Posted on December 20, 2016 by Miller and Smith Blog Team
With 2017 on the horizon, Miller & Smith has compiled our annual list of new ideas and trends that will dramatically change the ways we occupy our living spaces over the next year. We expect 2017 to be full of incredible innovations — from technology that once felt like science fiction, to creative new ways to bring the great outdoors – in. Simply put, there’s a lot to look forward to. Here are a few trends that have particularly piqued our interest.
1) Touring Homes, Virtually
Virtual reality tends to be associated with gaming and popular culture, but it is also an ideal platform for the real estate industry. For homebuyers, instead of spending in-person time at unappealing properties, they now have the option to take 360-degree tours of the property, all from the comfort of their own homes. Properties listed on Miller & Smith’s website make these virtual tours available for many of their model homes. This technology is completely transforming the process of touring and shopping for homes, and we see the trend evolving and expanding well into 2017.
2) Embracing the Outdoors
Although many homebuyers have begun looking for “urban-suburban” locales san the maintenance of a backyard, many still crave a personal piece of nature. Homebuilders are addressing this challenge with new homes that seamlessly fuse the outside and indoors, through the use of spacious rooftops, creative interior design, patios and courtyards. Several Miller & Smith homes, including Upper West and Brambleton’s Garden District in Ashburn, Virginia, bring the outside in with features such as open-air architecture, walls of glass and floor-to-ceiling windows.
3) One Home, Connected
Say goodbye to missing remote controls and a basket full of electronics. The integration of smart technology into new homes is becoming a top priority for many homebuyers. The most innovative homes on the market now focus on having one central operating system — controlled through one remote — that cohesively coordinates and connects an entire home’s technology. These homes, like Upper West at One Loudoun include built-in, high-tech features such as a top-of-the-line home network that connects to WiFi as painlessly as possible, and smart locks for keyless entry. For homeowners, this means easier, streamlined living, which is why this trend will only continue to gain popularity into 2017.
The coming year could be an excellent time to buy a brand new home, complete with sleek, tech-centric features that make living and connecting that much easier. To see these trends in action, take a look at Miller & Smith’s available new homes in Maryland and Virginia.
