As the short term rental market continues to grow, property owners are increasingly turning to automation to streamline operations and enhance guest experiences. However, automating a short-term rental requires a different approach than creating a typical smart home. Here are key considerations that set the automation of a rental property apart from a personal smart home setup.
Plan for Longer-Term Vacancies
The biggest difference with a normal smart home and short-term rental is there will likely be periods of vacancy between guests. This means setting up your systems be optimized for vacancies to alert you to issues when the property is empty. Consider automating your main water valve in your home to prevent leaks, or automatically adjusting the HVAC system to make sure you are saving on utilities. Planning for longer-term vacancies can protect your property, lower your utility bills, and alleviate potential maintenance issues that arise from inattention.
Use by Different Guests
One of the most significant differences of a short-term rental is the constant influx of different guests. Unlike a traditional smart home, which is customized to the preferences of the owners, a short term rental property must accommodate a diverse range of needs and expectations. To this end, automation should prioritize versatility, allowing for the guests to make adjustments that cater to different preferences without compromising the overall smart home system.
Typical Routines & Triggers
In a traditional smart home, owners often create routines and triggers based on their daily habits—like turning on lights at a specific time or adjusting the thermostat preemptively for comfort. In a short term rental setting, however, these routines must be rethought.
Since each guest will have their own habits, setting custom routines may not be effective. Instead, consider automation that knows your rental calendar and takes care of your property before, during and between guests. This will ensure your home is set up for guest arrival and automatically shut off when a guest departs.
For example, turning on lights and having the temperature adjusted before a guest arrives provides a great experience. You can also have your smart home system run routines (like turning on outdoor lights) during a guest reservation, but have it skip those routines when the home is vacant.
Device Accessibility
While smart home automation typically allows for easy access to devices and features, short-term rentals require a more secure setup. Certain devices may need to be kept inaccessible to guests to prevent unauthorized changes, or simply curious guests breaking the setup.
Provide controlled access where necessary, like the ability to adjust the temperature but not turn the heat in the home off entirely. You may also have switches or outlets which control things in the home (like heated floors) and you want to be sure to turn these off when guests leave. If guests have access to a wall plug, for example, they may unplug or move it – rendering your smart home setup ineffective.
Turn Off Things Guests Leave On
Guests may unintentionally leave lights, devices, or appliances on after their stay, which can lead to unnecessary energy costs or potential hazards. By using automation based on the operations of a short term rental (i.e. guest bookings, cleaning & maintenance) you can automatically turn these devices off.
For example, smart switches can be programmed to turn off lights, and smart water valves can automatically turn off the water when the home is vacant – preventing any potential water issues when nobody is around.
You don’t want to depend on your guests to do everything, especially critical tasks like water and heat. Everyone – including your cleaning & maintenance staff – forgets things from time-to-time. By automating where possible, you can ensure your home is exactly how you want and need it to be between rentals.
Reset Everything Before Your Next Guest Arrives
Maintaining a consistent guest experience is crucial for short term rental properties, and this is another benefit of automation. After a guest checks out, it’s important to reset all your systems—such as returning the thermostat to the preferred setting, ensuring lights are off, and resetting any locks. It’s the same idea as what the cleaning and maintenance crews do – reset the home to the original condition so it is ready for the next guest.
Automating a short-term rental is distinct from a typical smart home setup due to the unique challenges and opportunities presented by transient guests. By recognizing these differences—such as accommodating varying needs & adjusting routines—you can develop an automation strategy that enhances guest experience while protecting your home. With thoughtful planning and implementation, automation can be a powerful tool in managing your short-term rental, ensuring guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.
