How to maintain your property from afar while ensuring an outstanding guest experience
Smart HomeSustaining a vacation rental business in the best possible way has proven to be property managers’ top priority right now. Dealing with new travel restrictions, last-minute bookings while still living up to guests’ expectations is no easy task. But how can property managers offer a great holiday experience in an increasingly contactless world? And how can state-of-the-art technologies help hosts secure and maintain properties from a distance?
More than anything else, smart home devices – in addition to good facilities and attention to detail – offer a great opportunity to make properties appear comfortable, convenient, and modern. As a property manager, it’s best to rely on a good mix of a few devices that your guests will gain the most benefit from, and make it easier to manage your accommodation.
“The importance of using smart technologies in short-term rental properties was also highlighted by a survey we conducted with hosts in October 2020. More than 73% of the respondents pointed out that it’s important for them to be a modern and smart host. 50% of the respondents supported this statement in that they already use smart thermostats in their holiday apartment, and approximately 44% use smart lighting,”
Christoph Lückl, Head of B2B, Nuki
Every year, new innovative technologies arrive on the market. Some of them also bring great advantages to the short-term rental industry. By integrating these state-of-the-art technologies into your own short-term rental business, you can manage your properties remotely, thereby outsourcing your work. This leads to more efficiency, meaning you can spend your time either managing even more properties or finding new ways to offer your guests the best possible experience:
Smart locks
Every guest’s stay starts with check-in. Offering a contactless self-check-in is becoming more and more popular, especially in these times. What’s more, it offers you and your guests major advantages: Guests have the opportunity to check in whenever they want. This means you don’t have to wait for them to hand over the keys – which is especially convenient if they arrive late or don’t specify an exact arrival time.
Digital door locks – also known as smart locks – are a secure and reliable way of granting your guests access to the booked accommodation without you having to be there in person to hand over the keys. With a smart lock, you can send your guests the digital keys to their accommodation even a few days before they arrive. With these individual access permissions, each guest has access to the property for the corresponding booking period. Of course, you can also assign permanent access permissions so your cleaning or service staff have access to the accommodation.
In addition to offering contactless 24/7 self-check-in, smart locks, such as those from Nuki, offer many more advantages:
- no more lost keys
- no time-consuming key handovers
- no need to hire third parties for key handovers
- no need to worry about unexpected changes to your guests’ arrival time
- no spare keys required for cleaners and service partners
Not only that, but in a post-COVID-19 world, smart locks will be a great way for property owners to save time and money. It gives you the flexibility to decide between welcoming your guest in person or managing the key handover digitally.
Besides automated check-ins, you can install home automation systems that let you monitor and control the temperature, moisture, noise, etc. of your accommodation.
Smart noise sensors
An increasing number of incidents concerning noise pollution and so-called “party house problems” are being reported lately. This problem has been occurring more frequently since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, as people book properties to hold parties because bars and nightclubs are closed in many countries. Smart noise sensors, such as those from Minut, permanently measure noise levels and send a notification when the set threshold is exceeded. Integrating these sensors keep your neighbours and guests happy, without compromising privacy.
“Recently, we’ve seen more and more property managers reach out to us about problems with noise and illegal parties. They’ve told us countless stories about irreversible damage, listings being permanently removed from booking platforms, and even city-wide STR bans. With Minut, property managers can monitor noise levels in their properties, allowing them to act quickly at the first sign of disturbance. This way, they can host responsibly, providing a better experience for hosts, guests, and neighbours alike.” Nils Mattisson, Minut CEO & co-founder.
