Problems with indoor temperatures, air quality and home security are some of the pet peeves Americans have about their homes, according to the Your Home survey, recently released by Honeywell.
The top 10 pet peeves for homeowners are: inconsistent temperature; dust, pet hair and allergens; high utility bills; dry air in the house; window condensation; odors in the house; outdated kitchen; house not secure from break-ins; stuffy rooms/inefficient floor plan (tie); and damp basement.
The survey also found that homeowners like the idea of having more control over their home environments, and they viewed lower energy costs the most important advantage of advances in home technology.
"As we near the new century, the home has become something of a `bunker,' a sanctuary from the fast-paced, stress-filled outside world and a place from which we interact with the rest of the planet," said Mary Meehan of Iconoculture, a trend consultant firm.
Other comfort trends Meehan found in the survey include "fingerprinting" - turning a home into a reflection of the owner's personality. Personalizing a living space can give a homeowner a real sense of being in control. Nearly nine out of 10 survey respondents agreed with that idea.
Meehan also found that most homeowners have a true connection or "soul satisfaction" with their homes. In fact, three out of four homeowners surveyed plan to stay in their current homes for at least another five years.
Health trends were also found in the survey. Homeowners are in search of advanced technologies that raise the bar in a healthy home environment.
"We're more aware of the pollution, chemicals, mold, dander and bacteria that work their way into our homes and bodies," Meehan said.
The need for safety is also important to today's homeowners. The survey found that 98% of homeowners own smoke detectors. Other safety devices such as water temperature regulators, motion-detection lighting, security systems, carbon monoxide sensors, air humidification systems and drinking-water purification systems are also being installed.
Iconoculture predicts that the love-hate relationship consumers have with technology will intensify in the future, with the technological winners determined by their relevance and value to the home. While 79% of homeowners are interested in home technology that improves safety, 69% are interested in such technology that makes life less complicated.
