The Vacation RentalistSo you want to have a lock on your vacation rental that lets guests in and out with a code. And you want to set that code and revoke it without ever being on-site. An added bonus is having the code automatically expire at the end of your guest’s rental period without you doing anything.
This is possible!
First, two decisions.
- Do you want a deadbolt or a door handle lock? We recommend deadbolt for added security.
- Should the lock connect to WiFi or an automation system like SmartThings, Wink or Vera?
WiFi Lock
The advantage to a WiFi lock is it connects directly to the WiFi you already provide your guests with no additional hardware required. If you don’t provide or otherwise have WiFi available in your vacation rental this probably isn’t for you. If you’re looking for a reliable WiFi system for your guests check out this article.
We use the RemoteLock series of smart locks. Depending on the unit, we use either:
You can set, revoke and update guest access from a single web interface with the ability to have the lock auto-revoke access at a pre-determined date and time. Like at 3pm on the day of their checkout, for example.
You can also set notifications for all access attempts, successful or otherwise. Easy to know when cleaners arrive, when pest control accesses your vacation rental, etc.
These locks aren’t well reviewed on Amazon but we have many of them and control them all from a single interface. And other than the locks being a bit fussy when pressing the buttons the first time you use them, they work great. Once you get the hang of being deliberate when pressing the number keys you don’t have any issues.
Automation System Lock
These locks usually work on the Z-Wave system and require that you have a Z-Wave compatible automation system between the lock and your WiFi/Router. Once upon a time we went down this path because it genuinely does offer other advantages like monitoring other smart devices (smoke detectors, leak sensors, etc) but in the end, the extra bit of hardware between the lock and your ability to manage was just not worth it for us. If you’re already used to an automation system this may not be a problem, however.
When we did use these locks these are the ones we liked the best:
Non Connected Electronic Locks
This approach still works, you can pick up a keypad lock that doesn’t connect to the internet and just program a dozen or more codes into the unit all at once. Then just give the codes to your guests one by one until you run out.
Two downsides here. First, you have to visit your rental when you run out of codes to erase the old ones and program a new batch. Second, and perhaps most concerning, until you go remove the old codes, they still work.
If you checked into a hotel and the front desk let you know anyone that stayed in the room before you and kept their key could come back in at any time you’d probably be less than impressed. This holds true for this method of vacation rental lock access, it’s just not a great idea overall.
However, it does do ok as a method for lightly securing common area doors like shared central laundry or beach furniture storage where guests are intended to enter. We have one on a central laundry door and just cycle the code every so often.
Here are two we use:
1: SmartThings was the system we used to use. We’ve also explored Vera. Never used Wink but have heard nice things. Of the two we have used, SmartThings is probably the better of them.
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