One of the traditional ways to keep an eye on your vacation rental property is to hire a Home Watch Service. This usually involves someone stopping by the property every week or two when it is vacant to check on things and make sure everything is okay. While these can be valuable services, we think it is more important to have 24/7 automated monitoring using smart home technology.
Read more below on the differences in these services and why we recommend prioritizing smart home technology for your short term rental property (or for a vacation property that you don’t rent short term).
Home watch services involve professionals who monitor and inspect a property during the owner’s absence, ensuring everything is secure and functioning correctly.
- Physical Inspections: Regular visits to the property to identify potential issues.
- Maintenance Oversight: Monitoring of essential systems and arranging repairs as needed.
- Emergency Response: Immediate action during emergencies like security breaches or maintenance failures.
- Personalized Reports: Detailed updates about the property’s condition and any concerns observed during visits.
- Cost: Involves ongoing fees based on the frequency and level of services required, which can add up over time.
- Availability: Dependence on whether professionals are available during emergencies, especially if immediate action is needed.
- Service Quality: Varies by provider; researching and selecting reputable services is essential for trustworthiness and reliability.
- Limited Real-Time Monitoring: While professionals conduct inspections regularly, there may be gaps in monitoring between visits, potentially allowing issues to develop.
Smart home technology comprises internet-connected smart devices that automate tasks, enhance security, and enable remote monitoring of a property.
- Automation: Ability to set schedules and automate functions like lighting, temperature control, and security systems.
- Remote Access: Homeowners can monitor their property in real-time, receiving alerts for unusual events.
- Integration: Devices can work together seamlessly within a smart home ecosystem like SmartThings
- Custom Alerts: Notifications for specific occurrences, such as motion detection or environmental changes.
- Initial Investment: Requires a one-time purchase of devices, which can be significant, especially for comprehensive setups.
- Technical Dependence: Relies on a stable internet connection and functioning devices; outages can disrupt monitoring capabilities (Starlink has redefined connectivity in many areas)
- Security Risks: Devices may be vulnerable to hacking if not properly secured, requiring vigilance in maintaining network security (our recommendations for smart home protocols and devices will help minimize security risks)
- Learning Curve: May require time and effort to set up and customize with various devices and integrations (although Rental Home Automator provides you with all of this guidance)
Our Recommendation
While having a person stop by your property on a regular basis has its advantages, it can be difficult to find reliable people who provide the service and the ongoing cost can make it prohibitive. Imagine a scenario where your Home Watch Service is a couple of days late or a pipe breaks right after they leave – your home could be subject to catastrophic water damage in these scenarios (it has happened to us before).
The 24/7 monitoring and alerts provided by smart home technology are really important, especially in a property that isn’t occupied all the time (as with most vacation or short-term rental properties). Not only does it help you keep track of what is going on at your property, you can make things convenient for maintenance and repair people, as well as hosting guests by automating routine tasks.
Both home watch services and smart home technology offer unique advantages and considerations that cater to different homeowner needs. Home watch services provide personalized oversight and reactive measures, making them suitable for those valuing human interaction and attention to detail. In contrast, smart home technology offers automation and real-time monitoring, appealing to those seeking convenience and control from afar. When deciding between the two or considering a combination, you should start with the Smart Home Devices and then add in the Home Watch Services if you want another level of monitoring on your property.
