September 28, 2018
Digital Innovations to Set Your Rental Apart
Regardless of whether you opt for short or long term rentals, emerging technology is the soundest way to make your home more attractive to prospective renters with minimal cost. In fact, one recent study found that 80% of vacation guests were more likely to rent a home with smart technology. For the owner, equipping your home with smart technologies like smart security and key-less entry has the added benefit of granting you more control over your home while it’s being occupied by guests.
Viewing the property
Veteran vacation renters know that apart from location, the number 1 factor influencing whether people choose to rent a property is the photographs available in the property listing. In recent years, homeowners have been aided by smart phones that allow them to take high quality property photos and easily add them to listing websites. However, in the real estate business, many companies are now turning to Virtual Reality and 360-viewing devices to give prospective buyers a “feel” for the property without being on-site. Vacation homeowners, too, can benefit from offering panoramic views of their property to showcase the home to prospective guests. VR tours will also cut down on the number of guests who ask to see further pictures of the property, since they can inspect the house easily from their smartphone in vivid detail.
Smart home technologies
According to new research, the two home technologies most desired by vacation renters are smart TVs and all-purpose smart speakers such as Google Home or Alexa. Smart speakers are advantageous in that they can connect many devices from a central operating point, which is why it’s a good idea to place them in a kitchen or living room for maximum usage. But apart from smart homes, vacation renters also look for amenities such as automated or programmable thermostats, which allow guests the convenience of adjusting the home temperature without exploring the depths of your boiler room. These systems also track your average temperatures and energy usage per month, which should give you a clearer picture of your bill for heat and/or air conditioning during the time that you rent it to guests.
Keyless Entry and Digital Security
Many vacation homeowners opt for keyless entry systems to enable a smooth transition between guests while keeping their home secure. Keyless entry apps let you to easily monitor who enters/exits your home (and when) from your smartphone without the hassle of making sure that someone is present to give your guests keys upon arrival. Choosing a digital security system that suits your home’s needs is strongly advised as a precautionary measure when renting your home out to guests, especially if you’ll be residing far away from the property. If you’re concerned about particular objects in your home, such as a valuable painting or jewelry, it’s a good idea to reserve those items to secure storage during the months you rent to newcomers.
Emerging technologies are a great way to boost the value of your rental property with minimal effort while making your job as a homeowner safer and more convenient. Of course, if you invest in smart home technologies, always include them in the amenities description of your property listing, as the devices will make your home stand out to potential guests who desire luxury and security.
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