A recent report from Escapia found that smart homes will grow to be a bigger vacation rental decision factor. In fact, the report quoted Richard Lang, Vice President of Sales at Dormakaba (a leading smart home technology company): “The penetration rate for home automation is currently at 32% of U.S. households, with a predicted rise to 53.1% by 2022.” The report continued to note that 86% of millennials and 65% of boomers will pay more for high-tech amenities.
So, what are these amenities? “Security and monitoring features are among the most in-demand amenities for smart living,” Lang says. “Consumers rank smart locks and alarms (63%), smart thermostats and fans (63%), and smart lighting (58%) as especially desirable.” Implement this trend in your vacation rental now while it is on the rise and stay competitive. We found affordable Amazon products for each of Lang’s listed categories.
Security and Monitoring Features
Security features will give vacation rental owners as well as guests peace of mind. Here are some affordable features to consider:
Ring 5 Piece Wireless Security System
This system comes with a 5-piece kit including a base station, contact sensor, motion detector, keypad, and range connector. You can get professional monitoring for $10 per month and it works with the Ring app.
These environmentally-friendly and weather-proof motion sensors come with a 270 degree illumination range and 3 different lighting modes.
Smart Locks
Not only are smart locks a desirable quality, but they are also a convenient way to securely give guests access to your property. Here are a few options on how to implement this:
Schlage Camelot Keypad Deadbolt
This keypad deadbolt comes with the option of a key or a code, so you have flexibility. Plus, it comes in six colors and is highly secure, boasting 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Kwikset Kevo Touch-to-Open Bluetooth Smart Lock
This smart lock makes your smartphone your new key with the options to purchase fobs or digital keys instead. Key access can be reset at any time, and SmartKey technology enables users to manage locks remotely.
Smart Thermostats and Fans
Smart thermostats are fantastic for landlords will enable remote programming as well as provide you with weekly and monthly energy reports. Smart fans can also be managed remotely, and some are even energy efficient. Here’s what we suggest:
Nest Thermostat
This thermostat is wildly popular for a reason. It is wi-fi enabled, energy saving, and can be scheduled.
No need to buy all new ceiling fans to implement smart fans. This Bond device will allow you to add smart functions to your ceiling fans and is Alexa and Google-certified.
Smart Lighting
Smart light bulbs can be more energy efficient and have a longer life span, so though costly upfront will pay off in the long run. Here is a starter kit we really like:
Element Classic Starter Kit by Sengled
This kit can be easily installed to any lamps and fixtures in your vacation rental. Plus, it saves 80% on energy, and comes with different lighting options and schedules, which can be controlled remotely.
For more vacation rental items and tips, see our "Vacation Rental" section of our blog. For additional resources to help you grow your rental portfolio, see our Resources Page.
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