Smart home technology has gone mainstream, and today we can control many aspects of our connected homes with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, or Google Assistant. But as homeowners open their wallets to achieve this Jetsons-esque vision of the future, how much are they willing to pay for standard household amenities?
The team at home services company Porch set out to find answers to that question. Toward that end, they asked over 1,000 people about the amenities they considered non-negotiable as well as how much they were willing to pay to get their homes equipped with features such as stainless steel appliances and central air conditioning. In the infographics below, see the summarized details on their responses.
You can see the full text of the article and the methodology behind the study in the article at Porch entitled Important Amenities: Exploring the Value of Residential Accommodations.
Sticking to the Basics
An excerpt from the full report: “Centralized air conditioning or heaters were at the top of respondents’ lists when it came to the most essential home amenities. Roughly 3 in 4 households have central AC and heat, and nearly 79 percent of apartment renters and 82 percent of homeowners said being able to conveniently cool and heat their homes was their number one priority.”
Worth the Splurge?
An excerpt from the full report: “What you’d like to see in your apartment and what you’re willing to pay each month can sometimes be two separate things. Millennials, often said to treat their pets as well as their children, were willing to pay more than any other generation to make sure they could bring pets in their apartments (almost $97 additionally per month).”
Valuable House Upgrades
An excerpt from the full report: “When it comes to buying a home, there are a few considerations to keep in mind while looking at the price tag. Deciding how much house you can afford is always a good place to start, but it’s important to note the annual costs of maintenance and upgrades along the way.”
Managing Your Mortgage
An excerpt from the full report: “In recent years, more Americans have decided to rent (both homes and apartments), but that doesn’t mean they aren’t at least considering homeownership in the future. While 2016 marked a 50-year low for homebuyers, the big backyard and white picket fence may still be a part of the American dream.”
Prioritizing Upgrades
An excerpt from the full report: “Having a pool was generally underappreciated by most homeowners, but 1 in 10 people living in urban areas said it was an essential upgrade. They also had the strongest opinion of solar panels, a formal dining room, and hardwood flooring.”
