From maintenance and rental collection to trash removal and renovations, residential property managers have many balls in the air at the same time. And while it’s wise to prepare for changes in the real estate market, busy property managers may find it difficult to keep up with the demands of their units and follow industry trends. In this edition of our blog, we highlight some top industry trends including the benefits of intercom systems and security cameras for Westchester, NY residential properties.

Lighting control happens every day with the rising and setting of the sun. As light gradually moves across the landscape, we see the earth in a new perspective, and our senses become heightened. The power to control the quality and level of lighting within a given space will not only improve your comfort and enhance the experience but help to save energy as well. Lighting and motorized shade systems provide precise control of daylight – all at the touch of a button. In this edition of our monthly blog, we’ll highlight some of the different Lutron lighting and shade solutions available throughout the different spaces in your Greenwich, Connecticut home.

Over the past few months, you and your family have probably spent a lot of time indoors watching movies, listening to your favorite Pandora station, or curled up on the couch reading the latest New York Times best seller. But as the chill in the air lifts and gray skies give way to bright blue, many people will be stepping out into the sunlight to enjoy their backyards. Outdoor living spaces are not only great places to enjoy while you live in your home, but they will also help attract buyers when you decide to sell. A survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors found that more than half of buyers would pay more for a home with an outdoor living space. We're not talking your traditional deck or patio. Think about outdoor spaces that function more like indoor rooms with comfortable furniture, fire pits, and even televisions and audio systems. What does your backyard look like? Is it time to outfit your outdoor spaces with a home audio and video system?

Consider for a moment the number of connected devices in your home. From smartphones, laptops and tablets to game consoles, security cameras, and now refrigerators, most houses have a plethora of devices, and that number typically grows depending on the amount of children in the home. According to a recent study, the average U.S. household owns 6.6 connected devices. Households with an annual income of $150,000 or more have up to 10 devices. The survey also concluded that the average American household spent $3,800 on connected devices and access to services in 2015.

The only safe prediction about such devices is the numbers per user will continue to grow as will the dollar amount families spend each year. One concern associated with this trend is that smart home products require a solid, reliable networking infrastructure to function at their full potential. The typical home network is made up of an Internet connection to the house that links to a wireless router with which everything else communicates.