INDIANAPOLIS, August 23, 2016 - Some American cities are 'smarter' than others according to a new Angie's List (NASDAQ: ANGI) survey that asked who's actually using the 'smart' technology in their homes.

'Safety and saving money are big reasons homeowners are turning to technology but it was kind of fun to see that even more people admit they want to be in that early adopter class to impress their friends,' said Angie's List Founder Angie Hicks.

On a more practical note, Hicks pointed out that as the U.S. housing market continues to heat up, technological updates will likely be trending upward along with it. A study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University says home automation is predicted to be the No. 2 trend in residential remodeling over the next five to 10 years.

Some homeowners can successfully tackle do-it-yourself installation - 35 percent of those surveyed said they installed their own smart products. For those not skilled in this area, Hicks suggests looking for home automation experts as carefully as they would any other important home improvement project.

Angie's List recently revamped its membership platform, offering a free membership tier to help homeowners find the best service providers in the business, including electricians and home security installation experts.

'You want to make sure your technician is qualified to do the work and can properly connect all of your devices so you get the home automation experience you want,' she said. 'You should want to 'wow' yourself with this investment as much as anybody.'

Angie's List conducted the online survey of more than 5,000 consumers in March, asking how many ''smart' tech devices they had in their homes and how many they actively used, as well as how many they wanted.

The most common 'smart' home products? Televisions (41 percent) followed by thermostats (23 percent) home alarms (17 percent), refrigerators (16 percent) and audio systems (13 percent.)

The survey revealed the 'smartest' cities as:

  1. Baltimore, Maryland
  2. Austin, Texas
  3. San Jose, California
  4. Fresno, California
  5. Albuquerque, New Mexico
  6. Memphis, Tennessee
  7. Houston, Texas
  8. Oakland, California
  9. Omaha, Nebraska
  10. El Paso, Texas

Key findings from the Angie's List 'Smartest Cities' survey include:

  • People want to impress their guests: Thirty percent of respondents (18 percent men) reported having smart home technology because they are techies and want to be on the cutting edge. Fifteen percent of men reported having indoor 'smart' lighting and 17.5 percent have a 'smart' audio system.
  • Home security is top of mind: Twenty-seven percent of people surveyed want smart products to increase their family's safety and security, and 17 percent reported actually having a smart home alarm/security system.
  • Saving money is a main reason for adopting smart home technology: Twenty-four percent of people surveyed want smart products to help save money by using energy more efficiently and 14 percent want smart products to help them be more eco-friendly.

About Angie's List

Angie's List helps facilitate happy transactions between more than three million consumers nationwide and its collection of highly rated service providers in 720 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to health care. Built on a foundation of more than 10 million verified reviews of local service, Angie's List connects consumers directly to its online marketplace of services from member-reviewed providers, and offers unique tools and support designed to improve the local service experience for both consumers and service professionals.

CONTACT: Cheryl Reed at 317-396-9134 or cherylr@angieslist.com

Angie's List Inc. published this content on 23 August 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 24 August 2016 15:09:03 UTC.

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