As an Airbnb host, one of the best ways to stay ahead of the competition is by making your guests feel at home. With smart devices, your guests can check themselves in, catch up on their favorite TV shows, and more. Smart devices will also increase your security and lower your energy bills, especially in between bookings. Here are the best smart home devices for your Airbnb property and how they can help you and your guests have a better experience.
Before you start:
In order to function properly, all smart devices require a strong, reliable WiFi connection at the location where they are installed. For example, if you want to add a video doorbell to your Airbnb property, you’ll need a download speed of 2Mbps or greater at your front door.
To make things easy for you, HelloTech is offering a special deal for Airbnb hosts. You can save big on smart home devices with our Airbnb hosting bundles, and we’ll send one of our professional technicians to your property to install all your devices as soon as today.
Smart Lock to Automate Your Airbnb
Getting the keys to guests can be the most challenging part of being an Airbnb host. Physical keys can go missing, and lockbox codes are easy for guests to forget. But a smart lock solves all those problems and allows your guests to check themselves in using their smartphone or a keypad.
Some smart locks will automatically generate “digital keys” for each booking. These unique keys only last from check-in to check-out time, at which point, they automatically expire. This gives you the option to go completely “keyless” with your Airbnb property. You can even create “trigger events” to send digital keys to your housecleaners right after your guests leave.
Of course, smart locks allow you to lock and unlock your door remotely if guests are having problems. And you’ll receive alerts when your door is left unlocked for long periods of time. Most smart locks are also tamper-proof, and you’ll receive a notification in the event that someone tries to break in to your home.
If you’re ready to upgrade to a smart lock, we recommend the fourth-generation WiFi Smart Lock from August because it integrates directly with the Airbnb app. HelloTech has thousands of technicians across the country who can install your smart lock for you. We’ll even stick around to help you set everything up in the app and answer any questions you have.
Video Doorbell to See Your Guests
Video doorbells have smart cameras built-in, so you can see when your guests arrive from your smartphone. However, since the camera is pointing outside and away from your home, video doorbells won’t invade your guests’ privacy or violate Airbnb policies.
Airbnb has pretty strict policies when it comes to installing security cameras in bathrooms, bedrooms, and sleeping areas. And you will have to disclose any video doorbells in your Airbnb listing. But video doorbells only capture your guests as they enter and exit. This way, you can verify when guests are throwing parties or bringing pets inside when they shouldn’t.
Video doorbells also have motion detectors, and they can automatically record a short clip whenever someone approaches your home. You can monitor your property live or watch the recorded clips the next day. There are also built-in speakers and microphones, so guests can easily reach out to you when they can’t get inside.
If you’re looking to install a video doorbell, we suggest the Ring Video Doorbell 4. This 2021 model can be connected to your existing doorbell wiring, or you can set it up anywhere wirelessly. With its color “pre-roll” feature, this new video doorbell will start recording four seconds before motion is even detected.
Smart Thermostat to Save Money and Energy
Installing a smart thermostat can make your guests feel more comfortable and save you a lot of money. These eco-friendly devices give your guests more control over the temperature during their stay. And, when they leave, you can turn off your thermostat from your smartphone.
Read More: How to save money and energy with smart home
Guests and housecleaners can easily forget to turn off the thermostat before they leave. By upgrading to a smart thermostat, you can change the temperature from your smartphone or create a schedule to automate everything. This way, you won’t end up heating and cooling an empty home in between bookings.
There are even smart thermostats that come with room temperature sensors, so you don’t waste energy heating or cooling empty rooms. Overall, the average household saves 10-12% on energy bills with a smart thermostat, which means the device should pay for itself in about a year.
If you want to upgrade your thermostat, we suggest the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium. This 2022 model works with all smart home systems, and it automatically adjusts the temperature when no one is home. HelloTech has thousands of technicians across the country who can come to your Airbnb property and install your smart thermostat for you as soon as today.
Smart Smoke Detectors to Protect Your Airbnb Home
A smart smoke detector is one of the best smart devices for Airbnb hosts because it will send you an alert when a fire breaks out or your batteries are about to die. These smart devices work just like regular smoke detectors with loud alarms and flashing lights.
Read More: The best smart home smoke detectors
Airbnb asks all property listings to “be equipped with smoke alarms, and equipped with carbon monoxide alarms if the listings have fuel burning devices.” So, you should look for a device that does both at once.
If you are looking to upgrade your smoke detectors, we recommend the Google Nest Protect. This smart device has a “Split-Spectrum Sensor,” which can detect both slow- and fast-burning fires, as well as carbon monoxide.
However, if you have a Ring Protect membership, then the First Alert Z-Wave Smoke Detector & Carbon Monoxide Alarm is the best choice for Airbnb hosts. When paired with the Ring Alarm system, emergency services will automatically be called when a fire breaks out on your property and no one answers the phone.
Smart Home Speakers
When it comes to providing smart home entertainment for your Airbnb guests, smart speakers are the best devices to start with. These cheap devices are just like regular speakers, but they have smart assistants built-in, with the most popular options being Alexa, Google, and Siri.
Adding smart speakers to your Airbnb property allows guests to set alarms, ask questions, and control your other smart devices with simple voice commands. For example, they can say, “Alexa, set an alarm for 10:00 AM,” or “Hey Google, what’s the weather like tomorrow?” or “Hey Siri, turn the temperature to 70 degrees.”
Smart Lights
Smart light bulbs are some of the easiest devices to add to your Airbnb property, and guests love them. When paired with compatible smart speakers, your guests can set the perfect mood by asking Alexa to dim the lights, turn them off, or change the color.
If your property has large outdoor spaces, you might want to consider installing outdoor lights with motion detectors, especially to light up any pathways. With these colorful lights, you can create any kind of atmosphere you want, and they will automatically turn off when everyone goes inside.
Read More: The best smart light bulbs
Smart TV or Streaming Device
Nothing will make your Airbnb guests feel more at home than a smart TV. All they need to do is sign in to their accounts on Netflix, Hulu, or whichever streaming service they use. Then they can pick up right where they left off watching at home. And, maybe more importantly, they can keep their kids busy with the kind of content they feel comfortable with.
If you don’t want to buy a whole new TV, you can just get a cheap streaming device to turn your regular TV into a smart TV. These devices usually require you to have an HDMI port and a strong WiFi connection.
Read More: The best streaming devices
Mesh WiFi System
One of the most important things guests look for in an Airbnb listing is a fast WiFi connection. If you have a large property, you might want to consider upgrading your router. With a “mesh WiFi system,” you can eliminate WiFi dead zones in any room and boost your connection across your whole home.
Read More: What is mesh WiFi system?
If your guests are complaining about weak WiFi in any room, HelloTech is here to help. Our professional technicians can come to your property and help you set up your WiFi network, run all your Ethernet cables through the walls, and boost your internet speed and range.