Quick Bits: 10 Experts Predict What Pandemic-Era Home Tech Stays Popular

Industry Insiders Answer: “What home tech trend that started during the pandemic do you think will have the most long-lasting appeal?”

Over the past two years, home tech professionals have been busier than ever as their homeowner clients have turned to them to improve the indoor and outdoor entertainment and work-from-home spaces. We recently asked 10 of these professionals to weigh in on which of these technologies that they see sticking around, even as the pandemic spending spree winds down and their clients go back to work in the office, start taking holiday trips again, and go out for the entertainment, rather than staying at home.

“We have all seen the convenience and success of remote video conferencing, and most of us have adopted it as a daily part of life. We have also witnessed the struggles from users when they have a poor Wi-Fi connection. With video conferencing continuing to grow in popularity, so must powerful wired and wireless networks in the home and office.”

– Christopher Sterle, Acoustic Design Systems, Las Vegas, NV

“We have come back to the home as a place of rest and relaxation. Being ‘stuck’ at home during the pandemic inspired upgrades in all things AV – networking, new displays, updated sound, and even some play zones like golf simulators. As we move into the new normal, I don’t think we will leave that behind. We have rediscovered our houses, and I see the upgrades continuing.”

– Heather Sidorowicz, Southtown Audio Video, Hamburg, NY

“Now, people are more aware of the light in their space and how it makes them look and feel. Prior to the pandemic, we weren’t doing Zoom calls during the peak sun times of the day from home offices. Clients are asking about how we can control the sunlight coming in, so they don’t have glare on their screens mid-day, and they don’t have to endure the heat in a room with direct sunlight. Shades and lighting are BIG conversations right now for us with our clients.”

– Amanda Wildman, TruMedia, Ada, MI

“More and more people are expanding their outdoor living areas. After getting a taste of how amazing of an oasis you can create for listening to music by the patio fireplace to watching a TV that pops up from the ground by the pool, surrounded by landscape lighting, entertaining outdoors will be a lasting trend.”

– Angel Centeno, Systems Design & Integration, Needham, MA

“The lack of live music has been the catalyst for more outdoor audio systems, and having first-run movies available on streaming platforms has opened the door for more outdoor TVs and projection systems than ever before. I think we’ll see this trend continue, as so many people have discovered the value of professional outdoor audio, video, and control systems.”

– Kat Wheeler, Snap One, Columbus, OH

“Five years ago, if you gave someone a proposal for a $5,000 network, they would question that a lot. Now, clients have no problem spending that amount of money because they finally realize how important a reliable network is for their kids’ schoolwork, their own business communication, and Zoom calls.”

– Tony Fabrick, Xtend Technologies, Broadview Heights, OH

“We’ve seen an amazing trend toward outdoor audio and TVs – extending how they can be outside and enjoying that space. In the past, it might have been a couple of speakers, but now they want a whole outdoor entertainment package. It’s even more notable because we’re in Minnesota where there are a limited number of months when these systems can be comfortably experienced.”

– Jodi Erkens, Audio Video Extremes, Waite Park, MN

“What has stood out to me is the increased focus on family lifestyle in the home. Before, it was “How many places can we visit in the world?” Improving networks, theater spaces, and landscape lighting are all the byproducts of a trend toward spending time at home with the family that I think will continue.”

– David Wexler, EOC Audio, Lisle, IL

“It’s never been easier to sell a high-quality network. You don’t have to justify it anymore. People got a really quick lesson in how important their network was when everyone was at home, working from areas of the residence that maybe before weren’t seen as critical for getting on Wi-Fi coverage.”

– Lance Anderson, Admit One Home Systems, Edina, MN

“Networks are the biggest change from a price standpoint. We are recommending robust solutions like Access Networks, which are two to three times the cost of a typical consumer system. We just have to make clients aware of the unseen network demands that are occurring. I’ll also add that outdoor entertainment solutions also have gotten much better with high-performance audio from CAT, Coastal Sources, and Origin.”

– Greg Margolis, HomeTronics, Dallas, TX

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