Selling Smart Home Products

Just a decade ago, a home that was fully connected to the Internet and controlled from a mobile device sounded like science fiction. Today, it isn’t just a possibility—it is something that homeowners can do themselves. Smart home devices continue to grow in popularity, and the variety of options on the market is increasing as well. User-friendly products with sleek designs are winning over customers, and those traits are driving the market. Some customers are already sold on the idea and just need to find the right device. Others are skeptical of the devices and just want to see what's available. Product knowledge is the key to selling to either group.

Having an associate or two in your store who specialize in smart home devices might be the way to go. While the individual products are not overly complicated, there are a lot of products to choose from that differ in functionality and appearance. Having knowledgeable associates will make it easier for customers to trust in their advice and make smart home purchases in your store. With smart home devices, keep in mind that simple sells. If the customer does not easily understand the purpose of the product or how to use it, they will not want it in their home. And while some customers want to go big and make their entire homes smart right away, most customers want to start small and gradually add smart features, such as light bulbs and thermostats, and slowly work their way up to the bigger items, like front door locks and systems that can prepare your home for your arrival or departure.

With smart home devices, it is especially important to do your homework to make sure you are stocked with the most trusted and up-to-date products. CNET provides this list of the top smart home devices for the year. House-o-matic also has a list of popular smart home devices and inexpensive alternatives. And because keeping up in general sometimes seems daunting, check out Tom’s guide, which is a great place to find ratings and general information about smart home gadgets and technology trends.