Explore the best vacation rental apps for property owners. Discover tools to streamline bookings, manage guests, and boost your rental business.
If you're starting each day with a dreaded to-do list for managing your vacation rentals, it's time to leverage technology to reduce repetitive tasks. As a property owner, you already have a lot on your plate. From handling bookings to welcoming guests and ensuring a five-star stay, your time is limited. Luckily, vacation rental apps can help with that.
These tools are more than just software; they're the secret sauce to impressing guests and efficiently running your short-term rental business. Almost every aspect of property management can be automated. That's why, in this article, we've rounded up our top app recommendations to say goodbye to tedious tasks. Let's dive in!
1. Housekeeping
Keeping your short-term rentals in pristine condition is a non-negotiable. Guests today have the highest expectations when it comes to cleanliness (and rightfully so). It's about ensuring hygiene, comfort, and safety. Here are some of our top recommendations for cleaning vacation rental apps:
- Cleanster connects hosts with vetted professional cleaners and automates housekeeping schedules. It ensures properties are always guest-ready by tracking progress, managing assets, and reporting. Hosts can communicate with cleaners through the app's messaging tool and have peace of mind that their rental will be spotlessly clean before check-in.
- Turno connects property managers with local cleaners and automates scheduling based on bookings. The app simplifies turnover coordination and boosts cleaning efficiency. With real-time tracking, you can rest assured that your property is in good hands even without your physical presence.
2. Keyless Entry and Security
Providing a rental property without the proper security protocols won't cut it. Guests want to feel safe and convenient, and a keyless entry system can help with that. Not only does it enhance security, but it also helps hosts manage check-ins remotely. Here are some of the best keyless entry systems:
- RemoteLock allows hosts to control rental access remotely. It generates unique access codes for each guest, simplifying the check-in process. It's also compatible with various locks and integrates with all major booking platforms.
- Nuki helps you grant and revoke access permissions remotely. Got any last-minute changes in guests' plans? No problem. With Nuki, managing check-ins becomes a breeze. Especially if you handle multiple properties, this will keep you on track through a straightforward and intuitive platform.
- Radefy provides hosts with full control of their rental properties wherever they are. It automatically issues and sends e-keys to guests for their renting period for a smooth check-in. At the same time, it helps hosts set parameters for A/C, water heater, and lights for a seamless stay.
3. Noise Monitoring
Protecting your property's reputation is key to the success of your short-term rental business. Monitoring noise levels can help prevent disturbances while maintaining good relations with neighbors. The last thing you want is a loud party when you clearly prohibit it in your house rules:
- NoiseAware utilizes real-time noise monitoring sensors that send instant alerts for excessive noise. It also provides noise insights and helps you identify patterns to make informed decisions about your property management.
- Minut offers noise monitoring along with other smart home features like smoke, humidity, and occupancy reporting. At the same time, it doesn't use cameras or other secret devices, protecting your guests's privacy. This helps you stop any issues before they escalate and ensure you're on your neighbors' good side.
- Roomonitor is another excellent vacation rental app that offers noise monitoring solutions with real-time alerts and detailed reports. With a single device, you can control noise, overcrowding, or tobacco use and avoid neighbor complaints. Use your smartphone to secure your property and enjoy peace of mind.
4. Guest Experience
Providing a five-star guest experience is paramount in the competitive short-term rental industry. Long are the days when offering just a roof over guests' heads was enough. Visitors today crave a memorable journey from the moment they book until they check out. Here are some vacation rental apps that can help enhance guest communication and comfort:
- Touch Stay is a digital guidebook that allows property managers to share essential information and local tips with guests. It replaces traditional guest books that are tricky to carry around, equipping guests with everything they should know about their trip at their fingertips. From local dining recommendations to house rules, this is an all-in-one solution that saves time for both parties.
- Deliverback coordinates the lost and found process, returning lost items to guests. How often have guests called you after check-out, only to let you know they forgot something important and need you to ship it to them? Save yourself the hassle by trusting the experts to pick up the item and return it to its owners.
- Freetour offers free or budget-friendly walking tours, adventures, or experiences in more than 135 cities worldwide. Your guests can access tours with local guides in their native language, fully immersing themselves in the destination.
- AIPEX is AI for vacation rentals that delivers custom answers to guests' questions through a property device or phone. Through a voice and touchscreen environment, it connects with guests to help them seamlessly navigate their stay. On average, guests interact with the device five times daily, receiving engaging answers through messages or images.
5. Property Management
Running a short-term rental business without property management systems in place seems like a fool's errand. Manual tasks are not only time-consuming but also prone to mistakes. With a PMS and channel manager, you can have peace of mind that your business is running on autopilot without double bookings or dissatisfied customers. Here are our top suggestions:
- Hostaway is one of the best channel managers for vacation rentals, and it integrates with multiple OTAs. Some of its key features are a centralized calendar, a unified inbox, easy task management, and dynamic pricing. Need to update your listing in multiple booking platforms? Hostway ensures real-time availability, pricing, and calendar synchronization.
- Hosthub is a PMS and channel manager that automates guest communication and booking management. It integrates with all major booking platforms and consolidates all reservations in one calendar. With premium features like a unified inbox with AI, availability and rate sync, and smart pricing, it'll transform your business.
Enhance Your Hosting With Vacation Rental Apps
In conclusion, technology can significantly boost your property management operations and increase positive reviews. From housekeeping to guest experience and everything in between, these apps help automate tasks and ensure your guests have a memorable stay.
If you want to take your short-term rental business to the next level, Houfy is a direct booking solution that allows guests to book directly without service fees. Say goodbye to profit loss from large OTAs and welcome full control of your business and higher revenue in your pockets. List your property today and join a community of more than 15,000 hosts who took the leap before you!