INTELLIGENT SECURITY
Not surprisingly, much of the conversation regarding security in today’s luxury homes focuses on technology. And while advancements have led to systems that can cost just a few hundred dollars, that doesn’t mean wealthy homeowners are spending less. Kevin Klinger, a partner with Savane Properties, a custom builder in Chicago whose average home sells for around $8 million, has witnessed this evolution. “The systems we used to install were fairly basic, costing around $25,000. Today, it’s not uncommon for our clients to spend $200,000. People are doing very high-end security with equally high-end interfaces. Everything is literally at your fingertips to manage and run,” Klinger says. One advancement is AI software built into surveillance cameras, notes Kelley Wunder, general manager of Chicago-based Premiere Systems, one of Savane’s preferred low-voltage contractors. The software can establish a perimeter around a property and detect when that perimeter is crossed. It can also distinguish between people, animals and objects to reduce false alarms. Acoustic sensing technology picks up the sound of breaking glass or gunshots. These systems communicate directly with emergency management as well as sending alerts to the homeowner.
To better secure waterfront properties, Fortune’s Elmer notes that radar technology is now being used to monitor approaching boats. “You have $100 million oceanfront properties in Palm Beach that will absolutely have this technology,” he says.
Intelligent security systems incorporating biometrics – facial and fingerprint recognition – are also gaining traction in residential use, according to Maxime Dubus, managing director of Geneva-based SPG One SA, the exclusive Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate for French-speaking Switzerland. “Switzerland is at the forefront of integrating such systems, appealing to homebuyers looking for a unique blend of discretion and modernity. While biometrics are more common in the super-luxury segment, their popularity is starting to reach mainstream luxury properties, too,” says Dubus.
Intelligent tech, such as facial recognition software and fingerprint scanners, is becoming more common in luxury homes in Switzerland, says Maxime Dubus, Managing Director of SPG One Christie’s International Real Estate. (VINKO MURKO)
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