Smart Plumbing Solutions for Smart Investments: Integrating Technology into Rental Properties
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When it comes to enhancing rental properties, most landlords focus on aesthetics. However, what today’s discerning tenants truly want are smart upgrades. According to Rent.com, 82% of tenants want at least one smart system in their home. Unfortunately, nearly half of landlords fail to meet this expectation.
This presents an opportunity for you to gain a competitive edge in the rental market. Shifting your focus to smart solutions, particularly smart plumbing, can help you meet your tech-savvy tenants’ demands. Convenient, cost-saving, and practical, these upgrades have the potential to not only increase your property’s desirability, but also improve the overall tenant experience.
Explore smart plumbing solutions to integrate into your property with our guide.
Why Your Rental Property’s Plumbing Should Be Smart
Before we share some smart plumbing solutions for your rental, let’s first explore what makes these investments worthwhile:
Better for the Environment
Smart plumbing solutions are designed with sustainability in mind. This focus on conservation makes your property more appealing to the growing market of eco-conscious renters.
Contributes to Reduced Utility Bills
The cost savings from reduced water and energy consumption can be a compelling feature for many tenants. Smart solutions offer financial relief to those who need it the most, such as families who’ve sought assistance from non-profit housing counseling centers. By lightening the costs of living, you demonstrate genuine support for your tenants and cater to those seeking affordability over other factors.
Provides Unparalleled Convenience
Most smart plumbing solutions can be controlled from anywhere, adding a layer of ease to your tenants’ lives. This level of convenience elevates the renting experience, reducing the risk of tenant turnover. Furthermore, many of these solutions offer real-time monitoring, allowing you to take a proactive approach to maintenance.
6 Smart Plumbing Solutions to Integrate into Your Rental Property
Planning a kitchen or bathroom renovation? We’ve compiled a couple of changes you can implement with the help of professional plumbers:
1. Smart Faucets
From hands-free activation to voice commands, smart faucets add convenience to your tenants’ daily routines. These faucets come in different models, such as:
Touchless: These options use sensors to trigger the flow of water, allowing you to turn on the tap with a wave of a hand.
One-touch: These can be activated with a single tap of the finger (or the elbow, in case your hands are full).
Voice-activated: These Wi-Fi-enabled devices are designed to be connected to your home’s main smart hub (e.g., Google Assistant), giving you voice control over various functions. For instance, you can command your faucet to fill a cup, set the temperature, or power on/off.
2. Smart Showers
Add a touch of luxury to your rental property with smart showers—fixtures with intuitive controls for temperature, flow rate, duration, and more. Controlled with voice or a digital display, these showers allow you to design a sleek and modern bathroom that’s free of bulky knobs.
Beyond their style benefits, smart showers contribute to mindful water consumption. For example, some models allow you to warm up your water in advance, and activate the shower only when you’re ready. They may also be connected to a dashboard with insights into your usage patterns, helping you stay committed to your green goals.
3. Smart Toilets
There’s no need to visit Japan just to experience what it’s like to use a smart toilet. Many local plumbers now offer the installation of these modern fixtures, owing to their eco-friendliness and cleanliness.
Not only do they have unconventional charm (some smart toilets can play music and talk), but they’re also built with water conservation in mind. Unlike traditional toilets, smart models use less water per flush, making them a more sustainable choice.
Additionally, smart toilets come with built-in sensors, eliminating the need for physical contact when flushing. No wonder why they’re considered more hygienic than conventional models.
4. Smart Water Leak Detectors
Undetected pipe leaks can lead to serious complications like water damage—a problem that will not only necessitate costly repairs, but also lead to mold growth. The problem? Leaks can be difficult to detect. There is, however, one way to guard your property against the silent threat of leaks: smart detectors.
These devices can catch even the most inconspicuous leaks, allowing you to tackle the issue before it escalates. They work by constantly monitoring the flow of water through your pipes, and closing the valve the moment they detect a sudden shift indicating a potential leak. Additionally, when connected to an app, these devices provide real-time alerts when a leak is detected, so you can carry out repairs without delay.
5. Smart Water Heater
On-demand hot water is one of the conveniences your future tenants will likely look for, especially if your property is in a cooler region. While traditional water heaters can meet this need, they often fall short in terms of water efficiency. To maintain a ready supply of hot water, they reheat water all day, wasting unnecessary energy in the process.
In contrast, smart heaters have the ability to study the user’s behavior, enabling them to predict when hot water will be required. This eliminates the need for all-day water reheating, translating into significant cost savings.
6. Smart Sprinklers
It’s highly unlikely for your future tenants to use their free time caring for your garden or yard. This lack of maintenance can impact your property’s value and appeal, as well as invite additional costs to revive the space.
To ease your concerns about outdoor care, why not use smart sprinklers? They can be controlled with an app, allowing you to stay on top of watering duties from anywhere in the world. With this low-cost investment, you can set automatic watering times, control the flow of water, monitor the soil’s moisture levels, and much more—all without disrupting your tenants’ schedules.
By investing in a smart sprinkler system, you not only preserve the condition of your lawn, but also cater to tenants seeking low-maintenance properties.
Conclusion
Make the smart choice by incorporating these solutions into your rental property. These worthwhile investments provide you and your tenants with convenience and cost savings—two factors critical to your investment’s success.
If you’re in the process of giving your kitchen or bathroom a facelift, be sure to rely on only the professionals for your plumbing needs. Entrust your rental property renovation to the team at Kevin Szabo Jr. Plumbing, where our job is to determine and implement upgrades that are aligned with both your budget and long-term goals.
Contact us today to get started.