Brookfield Residential, a land developer and homebuilder in North America, has recently announced its new Empower tools designed to provide greater choice in the new-home purchase experience and smart-home performance.

As part of Empower, Brookfield Residential was North America’s first homebuilder to offer buyers on-site, self-guided, interactive tours on demand, at times most convenient for them. The self-guided home tours launched in 2018 in the Washington, D.C. area and Denver markets, offering customers the ease and convenience of on-demand touring, even before or after regular business hours.

Now available in nearly all Brookfield Residential new home communities, this new system, named myTime, allows private access not only to model homes, but to Brookfield Residential’s larger supply of move-in ready “inventory homes.”

Also part of Empower is myCommand, a new voice-automation technology that incorporates three smart home platforms – Amazon, Google and Apple.

“By embracing all major platforms – Amazon, Google and Apple – the technological reach of myCommand greatly heightens flexibility for homeowners,” says Adian Foley, president and COO, Brookfield Residential.

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“At the same time, myTime expands the home-shopping experience with on-demand tours at almost any time, even after hours. While these advancements will deeply impact industry practices, the underlying result is to empower consumers with broad new choices, especially when they need it.”

According to the company, Empower tools give buyers greater security and peace of mind as they view homes in privacy and comfort. The platform also expands access beyond model homes to quick move-in “inventory” homes, including larger homes increasingly in demand. And after move-in, buyers have the ease of enjoying the smart-home system of their choice.

“For example, if a buyer is seeking to relocate to a larger residence that allows them to comfortably work from home, Empower gives them the private, expanded access they need to choose a home, plus whatever smart-home system they prefer when they move in,” adds Foley.

Regional Brookfield Residential offices in both U.S. and Canada report significant increases in year-over-year sales including buyers who work from home. The robust connectivity of myCommand supports dedicated, comfortable spaces for these people to work, study and entertain.

myTime Self-Guided Tours

The self-guided home tours of Brookfield Residential’s myTime program transform new-home shopping. myTime brings the convenience of on-demand access to model homes, comparable to consumer expectations of convenience in other industries, such as ride-sharing with Uber and Lyft.

Customers may register and schedule a tour, including before or after typical business hours. They receive a unique code that opens the smart lock on the tour home. And they reserve the time exclusively for themselves.

Both model homes and move-in-ready inventory homes are offered for myTime visits. While touring, shoppers may interact with a Brookfield Residential team member through video chatting, or they may view the home completely at their own pace.

‘Device Agnostic’ Homes Courtesy of myCommand

Just as myTime expands home-shopping, myCommand expands smart home performance. Brookfield Residential says it is the first national homebuilder to be “device agnostic” – that is, to offer customers a choice among the “big three” platforms: Google Home, Amazon Echo and Apple HomeKit.

In an expanding number of select markets, new homes come ready for buyers to plug-and-play their preferred systems to adjust lighting, shades, temperature, security features, door locks and more.

“With Google, Amazon and Apple each offering different advantages for different preferences, myCommand is now the most comprehensive, secure and convenient smart-home program for new homes in North America,” says Foley. “It arrives at a time when people need it most, for home offices, home tutoring and family entertainment.”

Although myCommand will vary among Brookfield Residential divisions, every home-buyer will have access to smart home options. Local providers will ensure a seamless handoff to the customer, including tutorials and appropriate devices, depending on the customer’s choices.

For example, in the Washington D.C. area, customers can enhance their myCommand features with pre-set packages that personalize their new home’s technology. A smart home expert helps them navigate technologies, gives tutorials and compares the benefits of each platform choice. The smart home expert is then available for 18 months to ensure continued support after move in.