Just want Wi-Fi and devices for your own home? See smart home and Wi-Fi. Want Alexa, Google or Apple Home to run the TV and lights? See voice control.
What can a smart vacation rental do?
A smart home setup lets you look after a rental from anywhere in the world. From a phone app, you can check entry cameras, turn off lights or appliances renters left on, change lock codes between guests and get an alert if a pipe is at risk of freezing.
Tim enjoys vacation-rental work. Around Vallecito and Durango, many homes are vacation rentals or second homes, and owners are often far away when something comes up.
What do we set up for rental owners?
We set up the network first, then the devices that depend on it. A typical rental setup includes:
- Smart locks with a new code for each guest, removed at checkout
- Entry and exterior cameras so you can see arrivals, deliveries and the driveway
- Smart plugs and bulbs to turn off lamps, TVs and plug-in appliances remotely
- Smart thermostats you can set back between stays and warm up before guests arrive
- Freeze and leak sensors that alert your phone before a small problem turns into water damage
- Guest-friendly TVs, with simple remotes and streaming apps guests can sign in and out of
- Mesh Wi-Fi that holds up when the house is full
Smart wall switches that replace existing switches, new outlets and panel work are line-voltage electrical work for a licensed electrician. We connect those devices to your app once they are installed.
Where should rental cameras go?
Rental cameras go on exteriors and entries only. Follow your rental platform’s camera rules, which ban cameras inside, and disclose outdoor cameras in your listing as the platform requires.
Good spots are the driveway, the front entry, the garage door and the outside of a gate. We aim cameras at your property and away from neighbors’ windows, and we never place them where guests expect privacy.
Why does Wi-Fi matter so much?
Every smart device depends on the internet to reach your phone. If the Wi-Fi drops, you lose remote control and alerts until it comes back, although a smart lock still opens with its keypad code.
Internet near Vallecito Lake and in the mountains varies by address, so we check what works at your address first. Options may include DSL, fixed wireless, T-Mobile Home Internet or satellite such as Starlink. Log walls and stone fireplaces block Wi-Fi, so mesh units with wired links between them keep a rental connected. Learn more on our smart home and Wi-Fi page.
Can you help get a rental ready for winter?
Yes. Freeze sensors and a smart thermostat are a good start, and we also offer winterizing for cabins and rentals that sit empty, plus holiday lighting and fire mitigation around the property.
What does a rental setup cost?
Vacation rental setups are quoted with a free estimate. The price depends on the size of the home, how many devices you want and how much network work it needs. A rental with one TV, a smart lock and a thermostat is a short job; a large home with cameras, sensors and mesh Wi-Fi takes longer.
See pricing for how quotes work, or request an estimate. For TV setup in rentals, see device setup and TV mounting.