In a coastal area where extremes in wind and rain and hot and cold are all fairly common, wouldn’t it be nice to have a home that’s both extremely smart and extra sturdy?
Cyndi Nance, a realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, knows just where to find such a home.
Nance happens to be the listing agent for a newly constructed townhome in Virginia Beach’s North End – just steps from the Atlantic Ocean. Located at 100 67th Street this “smart home” is decked-out with all the modern bells and whistles, while also being designed to withstand the harshest environmental conditions.
“This house has everything homeowners could want in a modern oceanfront home,” she said. “Not only will it keep them comfortable and save them money every month, but the feeling of safety and security is priceless.”
Among the “bells and whistles” Nance touched on are walls that were built with 2×6 rather than 2×4 studs; reinforced steel structural support and built on a raised and insulated concrete slab; Nichiha one-half inch fiber shake siding on the outside walls; windows with a 110 mph wind warranty; R-19 (instead of R-13) insulation used in the exterior walls and R-38 foam insulation is sprayed onto the rafters of the third floor ceiling; and a gas hot water heater with recirculating pump that learns the homeowner’s usage habits.
To top it off, there’s a backup natural gas generator.
Then there are the home’s brains.
But exactly what is it that makes a smart home, well… smart?
“In my opinion, the term smart home can mean many things,” said Cary Morris, president of Dynamic LV Inc., who headed up the home’s “smart” design. “At the basic level, it is all about integrating one or more systems into a simple-to-use solution for the average homeowner.”
Morris said the goal is to always try and integrate control of, and access to, security, surveillance, climate control, distributed audio, and many other systems into an easy-to-use device that most people already have access to, such as their smartphone or tablet
For instance, at the front door there’s a “Skybell” video doorbell that allows the homeowners — whether they’re home or not — to see who is at the door on their devices.
“To have immediate access to one or more of your home systems, while not being at home, is a very satisfying feeling,” he said. “Also, having access to your various home systems from a tablet at your bedside can also be a great experience.”
Additionally, the home features a built-in security system that covers all the doors and includes motion detectors on the first two floors.
Hardwired network jacks are located throughout the home and wireless routers can be easily added. The jacks, however, are located in closets so that the required equipment can be placed there and only televisions — not the messy stacks of equipment and wires — can be seen.
Morris said there’s also the ability to stream music throughout the home, and with the correct equipment, it can also be controlled from a cell phone or tablet.
Likewise, the HVAC can be controlled remotely.
Although it seems like a home that has everything, Morris said the system was designed to have room for plenty of growth.
For more information about 100 67th Street visit Berkshire Hathaway Home Services.
An Open House is scheduled for Oct. 15 from 2-4 p.m.
