Technology asset for adults aiming to age in home

There are numerous ways that technology can update a home and make it more attractive to potential owners.

And Pennsylvania Realtor® Melanie McLane wants to help you understand how. She will be teaching four classes at Triple Play next month, with two focusing on working with aging adults in the real estate industry, and how technology can help.

“Some adults want to age in place, there are so many things with a smart house that are specifically made to help older people. There are apps that can remind a homeowner to lock their doors, or check the refrigerator for them while they are at the store to see if they need milk,” said McLane.

McLane said technology is “embraced” by younger homeowners, who tend to use it more for entertainment. “However, we are going to see more and more of smart technology as it gets more mainstreamed. Technology gets faster, smaller and cheaper. As agents, you need to know what is in a house. If you list a house that has smart home features, tell your clients to show you everything in the house and explain it how it works. If you want to show that listing, understand what you’re selling. A home with smart features should sell for more money,” she said.

In addition to presenting on helping aging homebuyers and owners, McLane will also be sharing her expertise in investing in real estate as an agent. “If you’re not selling to investors, you are missing a huge chunk of this market. To talk to investors, you need to understand the language and what they are interested in. I also talk about investing on your own as a Realtor®. We are in a business where not everyone has a retirement plan, but real estate is a wonderful investment for retirement,” she said.

In her final class, McLane will focus on how homes are constructed, and what you, as Realtors®, need to know to better assist your sellers and buyers.

“It’s very exciting for me to be presenting at TriplePlay,” said McLane. “There are always new things in our industry.”

McLane will be presenting Real Estate Investing: Build Wealth Representing Investors and Becoming One Yourself on Monday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Age in Place: Accessible Design, Smart Houses and You on Wednesday, Dec 6 from 9 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 5 p.m. and Anatomy of a House on Thursday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon.