The goal is to create “a harmonized standard” across all new developments, and multifamily developer Property Markets Group (PMG) achieves these aspirations through a new strategic relationship with Savant. The developer recently announced that Savant will provide the technology for its portfolio of developments currently under construction—from New York to Miami. “The builder market is […]
Security & Sound Stand Out in Luxury Townhome Community
Rosslyn Key—a luxurious townhome community in Rosslyn, VA—encourages urban lifestyle through its neighborhood and a modern, tech-fueled lifestyle through its homes. The 25-unit neighborhood boasts a walkability score of 96 out of 100, and regardless of a buyer’s age or inclination, this urban appeal is a major part of what draws them to the community. […]
Smart Home Built for Injured Soldier Features ELAN System
Core Brands teamed up with the Gary Sinise Foundation to make life more comfortable for Atlanta veteran. Some soldiers who serve their country return home to face a much different quality of life than what it was when they left. And, that’s the reality one U.S. Army veteran from Atlanta faced. Master Sgt. Cedric King […]
Sonnen Launches Home Battery to Target Mass Market
Sonnen has released a smaller, cost-effective home battery system that opens up power storage options for builders looking to install solar as standard. Last year, Sonnen unveiled the Eco Protect home battery. Designed for off-grid installations, Sonnen’s first home battery fell short in the mass market due to its $10,000 price point. Sonnen’s newest home battery, […]
Tech Engineer-Turned-Leading LUX Builder Attending First Summit
Taking the advice of his Builder 20 Club colleagues, Ralph Cataldo of Cataldo Custom Builders will be taking the next step in his tech education at the TecHome Builder Summit. Sometimes, life can take a turn and put someone at an unexpected crossroads. And, the decision that person makes at that point in time can […]
Tech is Changing How Multifamily Buildings are Designed
As millennials make up a growing segment of the rental population, multifamily building designs increasingly are reflecting their tech-forward lifestyle. The use of smart home devices is becoming much more common in multifamily buildings, as the focus is shifting toward younger generations. More than two-thirds of millennials are now renting, and developers are beginning to […]
TecHome Brilliance Award Winners to be Announced
Nineteen products and communities will receive awards at the TecHome Builder Summit as best in their categories as chosen by industry peers. The winners of the annual TecHome Brilliance Awards will be announced on Monday, Dec. 4, the opening night of the 2017 TecHome Builder Summit at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Ariz. The […]
TecHome Brilliance Awards Recognize Leaders in Surging Home Technology Market
Manufacturers, integrators and builders implement game-changing innovations in home control, energy efficiency, connected appliances and more. We know homebuyer demand for technology is growing at a rapid rate, and innovative builders and tech companies are answering this rallying call with solutions that “wow”and work. The 21 winners of the 2017 TecHome Brilliance Awards are certainly […]
TecHome Brilliance Awards Taps Leaders in Surging Home Tech Market
Brilliance means being bold, innovative and groundbreaking—qualities crucial to surviving and succeeding in the rapidly evolving TecHome industry. The inaugural TecHome Brilliance Awards were announced at this week’s TecHome Builder Summits, honoring the best of the best when it comes to standout smart home products, innovative homes and communities, energy efficiency solutions, entertainment and more. […]