Do you use smart home technology? How has it helped?

[Elisa]

 

Hello everyone 😊,
I hope you’re having a great week!

What do you think about smart home technology? It can be a great ally in saving time, simplifying the management of your listing, and enhancing your guests’ experience during their stay.

Do you use smart home technology? How has it helped?

I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts!

Warm regards,
Elisa 🌻

[Karen114]

@Elisa  I use Nest thermostats, Ring Cameras,  Yale door locks.  I can't imagine running a short term without these.  I don't do anything with lights, music or voice activated devices etc. Also use smart Tv's which is great for most. 

[Elisa]

Hi @Karen114 😊, 

Thank you so much for sharing this here!

That’s a good point, I didn’t know about them. What do the Ring cameras do? Or is Ring the name of the brand?

[Karen114]

@Elisa  Ring is brand.  They have door bells, security products and  motion activated cameras and I believe some other types of devices.  Very popular here in the US.

[Elisa]

Hi @Karen114 😊, 

Thank you for letting me know!

That’s a nice name for a brand, ahah.

How did you come across it? Here in the Community Center?

[Karen114]

@Elisa  Yes I believe it was here that I learned about the Ring products.  They really are great.  They are very easy to set up and easy to use which is key for the tech challenged like myself 😀

[Roy1270]

Over time I started adding a few smart home solutions to my listing, and they turned out to be very useful both for me as a host and for my guests.

• Smart security camera at the entrance (AlfredCam or an old phone): One of the best upgrades I made was setting up a small camera facing the front door. Instead of buying an expensive system, I reused an old phone with the AlfredCamera app, which turns any smartphone into a security camera. It sends me motion alerts so I know when guests arrive or when the cleaning team leaves. Of course, the camera is only placed in a public area by the entrance, never inside the apartment, to respect guest privacy and Airbnb rules. This setup cost me almost nothing and gave me huge peace of mind.

• Smart control for the AC (Sensibo): Many times guests left the AC running for hours after checkout. With a Sensibo device I can turn the AC on or off remotely and even cool the apartment before a guest arrives. This saves money, reduces energy waste, and makes the guest experience better.

• Smart water heater switch (Switcher): I replaced the old water heater timer with a Switcher smart device. Now I can schedule hot water to be ready exactly when needed without wasting electricity. Guests always have hot water on arrival and I no longer worry about leaving the heater on for hours.

• Smart fan (Xiaomi): I added a smart standing fan in the bedroom that can be controlled by phone or voice. Guests enjoy the extra comfort and I can switch it off remotely if it was left running. It is a small upgrade that makes a big difference.

Tip for cleaning and maintenance: Beyond gadgets, do not forget the basics. I coordinate carefully with my cleaning team, use calendar reminders, and personally check things regularly like AC filters, plumbing, and appliances. Technology can help, but it will never replace hands-on checks. Combining the two makes the results much better.

In the end, what really makes guests come back and leave five-star reviews is not the technology but the experience. A clean apartment, personal communication, and attention to detail are what build a strong reputation. Gadgets are nice additions that make things easier, but they are not the heart of hosting.

When investing in technology I always ask myself: will this save me time, money, or clearly improve the guest experience? If not, I skip it. For me, using a low-cost lockbox, an old phone as a camera, and devices like Sensibo and Switcher gave me most of the benefits at a low cost. The money I saved on a smart lock I invested instead in a professional cleaner for deep cleaning, and I am certain this added more stars in my reviews than any gadget could.

[Elisa]

Hi @Roy1270 😊, 

Thank you so much for sharing this here.

I didn’t know many things about smart home technology.

Did you ask an expert, or did you do the research yourself?

[Roy1270]

Hi @Elisa, thanks for your kind reply!

I actually did the research based on my own needs. Since I was living in one of the rooms in the property, I also had the chance to talk face to face with many of my guests and listen to their suggestions. That really helped me shape the choices I made.

[Elisa]

Hi @Roy1270 😊, 

Thank you for letting me know!

That’s fantastic. Your research has been really helpful, I’m sure other hosts would like to read this in the community.

Don’t hesitate to share it by 👉 starting a new conversation here.

[Sarah6507]

We use the « Hilo » system that’s provided by Quebec’s local power provider, the allows us to control our home temperature from our smart phones, so far so good, we get to insure that our guests are comfortable. 

[Elisa]

Hi @Sarah6507 😊, 

Thank you for sharing this here!

How do you manage it? Do you wait for your guests to request a certain temperature, or do you set a standard one beforehand?

[Dinesh87]

Hi @Elisa,

Yes, I’ve gradually introduced smart home technology, and it’s been very helpful in saving time, reducing energy costs, and improving the guest experience. Here are a few things that worked well:

Smart locks: The biggest game-changer. Guests appreciate easy self check-in, and I don’t worry about lost keys or late arrivals.

Smart AC/thermostat controls (Nest, Sensibo, Ecobee): Keeps energy use under control and lets me pre-set the room to a comfortable temperature before guests arrive.

Smart TVs: Guests love being able to log in to their own streaming accounts—it feels more personal and homely.

Smart lighting (Philips Hue / motion sensor lights): Auto lighting in hallways or bathrooms is convenient and also saves electricity when guests forget to switch off.

Smart plugs/timers: Perfect for things like water heaters, lamps, or appliances—set schedules, cut power remotely, and avoid waste.

Video doorbell / exterior security cameras (Ring, etc.): Gives peace of mind about check-ins, package deliveries, or monitoring entry points—always outside only, never inside, to respect guest privacy.

Smart speakers/assistants (Google Nest / Alexa): Some guests enjoy using voice commands for music, weather, or local info, but I keep it optional since not everyone prefers it.

Leak sensors / smoke detectors (smart enabled): These small devices send alerts if there’s a water leak, fire, or smoke issue—great for safety and quick response.

What I’ve learned is that while guests appreciate the tech, the foundation is still clear communication, cleanliness, and comfort. Smart tools make hosting smoother, but it’s the personal touches that make stays memorable.

[Elisa]

Hi @Dinesh87 😊, 

That’s fantastic, it seems you know this so well!

Are you satisfied with everything, or do you think something could work better?

[Greystone0]

Hi @Elisa ,

great topic and happy to learn some new tips here. 

Here's something that hasn't come up yet in the discussion that we use:

- Lutron lighting with the Caseta PICO switches on cute little stands. It's these PICO switches that are a guest favorite and we love them too! This set up allows for a light switch to be placed anywhere and in our case we have one on the dining room table and one on the living room coffee table. Each is dimmable as well, furthering the utility.

We have wide open living spaces with traditional switches placed on walls far from the seating areas. And in an unfamiliar place, figuring out lighting takes time and in our space it is amplified as it is large. So the placement of these switches at hand for each area has been a really welcome tech upgrade. Guests love 'em!