How to Choose the Best Smart Lock for Your Vacation Rental

From the moment a guest arrives at your vacation rental, they’re ready for an experience that’s both safe and stress-free.

One of the very first tests? Getting inside.

Something as simple as a smart lock can either put that guest at ease or frustrate them before they’re even across the threshold. For you, this moment can impact how positive or negative their review of your property turns out. 

That’s why it’s important to know how to choose the best smart lock for your vacation rental. With so many keyless entry systems on the market, it can be tricky to decide. From the benefits you’ll want to look for to system features you need, here’s how to whittle down the list of options and find your perfect smart lock with confidence.

Evolve offers an easy smart lock integration to automate guest check-ins right from your owner app. Learn more about the benefits of partnering with us today.

In This Article: 
The Benefits of Using a Smart Lock for Vacation Rentals
What the Best Smart Lock Systems Have in Common
How to Choose the Best Smart Lock for You
What to Do After Choosing Your Smart Lock

The Benefits of Using a Smart Lock for Vacation Rentals

There are three big advantages to switching to a smart lock system that can help add value to your vacation rental business.

1. Smart Locks Improve the Guest Experience

When travelers reach their vacation home, they want to travel the path of least resistance. Guaranteeing a seamless entry process — one where they can simply punch in a code and get through the door — helps them feel at ease more quickly. 

It also means you (or your on-site Guest Contact) don’t have to coordinate a physical key hand-off. This limits unnecessary interaction and offers flexibility on check-in time. These elements of convenience and respect for privacy boost guest satisfaction, and can help lock in five-star reviews (not to mention avoid bad ones).

2. Smart Locks Streamline Owner Responsibilities

Not only will you no longer need to coordinate and meet with your guests before every stay, you also won’t have to meet up with maintenance staff and cleaning crews. With smart locks in place, all guests and personnel can enter your property before, during, and after bookings without you having to constantly worry about the logistics.

3. Smart Locks Provide Added Security (and Peace of Mind)

Keyless entry technology allows you to program codes from afar and gives you the ability to track every single entry on your smartphone. It’s a simple way to stay in the loop on who comes and goes, and can quickly raise the red flag if you see someone’s gone in when it isn’t expected.

These systems also reduce the likelihood that keys will get lost, and minimize fear of intruders picking the lock. And if you were to be confronted with unauthorized individuals trying to gain access to your home, changing a keycode is a lot faster (and less expensive) than changing a lock.

Here’s how Evolve’s easy smart lock integration works:

What the Best Keyless Entry Systems Have in Common

The best smart locks for vacation rental may vary based on the type of home or its location, but they all all have one element in common: ease of use for guests. When choosing the right system for you and your home, keep your future guests’ check-in experience top of mind and look for the following features.

1. Smart Locks with Code Punches or Touchscreens

Some keyless locks have combination dials instead of keypads, but those can increase the risk of human error when attempting to enter a code. Touchscreen and code punch models keep this possibility low. They also usually light up when in use to make it easier for a guest to successfully open the door at night.

2. No App Download Required for Guests

This is all about guest satisfaction. If vacationers need to download an app they’ll only use to enter your property, it adds an inconvenient step. Guests should feel like you’ve taken all the hard work off their plates, so they can get to the fun and relaxation faster.

3. Multiple Code Programming Capabilities

Many keyless entry systems on the market allow you to program unique code combinations for a variety of authorized users — think guests, cleaners, inspectors, and maintenance providers — so it’s easy to make sure the right people are entering at the right times. You can also input emergency backup codes, so it’s a quick fix if anyone has trouble gaining access. (Evolve’s smart lock integration does all of this; it auto-generates guest codes for every stay while also creating back ups and maintaining static codes for service providers.)

How to Choose the Best Smart Lock for You

Along with the best practices for creating a five-star guest experience, here are a few additional considerations for zeroing in on your ideal keyless entry system.

1. Think About Geography and Climate

Where your home is located could have an impact on the functionality of a smart lock. The salty air at a beachfront property, for example, may interfere with keypad technology, while extreme cold at a ski rental can freeze code punch buttons or cause touchscreens to glitch. And if your vacation rental is located in a remote area with spottier connection, Bluetooth-powered models may struggle to work. Before making any shopping selections, check in with the vendor to raise any location-based concerns.

2. Balance Quality with Expense

There are some very fancy security systems that can cost thousands of dollars, but that high price tag doesn’t necessarily equate to an increase in security. While it’s important to do ample research to understand the ins and outs of every option, a more modest investment can be just as effective in securing your vacation rental and guest satisfaction — rather than making a huge dent in your annual profits.

3. Find Local Vendors Who Can Service Your Lock

A lot of owners purchase a smart lock from national companies online, but don’t actually have technicians in the area who could service it if something goes wrong. Make sure local locksmiths have the ability to fix the smart lock you choose in the event that it breaks or glitches. Otherwise, you could be looking at a much more costly — or delayed — solution.

4. Have a Backup Plan in Place

There are big benefits to keyless entry systems, but they aren’t foolproof. There’s always a chance of technological difficulties upon guest arrival, which is why it’s best to have a lock box as a backup. Let guests know about the backup plan prior to their arrival to prevent any last-minute messages or frustrated late-night phone calls.

5. Confirm Compatibility with Other Software You Use

Having a smart lock streamlines a lot operationally — but it’s still another app to manage if it can’t integrate with the management software or service you’re using. Keeping door codes and booking details in the same place takes your efficiency as an owner or operator to another level. (Evolve’s smart lock integration is compatible with major brands like Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, and August.)

What to Do After Choosing Your Smart Lock

Finding the best smart lock plays a huge role in delivering a safe, top-notch guest experience. But there’s so much more to achieving this goal — and we have a ton of valuable resources to help you perfect every piece of the puzzle.

From creating the perfect welcome book and taking advantage of interior design hacks to stocking your home with the best amenities for five-star guest stays, Evolve is on a mission to provide you with the tips, tricks, and support needed to make vacation rental easy for everyone.

And if you’re looking for expert management, see if you qualify for a free consultation with one of our Vacation Rental Advisors today.