Changing Tech DemographicsUp until the last year or two, home builders have been largely ignoring seniors, or should we say, active adults, as potential purchasers of home technology. Builders should take a closer look.

  • By Steve Zurier

Up until the last year or two, home builders have been largely ignoring seniors, or should we say, active adults, as potential purchasers of home technology. Builders should take a closer look.

A report recently released by the Internet Home Alliance Research Council (IHA-RC) points out an important truth: Moving forward, when it comes to wanting technology in their new homes, there's really no difference between Baby Boomers and the Gen Xer and Echo Boomer groups.

According to the report, 70 percent of adults in the 50 to 64 age group are online. This is only about 12 percentage points less than those in the 18 to 29 age range.

The IHA-RC's Tim Woods says what this means to home builders is that the model has changed. Just about everyone wants technology in their new homes, and in five years when the people who are 45 today join the 50 to 64-year-old demographic, installing home technology in the home will simply be standard.

"Builders have to stop thinking about technology as a luxury," says Woods. "Technology is going from a 'nice to have' to a 'must have,'" he explains, pointing out that when he moves into a retirement home the last thing he's going to want is to have to go out to a Best Buy and install a wireless router.

"I'll want wireless built in to the home and will want to roll it into my mortage," he says.

One interesting tidbit from the executive summary is that 68 percent of boomers have broadband and 47 percent have Wi-Fi. While most homeowners set up the Wi-Fi themselves, 30 percent had it done by a cable, phone, or computer service company. Only 4 percent of Wi-Fi set-ups were done by the builder--but the report insists they could be.

Even if you don't want to do it yourself, work with a local integrater and start thinking about putting together a series of good, better, best home technology packages in your model home.

In five years when the first Gen Xers start turning 50 and we've worked our way out of the current downturn, you'll be glad you did. If you don't believe me, talk to your kids.