By adding smart home automation devices to vacation properties, vacation owners and landlords could save a lot of money in utility bills, increase home security, and be able to conveniently manage various parts of the properties such as lighting, security, HVAC, and others using a smartphone.

Plus, many future tenants will most likely be accustomed to living in a home with smart devices. According to IHS Markit, the installed base of smart home devices grew by over 161 million units from 2010 to 2016. That’s a lot of smart home devices and at the rate technology is expanding nowadays don’t be surprised if that number grows even more as the years go by. This means that there’s a good chance that future tenants will be seeking vacation rentals that include smart home devices as part of the rental property amenities.

Landlords and vacation rental owners don’t need to add every type of home automation system all at once, unless of course they want to. But there are several devices to consider at first that will make life easier for both renters and property managers alike.

Smart Locks

Not having to worry about handing out keys to new tenants or changing out locks due to keys being lost could be a great reason to add smart locks to a vacation rental. Smart locks will allow vacation rental owners to create unique, temporary entry codes for tenants, plus, since most smart locks can be controlled via a smartphone it will be easier to manage the locks remotely. Smart locks can also be integrated with other home automation systems such as smart lighting control and home security, which means you can create a scene that turns on the hallway light and turns off the security system as soon as the smart lock at the front door is unlocked.

Lighting Control: Indoors and Outdoors

Adding smart lighting control can not only reduce the utility bill, but also add another layer of home security. To keep potential home burglars from breaking into vacation rentals when they’re not being rented, property managers can set their smart lights in vacation mode. This means that indoor and outdoor lights can be programmed to turn on at night so that it looks like someone is home. Occupancy sensors can also be installed in rooms that aren’t used a lot, such as the laundry room. So when a renter enters the room, the occupancy sensor will detect movement and the lights will turn on. When the room is empty and movement is no longer detected, the lights will turn off.

Security System

Adding a home security system to a vacation rental is really a no-brainer, especially since some rental properties can be vacant for long periods of time. There are many security systems to consider, just keep in mind to respect your tenants privacy since a lot of security systems allow video feeds to be viewed remotely using a smartphone. Depending on your property, you can have a professional integrator install a pro-grade security system or if you’re tech-savvy you can add a DIY security system on your own. The Qolysis IQ Panel system is something to keep an eye on since it’s pretty much an all-in-one home automation system that includes home security features (as well as lighting control, intercom, home management, and more).

Smart Thermostats

Like smart lighting, smart thermostats can keep energy costs low when rental properties are vacant. By adding a smart thermostat to a vacation rental, you can have various rooms set to certain temperatures at different times of the day. You can also integrate motion sensors with smart thermostats so that when motion is detected in a room, the temperature is turned on and either raised or decreased. There are also smart thermostats that can be controlled using a smartphone, making it easy for property managers to control the thermostat remotely. If the tenants accidentally leave the AC on after they check out, the property manager can easily turn it off from a different location. 

Smoke and Heat Detectors

Keep your tenants safe and know if your vacation rental is up in flames by adding smoke and heat detectors to your property. Unfortunately, accidents do occur and tenants can easily cause a fire by leaving the stove on too long, or if they’re smokers they can accidentally drop their lit cigarette butts on the property. There’s always a chance that a fire can happen. Some smoke and heat detectors can also be integrated with a home security system, which will provide real-time alerts both on the property via an audible siren and/or remotely to a smartphone.

Music Distribution

If vacation rental owners and landlords want to make their vacation properties more appealing they should definitely consider adding a home music distribution system. I think it’s safe to assume that most renters would appreciate having the ability to play music both indoors and outdoors while vacationing. There are a variety of audio distribution kits that come with in-ceiling speakers, audio distribution modules, and bluetooth local input modules. Renters can connect their smartphones to an audio distribution system and play music from their own devices. The Juke Audio Wireless Audio Distribution and the VSSL Wireless Audio Distribution are great systems to consider.

Want to add smart devices to your vacation rental property? Home Controls can help. Just call our toll-free number at 858-693-8887 (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific, Monday – Friday) for free tech support and product advice.