Smart Home Features That Sell in 2026: Security, Sensors, Automation
In 2026, โsmart homeโ is no longer a noveltyโitโs a decision filter. Buyers donโt want a house thatโs full of gadgets. They want a home that feels safer, lower-risk, easier to run, and cheaper to operate.
The good news: buyer demand is clear, and itโs not centered on flashy tech. Data shows buyers prioritize security first, followed by comfort/energy controls (thermostats and lighting), then access control (smart locks), and risk prevention (leak detection).
This post breaks down which smart features actually help homes sell in 2026โand how to implement them in a way that buyers trust.
What buyers say they want (the 2026 priority list)
Zillowโs Consumer Housing Trends data (latest release covering 2025 prospective buyers) is one of the clearest signals we have for what shoppers care about right now.
Hereโs the hierarchy of โhigh importanceโ smart home features among prospective buyers:
| Smart home feature | % of buyers rating it highly important |
|---|---|
| Security | 72% |
| Thermostats | 64% |
| Lighting | 61% |
| Smart locks | 60% |
| Alarms / timers | 49% |
| Leak detection sensors | 40% |
| Home entertainment systems | 40% |
Security is still #1โeven though it dipped slightly year-over-year (76% โ 72%), it remains the top driver. Meanwhile, smart locks and alarms/timers became more important year over year, signaling that buyers are leaning into practical, daily-use automation.
And among buyers who consider smart home features โhighly important,โ demand is even more concentrated: security (85%), smart locks (81%), lighting (77%), and thermostats (69%).
Chief SEO Officer takeaway: If your listing copy leads with โsmart lights,โ but not security + access + risk prevention, youโre leaving clicks (and offers) on the table.
The 2026 rule: โReduce risk, then add convenience.โ
Smart features that sell fall into three buckets:
- Security & access (buyers feel safer)
- Sensors & prevention (buyers feel protected from expensive surprises)
- Automation & efficiency (buyers feel the home is easier/cheaper to run)
Letโs break those down.
1) Security features that move the needle
Video doorbell + smart alerts
Why it sells in 2026:
- Buyers want confidence around packages, visitors, and activity at the front door.
- Itโs one of the easiest โsmartโ upgrades for buyers to understand right away.
What matters for resale:
- Reliable notifications
- Clear camera angle
- Easy-to-transfer ownership (more on handoff later)
Seller tip: In listing photos, donโt spotlight the deviceโspotlight the benefit: โVideo doorbell with mobile alerts + package monitoring.โ
Outdoor cameras (with privacy-friendly placement)
What buyers respond to:
- Coverage of entry points (front + back), not a โsurveillance vibe.โ
- Clean installation (no dangling wires, no improvised mounts)
Avoid:
- Interior cameras as a selling feature (many buyers see it as creepy or invasive)
- Cameras pointed at neighborsโ windows/yard lines (creates instant buyer discomfort)
Smart alarm system (professional monitoring optional)
Buyers like the โsystemโ concept more than the brand:
- Door/window sensors
- Motion sensors
- Loud siren
- Cellular backup is a plus (where available)
If you have monitoring, be ready to explain transferability and whether the buyer must subscribe to it.
2) Sensors that prevent expensive damage
If you want one underutilized 2026 differentiator, itโs this: leak detection.
Zillow data shows leak detection sensors are already โhigh importanceโ for 40% of prospective buyersโand 55% among smart-home enthusiasts.
Thatโs not hype. Thatโs a meaningful chunk of the buyer pool.
Leak detection sensors (under sinks + near water heater)
Why it sells:
- Water damage is a top homeowner fear (and a top claim category).
- Buyers are increasingly aware of rising insurance costs and coverage scrutiny; prevention reads as โresponsible homeownership.โ
Insurance angle (donโt oversell it, but do mention it):
- Some insurers offer discounts or programs for certain smart risk-reduction devices. Experian notes examples across major carriers and specifically calls out leak detectors, smart thermostats, and monitored security among discount-eligible categories (varies by insurer and policy).
Smart water shutoff valve (premium upgrade, big reassurance)
If your home is worth more, has a finished basement, or youโre in an area where insurance conversations are tense, this can be a trust-builder.
But only if:
- Itโs professionally installed
- You can clearly explain how it works and how it transfers
Smart smoke/CO detectors
Buyers donโt tour thinking about smoke detectorsโuntil they see modern ones and feel the home is up to date.
This is also a nice bridge between โsmartโ and โsafety,โ helping reduce โgadget fatigue.โ
3) Automation that buyers actually use
Automation sells when it feels like a quality-of-life upgrade, not an engineering project.
Smart thermostat (real savings, real buyer appeal)
Thermostats are the #2 most important smart feature in Zillowโs buyer data (64%).
And thereโs a credible value story you can attach:
- ENERGY STAR reports average savings of about 8% of heating and cooling bills, or ~$50 per year, for ENERGY STAR-certified smart thermostats (real-world data, not just lab estimates).
How to position it in your listing:
โENERGY STAR smart thermostat for comfort + energy managementโ (avoid claiming exact dollar savings; use โtypicalโ/โaverageโ language).
Smart lighting (scenes that show well)
Lighting is highly important to 61% of buyersโand even higher for smart-home enthusiasts (77%).
