Nine tech accessories that will make your Airbnb—or personal home—all the better.
I’ve stayed in quite a few Airbnbs. Some were great, others were good, a few I didn’t like, and one I fled (Lisbon, Portugal, here’s looking at you).
Owners of many of the better ones let tech help them out. If you’re thinking about joining the ranks of Airbnb landlords, here are nine purchases that can help you do everything from keeping nosy guests out of your liquor cabinet to seeing who is coming in the door at any given moment.
Yale Smart Cabinet Lock
Don’t want Airbnb guests helping themselves to your pricey bottles of wine? Lock manufacturer Yale rolled out an ingenious Bluetooth-enabled or Wifi-enabled lock designed to secure alcohol cabinets, medicine cabinets, and drawers containing valuables or documents you want to hide from prying eyes. The Yale Access app allows you to lock and unlock it remotely. You can share access if need be, and you’ll be notified through the app if anyone opens a cabinet or drawer secured by the lock.
Minut
Sometimes Airbnb guests can be loud. If your neighbors are sensitive about noise, just set Minut to notify you if it detects a certain threshold of noise for a specific duration. The noise-detecting sensor only monitors noise level; it doesn’t record conversations. Minut can even text those staying at your home and (politely) ask them to quiet down a bit.
Flo by Moen
Water damage is every homeowner’s nightmare, and guests may not be as vigilant as you would be about a running toilet or an overflowing sink. Detect leaks from afar with Flo by Moen; just place the small, battery-operated sensor in a bathroom or basement, or near a fridge, water heater, or washing machine. The detector alerts you if it senses a water leak or even a change in humidity. This device is part of Moen’s smart water system, which can automatically shut off your home’s water if a leak or other problem is detected.
Wyze Cam
Airbnb has strict rules about disclosing recording devices or security cameras to guests, but many hosts like the peace of mind of being able to see in real time what’s going on outside their properties. One popular affordable option is Wyze’s outdoor cameras, which can be mounted in backyards and entryways. The wire-free, battery-operated cameras are equipped with features like night vision, motion detection, two-way audio, and more.
Eufy Video Doorbell
There are no monthly fees for a Eufy video doorbell, which records in high-definition and—a bonus for those worried about privacy—stores its footage locally. You’ll receive a notification on your phone when someone is at the door, plus a photo of the scene, too.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat
If you want to know if guests in your house are cranking up the AC with all the windows open, get clued in with a smart thermostat, like the Ecobee3 lite. It alerts you when there’s a swing in temperature. Plus, you can control the heating and cooling levels from anywhere, thanks to remote access.
Level Lock
There are many smart locks on the market right now that promise to make Airbnb guest check-ins a snap. If you’re a design purist, check out the brand Level. Instead of bulky additions, Level’s smart locks are designed to be invisible. You can unlock them with a key, key card, phone, or fingerprint, and the locks include features like notifications, remote access, auto unlock, an activity history log, and the ability to allow someone to open the door on specific dates and times.
Porch Pod
If your Airbnb property is your main residence, you might not want your online shopping deliveries piling up on the porch while and guests are around and you’re not home. Porch Pod, which looks like a big cooler, allows delivery people to scan your package’s barcode to open the box and stash your delivery. When you want to retrieve your boxes, you unlock the Porch Pod with your smartphone. The Porch Pod can be powered via solar panel or power cord, and you can weigh it down with sand or anchor it to your porch to prevent any thieves from taking the Porch Pod itself.
Tapplock
Don’t worry about fiddling with keys or trying to remember a combo: the biometric Tapplock opens with your fingerprint, through an app, or via Morse code. The rechargeable, battery-operated lock works in .8 seconds, and you can store multiple different fingerprints, allowing different people to access the lock. It’s waterproof and can withstand extreme temperatures, making it good for outdoor use.
Twist’s Take: These nine tech accessories will make your Airbnb—or personal home—all the better.
