If you aren’t already automating things at your short term rental or Airbnb, you should start looking into it right away. The technology is available to automate a lot of the safety and security – as well as comfort settings – of your property so guests can enjoy your property and give you fantastic reviews.
Importantly, you can use SmartThings for their connectivity, automations & integrations without buying any specific hardware to get started. Getting started is easy, and we outline the steps in this article: Using SmartThings to automate your short-term rental property.
Here are the top reasons why SmartThings should be your choice for a home automation platform:
1. Segmentation of Personal Information
Most importantly, SmartThings is the only ecosystem we have found that is designed to allow compartmentalization of access and information. This is critical for short-term rental properties, because you should not provide access to your personal Google, Apple or Amazon account to your guests.
This is probably the biggest reason to stay away from the other automation platforms, because those platforms are designed to integrate into your primary accounts, manage shopping lists, orders and subscriptions. A huge amount of risk is created if you use one of those platforms in a short-term rental where guests may be able to gain access to parts of your account through your smart devices.
SmartThings locations can and should be setup with a dedicated account for one or more short-term rental locations, and can then be shared with you or your staff’s personal account(s) so you can manage the locations without risking providing access to your personal information or personal devices. We discuss this in more detail in our step-by-step guides.
2. Device Compatibility
SmartThings is renowned for its ability to support a vast array of smart home devices from numerous brands and manufacturers. This extensive compatibility opens up a world of possibilities for users, allowing them to build a tailored smart home ecosystem without being limited to specific manufacturers. While Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Amazon Alexa also support a range of devices, SmartThings leads in terms of the sheer number and variety of compatible products (especially if you get a hub to enable Z-Wave and Zigbee devices).
SmartThings excels in its ability to integrate devices from different manufacturers into one cohesive system. This integration is especially beneficial for users who own various brand products that they want to control under a single interface. For instance, a SmartThings user could easily combine products from multiple manufacturers and use them in a single interface. This flexibility contrasts with other platforms that might prioritize devices within their brand ecosystem, which can limit choices for users looking for specific functionalities or aesthetics.
We’ve put together a list of the devices we’d recommend to use in your smart short term rental property. See our recommended devices arrow_forward
3. Available Smart Hub
Adding a smart hub, like the Aeotec Smart Home Hub Gen 3, to your setup will give you a centralized gateway for managing devices that utilize different communication protocols. The hub allows you to connect and control Zigbee, Z-Wave and Thread devices alongside Wi-Fi and Matter products, creating a unified system that enhances overall functionality.
The SmartThings platform has an open design concept as the core, so it means almost any device can be added. This has distinct advantages over other ecosystems which also utilize hubs, like the Aqara ecosystem. Although Aqara has some amazing devices, it limits you to only the devices in their ecosystem – whereas with SmartThings you can use almost any devices on the market that fit your needs.
4. Future-Proofing
The SmartThings platform continues to evolve as part of Samsung’s broader commitment to advancing smart home technology. One of the most popular SmartThings hubs, the Aeotec Smart Home Hub Gen 3, has built in radios which support the most popular smart home protocols including Z-Wave, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, and most importantly Matter & Thread. With its support for all these protocols, especially the upcoming Matter smart home standard, it is an ideal choice which should be future-proof. Hosts investing in this platform can feel confident that their systems will evolve alongside technological advancements, maintaining their home’s efficiency and functionality over time.
5. User-Friendly Interface
The SmartThings app features an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes it accessible for users of all technical skill levels. Adding new devices is straightforward, with guided setup processes that ensure devices connect quickly and easily. The platform provides all the information from these devices to the Rental Home Automator dashboard so you can monitor the status of all connected devices at a glance and manage settings effortlessly. This ease of use can significantly enhance the user experience, particularly for newcomers to smart home technology who may find some other ecosystems overwhelming or complex.
6. Flexible Automation
The Rental Home Automator app integrates seamlessly with SmartThings, giving you all the tools you need to automate & monitor your smart short term rental property. Creating a smart home at a short term rental or Airbnb is different from creating a typical smart home for personal use, which we discuss in this article. SmartThings can work with Rental Home Automator behind the scenes to control everything at your property while still giving your guests the ability to control and adjust things to their liking.
Overall, SmartThings stands out for their extensive compatibility, flexibility in automation, robust integration capabilities, and security benefits. Paired with the Aeotec Hub, it makes a powerful and open system to manage your smart home and gives you lots of options for future expansion. While Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Amazon Alexa offer valuable functionalities within their ecosystems, SmartThings provides a more inclusive and secure platform that allows you to pick and choose what devices work best and how they are accessed – which is especially important in a short term rental scenario.
Want to learn more about which smart home automation protocol you should use at your short term rental?
