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Home Builders Embracing Technology Amenities
Research finds more home builders in 2006 devoting time and
resources to evaluating new technologies, seeking differentiation on
enhanced entertainment options
With the prospect of a tight market in 2006, home builders are
increasingly seeking out new technologies, especially in home networking
and audio distribution, to differentiate their offerings and boost sales,
according to Parks Associates. The leading market research firm studying
“digital living” technologies recently launched its
2006
Builder Insights project and reports that nearly 30% of builders
have employees actively evaluating new technologies for their potential to
improve their business in home sales, up from 25% in 2005.
“Interest rates are up, unsold inventories are high, and competition
among home builders is heating up,” said
Bill Ablondi,
director of home systems research for Parks Associates. “For years,
builders have emphasized amenities like larger kitchens, bigger closets,
and elegant master baths. But in this digital era, lures are expected to
include multiroom audio, home theater, security systems, and structured
wiring, all of which appeal to the new ‘iPod Generation’ of home buyers.”
To gain greater insight into this growing market, Parks Associates, in
partnership with
Hanley Wood, LLC, the premier business-to-business media network
serving North America’s residential and commercial construction
industries, has launched
2006
Builder Insights, a multilevel project surveying builders’ sales
of technology products and services. The project is designed for
manufacturers and service providers to learn about the builders who are
adding technology products to their offerings, the selection criteria they
use to choose products and vendors, and what they need to help merchandise
these amenities. The project includes both a broad-based survey of more
than 500 local, regional, and national home builders and case studies of
selected builders chosen based on their profitable technology sales
strategies.
“Key product categories we are asking about include home theater and
multiroom audio systems, structured wiring, central control and security
systems, and central vacuum systems,”
Ablondi said.
“We also are analyzing current partnerships and future opportunities
between builders and service providers to offer communication, broadband
Internet access, security monitoring, and premium content services.”
2006
Builder Insights also provides builder-sales forecasts for home
theater, multiroom audio, structured wiring, central controls, and
security systems. For more information about
2006
Builder Insights, contact Parks Associates at 972-490-1113 or
sales@parksassociates.com.
About Parks Associates: Parks Associates is an
internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing
in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks
Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to
small start-ups through market reports, primary studies, consumer research,
custom research, workshops, executive conferences, and annual service
subscriptions.
The company's expertise includes new media, digital
entertainment and gaming, home networks, Internet and television services,
digital health, mobile applications and services, consumer electronics, and home
control systems and security.
Each year, Parks Associates hosts executive thought
leadership conferences CONNECTIONS™, in
partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®), and CONNECTIONS™ Europe. In addition, Parks
Associates produces the online publication Industry Insights in
conjunction with the CONNECTIONS™ Conference series.
http://www.parksassociates.com |
http://www.connectionsconference.com |
http://www.connectionseurope.com
|
http://www.connectionsindustryinsights.com
About Hanley Wood: Hanley Wood, LLC, is the premier media company
serving housing and construction. Through five operating divisions, the
company produces award-winning magazines and Web sites, marquee trade
shows and events, rich data and custom marketing solutions. The company
also is North America's leading provider of home plans.
Founded in 1976, Hanley Wood is a $225 million company owned by
JPMorgan Partners, LLC, a private equity affiliate of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
http://www.hanleywood.com |
