New whitepaper, in partnership with Cox Communities, addresses emerging smart apartment trends 

Parks Associates’ new whitepaper, Doing IoT Right: Top Practices for Multi-Dwelling Units, reports that almost two-thirds of prospective multi-dwelling unit (MDU) residents report that pre-installation of smart home devices is an important factor when selecting a new home. Currently, 34% of MDU property managers offer internet-connected or smart home devices to residents in at least one property they manage.

The whitepaper, developed in partnership with Cox Communities, a leading provider of internet and property management automation, addresses emerging smart apartment trends across the United States and lays out a roadmap for MDUs to evaluate these solutions. Parks Associates defines “smart apartments” as MDUs that include IoT technology in residential units and across the property. They include a variety of smart amenities and features aimed at residents, staff, and owners.

“Smart apartment device offerings are emerging as a key differentiator for properties in attracting and retaining residents,” said Kristen Hanich, Director, Research, Parks Associates. “An increasing percentage of properties – both new construction and existing properties – are looking to deploy new smart apartment and automation solutions, frequently paired with high-speed internet solutions, largely in response to consumer expectations.”

Parks Associates research of MDU owners and property managers reveals smart MDUs are growing in popularity:

• 57% of MDU managers report having a lighting control system in their largest property, 26% have an energy management/monitoring system, and 13% have a smart home device or IoT platform/hub.
• 44% of properties with energy management systems incorporate internet-connected devices such as smart thermostats and smart lighting into the system for remote monitoring and control.

MDUs have many opportunities in deploying smart apartment technology, but they may underestimate the benefits of these solutions. The use of smart apartment solutions in residential units is a worthwhile investment—it helps to attract desirable tenants and allows MDUs to raise rates and increase ARPU. Over half of MDU renters are willing to pay 15% higher rates for apartments with smart capabilities and amenities.

“Automation solutions are a big deal to folks when they move,” said Vickie Rodgers, VP and GM, Cox Communities. “So what are they looking for when they move? They want it to be easy. They want things to be pre-enabled, so they don't have the hassle and wait. And it's starting to become table stakes for renters.”

Cox Communities is participating at the Broadband Communities Summit this week, May 2-5, 2022, at the Marriott Marquis in Houston, Texas.

About Parks Associates

Parks Associates, a woman-founded and certified business, is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates provides business intelligence and research services through its proprietary methodologies developed over decades, including quarterly surveys of 10,000 internet households.

The company's expertise crosses many industries: home security and smart home, streaming video, broadband and pay-TV services, digital media and platforms, gaming, Wi-Fi and home networks, connected health, support, consumer electronics, home control systems, energy management, and tech solutions for the multi-dwelling (MDU), small-to-medium business (SMB), and commercial building markets.

Each year, Parks Associates brings thousands of leaders together for its webinars and annual events. The firm hosts the annual executive research and strategy conferences CONNECTIONS™, Connected Health Summit, Smart Energy Summit, Smart Spaces, and Future of Video. https://www.parksassociates.com

Follow Parks Associates on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.