What sells:
- A few rooms with clear โscenesโ (e.g., โEvening,โ โMovie,โ โAwayโ)
- Exterior smart lighting for arrival safety (front walkway, garage approach)
What doesnโt sell:
- 40 different bulbs across 12 apps
- Complex color effects are a โfeatur.eโ
Presence/occupancy sensors (the 2026 upgrade buyers donโt realize they wantโuntil they experience it)
2026 smart homes are shifting away from โapp tapsโ toward homes that respond automatically. Forbes explicitly points to mmWave presence sensors becoming โsecret weaponsโ for more seamless automation.
Why that matters in real estate:
- Standard motion sensors can miss someone sitting still.
- Presence sensors can keep lights/HVAC behaving naturally (especially in open floor plans).
A recent example: Aqara introduced a battery-powered presence sensor that combines PIR + mmWave radar for occupancy-based automations, plus temperature/humidity/light sensingโexactly the kind of multi-sensor stack that makes a home feel โsmartโ without effort.
Seller caveat: Donโt build a Rube Goldberg smart home. Use this for 1โ2 obvious wins (entryway + living space), then stop.
Interoperability is a selling feature now: Matter + Thread
In 2026, buyers are more skeptical about smart homes because theyโve seen the downside:
- โWill this work with my phone?โ
- โWhat if Iโm not an Apple/Google/Alexa person?โ
- โAm I inheriting a tech mess?โ
Your job is to remove that objection.
What to aim for: โworks across ecosystemsโ.
Matter was built to make devices and ecosystems work together more reliably, reducing compatibility guesswork.
Key talking points you can safely use:
- Matter is designed so buyers can choose the platform they prefer (Apple / Google / Amazon / SmartThings) without being locked out by device compatibility.
- Matter runs on common networking layers like WiโFi and Thread and uses Bluetooth for setup/commissioning.
- The standard continues to improve the setup quality of life (e.g., streamlined onboarding features have been highlighted as part of ongoing updates).
How to use this in listing copy:
โSmart devices include Matter-compatible components for easier cross-platform use.โ
(Only say this if itโs true. If youโre not sure, donโt guessโbuyers will test it.)
The Smart Home Seller Checklist (so it helps you sell instead of creating friction)
This is where most sellers mess up: they install devicesโฆand then make it hard for buyers to trust or take over.
Before photos and showings
- Make it simple: ensure lights, locks, and thermostats behave predictably.
- Create a โShow Modeโ scene: lights on, comfortable temp, quiet notifications (no random announcements).
- Turn off creepy stuff: disable interior cameras or remove them.
Before inspections/closing
- Document everything in a 1-page handoff:
- Device list (brand + model)
- What each device does
- Where hubs are (if any)
- Login transfer steps (or reset steps)
- Remove personal data from smart locks, cameras, thermostats, routers, and voice assistantsโfactory reset when appropriate.
- Confirm subscriptions: If the system needs a plan, be transparent.
At closing
- Provide a clean transfer path:
- Either transfer ownership cleanly (supported platforms), or
- Factory reset + buyer re-onboards
This prevents โsmart homeโ from becoming a post-close headache (and prevents the buyer from coming back angry).
What to write in your listing (copy that converts)
Use benefit-driven language that matches buyer intent:
High-converting feature bullets:
- โSmart security system + video doorbell with mobile alertsโ
- โKeyless smart lock entry on primary doorsโ
- โLeak detection sensors in key plumbing areasโ
- โENERGY STAR smart thermostat for comfort + energy managementโ
- โSmart lighting scenes in main living areasโ
- โMatter-compatible smart devices for easier cross-platform useโ
Avoid:
- Brand salad (โNest + Ring + Hue + random hubโฆโ) without clarity
- Overpromising savings or insurance discounts (say โmay,โ not โwillโ)
- โFully automated home,โ unless itโs truly turnkey and documented
FAQs
Do smart home features increase home value in 2026?
They can, but the bigger win is often: more showings, fewer objections, faster decisions. Features like security, smart locks, and thermostats align closely with buyer priorities in current consumer data.
Whatโs the #1 smart home feature buyers want?
Security. It ranks as the most important smart home feature in Zillowโs prospective buyer data.
Are leak detection sensors worth it for resale?
Yesโbecause they reduce perceived risk. And insurers may reward certain risk-reduction devices, depending on provider and policy.
Should I install smart locks before selling?
Smart locks are a top-tier feature (60% high importance overall; 81% among smart-home enthusiasts) and are trending upward year over year in buyer importance.
What makes a smart home feel โtoo complicatedโ?
Too many apps, unclear device ownership, and unpredictable automations. Prioritize a few high-impact features and document them clearly.
Should I market โMatterโ in my listing?
Only if your devices truly support it. When accurate, it helps neutralize compatibility concerns because Matter is designed to improve cross-ecosystem device compatibility and reduce setup friction.
Bottom line: The 2026 smart home stack that sells
If you do nothing else, prioritize this order:
- Security + video doorbell (buyer #1 priority)
- Smart locks (rising importance; daily-use value)
- Leak detection sensors (risk reduction + insurance-friendly narrative)
- ENERGY STAR smart thermostat (comfort + credible savings story)
- Simple lighting scenes + 1โ2 smart routines (ease, not complexity)
- Interoperability messaging (Matter where applicable) (reduces buyer fear)
If you tell me your property type (condo / SFR / luxury), climate region, and whether itโs owner-occupied or vacant, I can adapt this into a โSmart Home Upgrade Planโ with the exact feature set and listing copy blocks to match your buyer pool.
