What is the Best Smart Home Technology for Your Vacation Rental?
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Smart home technology makes life easier; there is no question about that. We use technology to improve everyday life; it makes sense that we would also want that in our vacation homes. While there is some overlap between a home you live in and a home you rent to strangers, quite a bit will be different. Here’s a list of the best smart home products for the guests in a Vacation Rental Property. A big thing to remember is that you will want something that is easy to work with, and you want the technology that works without you being in there to fix it.
Wi-Fi and Networking:
Having a strong internet connection is important for any home, but it makes a vacation property even more valuable. The coverage needs to be strong throughout the house, not just in one room. Kids will be streaming shows or playing games on their phones at one end of the house, parents will be checking in on work from their laptops on the other end. These things keep them connected! If there’s a large outside entertainment/pool area, there should be coverage there as well. Wi-Fi boosters are a great option.
TV and Entertainment:
Guests like to watch shows and movies while on vacation. It can be one of the highlights for certain types of vacations. It can also be the best part of a rainy day! Guests also want to have access to THEIR favorite shows. As the homeowner you also don’t want guests messing up your shows and watch history in your accounts. Roku and a smart TV is the best solution for Smart TV. Roku has guest mode, allowing owners to switch mode so guests can sign in to their own apps, and have a scheduled sign-out date. Roku also has all of the major streaming services.
Smart Lighting
You’ll want to make sure electricity is not being wasted when there aren’t guests renting the house. You’ll also want to run to some automation scenes to make it look like the property is occupied when it is vacant for extended periods. Smart lighting is the best option for this.
Thermostats
The thermostat needs to be easy for guests to use, while also easy to control from your home location. Whatever home thermostat system you choose, you should be able to set the temperatures back when the house is unoccupied, and program it to be comfortable when your guests arrive.
Locks and Security
Smart Door Locks: A recent study found that 55% of millennial renters said they would be willing to pay more for a rental unit with high-tech door locks.
Alarm System – You don’t want guests to have to disarm a security system. It’s stressful. But if the property is going to be unoccupied for long periods, you should have a security system that you can control from your phone.
Exterior Security Cameras - Guests do not want to be monitored by security cameras. It comes across as a little creepy. But most vacation homes these days have exterior cameras, or at the very least, doorbell cameras. As the owner, you can use the doorbell camera to notify you when guests come and go. You can also verify the number of guests in your vacation rental.
You can also link your video doorbell to your smart speaker and have it turn your lights on or off as your guests arrive and depart, saving you money and creating a comfortable welcome for them.
If you have a pool, you’ll definitely want to monitor that. So you should have cameras for the driveway at minimum, and a pool if you have one. You should not have cameras that can be easily unplugged by guests. And you can’t use battery-powered cameras that have to be frequently recharged.
We’ve only skimmed the surface for the number of smart technologies and home automation you can add to your vacation rental. Implementing just a few of these modern gadgets to your property can help you to save money and time, as well as increase security, comfort and your rental’s worth. Contact us anytime to talk about the options for your vacation rental.