According to a new report released by Parks Associates, Dallas, increased competition in the market for residential construction, combined with consumer demand for new technologies in the home, will inevitably drive more home builders to offer pre-installed home networks over the next few years.
The study, Networks@Home: Home Builders and Networking Wiring indicates that as many as 48% of all new homes will be pre-wired with structured wiring solutions by the end of 2004. Analysts also estimate the market for structured wiring installations in new starts will exceed $1 billion during the same time frame.
"Many home builders have embraced wired home networks to create product differentiation," says Kurt Scherf, vice president of research and coauthor of the report. "As consumers become increasingly aware of the possibilities inherent in home networking and home control applications, the infrastructure necessary to facilitate these products and services fully will evolve from an option to a requirement in their new homes."
Several factors contribute to the growth of structured wiring installation, including a more informed home-buyer market, trends toward master-planned communities, and the competitive nature of the industry. Furthermore, consumers are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about technology, especially as their dependence on high-tech amenities increases.
For more information on the report, contact Steve Harvey at (972) 490-1113 or e-mail harvey@parksassociates.com.