Articles

A collection of articles to learn about how to do rental automation at your short term rental or Airbnb with smart home devices. Learn about the best smart home automation platforms, find out why certain smart devices are recommended, and how to get started.

Smart Devices & Infrastructure

The Complete Smart Home Setup for Airbnb & Short-Term Rentals (2026 Guide)

Updated April 25, 2026

If you’re running an Airbnb or short-term rental, smart home technology isn’t optional anymore—it’s essential. But here’s the problem… Most…

Getting Started

The Ultimate Guide to Short-Term Rental Automation

Updated April 6, 2026

Summary: Short-term rental automation blends operational tools—for cleaning, pricing, messaging, and maintenance—with smart-home systems—for locks, HVAC, lighting, water, and safety—synchronized…

Advice

Smart Device Automation for Airbnb: Why It’s the Smarter Way to Host

Updated April 6, 2026

Smart device automation for Airbnb is one of the smartest ways to reduce repetitive hosting tasks and run a more…

Getting Started

Rental Home Automation: Which Smart Home Systems Actually Improve Your Airbnb

Updated April 4, 2026

Smart home systems for Airbnb can absolutely make hosting easier—but only if you focus on the systems that actually improve…

Advice

Airbnb Automation for Beginners: Where to Start

Updated April 3, 2026

Airbnb automation for beginners can feel overwhelming at first. A lot of hosts start by buying a few smart devices,…

Automate Your Short-Term Rental: How It’s Different From a Typical Smart Home

Advice

Smart Home Automation for Airbnb: Why Typical Setups Fail

Updated March 30, 2026

Smart home automation for Airbnb is very different from a typical smart home setup. While smart devices work well for…

Getting Started

What Can I Automate in My Airbnb? Check-In, Checkout & Vacancy Guide

Updated March 30, 2026

What can I automate in my Airbnb? More than most hosts realize. If you’re using smart devices in a short-term…

automate smart devices for vacation rentals

Advice

Airbnb Smart Device Automation: Complete Guide for Hosts (2026)

Updated March 27, 2026

Airbnb hosts today don’t just need smart devices—they need smart device automation that works around guest stays. From smart locks…

Advice

SmartThings Smart Lock Guest Access: Limitations and Better Ways to Manage Lock Codes

Updated March 11, 2026

If you use Samsung SmartThings with smart locks, you may have heard of the built-in app called Smart Lock Guest…

Reviews

IKEA Matter-Over-Thread Smart Sensors: A Surprisingly Excellent Sensor Ecosystem

Updated February 24, 2026

Smart home sensors are one of those categories where expectations are usually pretty low: plasticky hardware, awkward batteries, flaky connectivity,…

Advice

Best Smart Lock Technology in 2026: Why Z-Wave Still Wins

Updated February 21, 2026

The smart-lock world is in the middle of a shake-up. Manufacturers are rapidly releasing Matter-compatible locks while phasing out the…

Miscellaneous

Why SmartThings Is the Best Smart Home Platform for Your Airbnb in 2025

Updated February 19, 2026

If you’re managing a short-term rental and looking to automate your property, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is…

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