Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/944589
NWA Home Show presented by NWA HBA NWA Democrat-Gazette | Sunday, February 25, 2018 6 • Consolidation. While a growing number of manufacturers continue to churn out new "smart" ways to operate their products — from curtains and window shades to door locks, kitchen appliances and HVAC systems — there also is a movement to consolidate the universe of platforms on which they run: Apple, Google Home, and Amazon's Alexa. Builders should see systems continue to work toward a more seamless connection and make it easier to recommend suites of products for their clients. • Virtual Reality. it's a given that most buyers have great difficulty visualizing what a home will look like based on a floor plan or set of blueprints. Virtual realty home modeling means these buyers can put on a pair of goggles and see for themselves in an assortment of elevations and furnishing styles, and giant high-resolution monitors the size of an entire wall will immerse the consumers in a full-size rendering of what their future kitchen could look like. • Drones and Robots. Costello expects robots to play a larger role in home construction in the next 18 months, especially as more builders become aware of the advantages of modular and systems-built construction. And drones, now commonly used to take marketing videos for many developers, can be increasingly used to chart the topography on a site for sale, helping builders make better land acquisition decisions. No matter what the technology, builders need to understand their clear advantage when it comes to marketing smart homes. "Fundamentally, builders compete with used homes," Costello said. When you introduce smart home technology into an existing home, problems are bound to crop up. "You can't get a WiFi signal in every room, you have to retrofit the wiring," making the idea of creating an "internet of things" or connected home appliances and systems just an overgrown DIY project for the consumer. "We don't need 12 Alexas dripping their cords all over the interior design," he said. "We need to make [home technology] impossible to replicate in a used home." This article is from NAHBNow Continued from page 5 www.abbeycarpetandfl oornwa.com | MONDAY-FRIDAY 10-6 • SATURDAY 10-3 2812 S. Walton Blvd. Bentonville | 479.464.4411 AMERICA'S CHOICE IN FLOOR FASHIONS SINCE 1958! • Wood • Ceramic Tile • Water Proof Floors • Carpet • Vinyl • Area Rugs • Porcelain Tile • Glass Tile RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL SPECIAL DISCOUNTS FOR HOMEBUILDERS OR NEW PROJECTS AND COMMERCIAL PROJECTS • Licensed in AR, MO and OK • Bonded and Insured for your protection • Locally owned and operated Commercial – Residential Member of National Pest Management Association, inc Arkansas Pest Management Association Protecting you, your family and your home since 1974. office: 479.273.2220 toll free: 1.800.495.2220 fax: 479.273.3401 479.877.3227 214 W. Walnut | Rogers, AR 72758 NMLS 144949 | GatewayLoan.com/rogers-ar 479.439.8820 2558 E. Mission Blvd. | Fayeƒeville, AR 72703 NMLS 1632309 | GatewayLoan.com/fayeƒeville-ar-2 Buying A Home Just Got Easier Fast Answers, Local Expertise Gateway Mortgage Group is the registered service mark of Gateway Mortgage Group, LLC NMLS 7233.