What Smart Technology Do You Recommend??
Hi,
I will be going live with my STR rental in the next few months and was hoping to get your recommendations on smart technology. Currently, I'm considering the following:
- Smart Locks: August
- Noise monitoring: Noiseaware or Party Squasher
- Doorbell: Ring
- Floodlight: Ring
I am open to suggestions. What brands do you recommend for home surveillance? My thought process is to install 2 outdoor cameras.
Thank you!
Hi Brandon,
I recommend the Arlo surveillance camera. You can buy a software subscription ($10/month I believe) that notifies you whenever a person or car arrives at the property. This is helpful to be notified when guests first arrive at the house. Costco sells these cameras in packs at a good price.
For smart locks, I have used August locks and they work okay but don't seem as robust as my Schlage or Yale locks that I have at other properties. They also have more issues in cold climates. Now, I use schlage or yale integrated with remotelock to generate automatic codes for my guests.
I currently use the ring doorbell for my STR and it works great! I agree with @Clara Brechtel about using a Schlage for the smart lock.
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Check out many past posts on this subject.
I use Honeywell wifi color touchscreen thermostats.
Rheem wifi water heater.
Digital watchdog cameras and ring cameras at another STR.
Wifi tank level monitor for a PF cabin with well and multiple reservoir tanks.
remote sensor for house gas tank.
schlage smart lock (at my house)
mesh wifi extender at large cabin.
I think that's it.
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I feel so out of touch. I don't use anything like this, everything is manual...except maybe the Schlage lock on one place where I set the code every time to be the last 4 of the guests ph# :-)
But hey, less to break and go wrong huh?
@Clara Brechtel Thank you for the recommendations. I will go to my nearest Costco for the Arlo.
@Boydie Maraj Thanks for your input!
@John Underwood do you use a different smart lock brand for your STR?
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Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:
I feel so out of touch. I don't use anything like this, everything is manual...except maybe the Schlage lock on one place where I set the code every time to be the last 4 of the guests ph# :-)
But hey, less to break and go wrong huh?
Absolutely less to break!
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Quote from @Brandon Carlson:Still using a lockbox one one property. Has never failed.
@Clara Brechtel Thank you for the recommendations. I will go to my nearest Costco for the Arlo.
@Boydie Maraj Thanks for your input!
@John Underwood do you use a different smart lock brand for your STR?
Not sure on the combination lock on the new Pigeon Forge Cabin. I plan on looking closer at it later this month when I up there next.
Quote from @John Underwood:Curious what brand/model are you using for the tank level monitor? I have a Smarthings sensor but it gives too many false alarms.
Check out many past posts on this subject.
I use Honeywell wifi color touchscreen thermostats.
Rheem wifi water heater.
Digital watchdog cameras and ring cameras at another STR.
Wifi tank level monitor for a PF cabin with well and multiple reservoir tanks.
remote sensor for house gas tank.
schlage smart lock (at my house)
mesh wifi extender at large cabin.
I think that's it.
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Quote from @Glenna Wood:PTlevel is the brand.
Quote from @John Underwood:Curious what brand/model are you using for the tank level monitor? I have a Smarthings sensor but it gives too many false alarms.
Check out many past posts on this subject.
I use Honeywell wifi color touchscreen thermostats.
Rheem wifi water heater.
Digital watchdog cameras and ring cameras at another STR.
Wifi tank level monitor for a PF cabin with well and multiple reservoir tanks.
remote sensor for house gas tank.
schlage smart lock (at my house)
mesh wifi extender at large cabin.
I think that's it.
I got it off Amazon.
I check it dailey as we have been having problems with the well keeping up right now. We have also had some very large groups and have been booked solid.
I think the answer can change a little bit based on if you are a more hands off/hands on investor. I've been using 'Vivint' as my security system and it has turned my properties into basically smart homes. I can control the temperature of the house, the locks on the doors, cameras to see what's going on outside, sensors for moisture/freezing in the basement, door sensors for doors that shouldn't be open and a lot more. The locks are also radio frequency, which means the batteries only need to be replaced every 1-2 years. Of course I'm never in person, so I really like having all of these details. It is more expensive (less than $100/month), but our properties more than cover it. Not for everyone, but I figured I'd put it out there.
@Brandon Carlson I would definitely recommend Noise Aware for noise monitoring. I use them across my 200+ STR units and they've been great. Very easy to onboard and work with.
I agree with everyone else recommending Schlage. I have had too many issues with August locks in the past.
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We have a Schlage Encode ZWave lock. Has been working perfectly with the Samsung Smart Things hub for 5 years now. We also have a Emerson Sensi thermostat that is WiFi. Also has been working perfectly.
The Sensi is nice because it doesn't need a C wire if you have A/C and heat.
Quote from @Scott Yesner:
@Brandon Carlson I would definitely recommend Noise Aware for noise monitoring. I use them across my 200+ STR units and they've been great. Very easy to onboard and work with.
I agree with everyone else recommending Schlage. I have had too many issues with August locks in the past.
@Scott Yesner do you use the indoor, outdoor, or both monitoring systems for your STR's?
@Brandon Carlson it depends. For example, I have townhomes in the city that have roof decks. I put Noiseawares on the roof decks because it's a common place for guests to hang out late and noise travels really easily. I also have homes in the mountains that have decks and outdoor hot tubs. I do not install noiseawares there because noise travels less easily and I think it would be harder to say that a noise disturbance was definitely the result of a guest.