Home Security Gadgets for Airbnb Hosts

Whether you’re out of town visiting family or busy at work, key exchanges for Airbnb hosts can be a major hassle. Keyless entry devices like an August Smart Lock  give you the freedom to open your Airbnb rental from the palm of your hand on your mobile phone.

This type of device avoids the pitfalls of lockbox codes, easily mounts over your deadbolt, and is significantly more affordable than installing a full-blown automated home system.

Learn more in our list of the best Airbnb smart locks.

Verifying identities as an Airbnb host can also be tricky. With smart doorbell systems like Ring Video Doorbell (2nd gen), you can get a widescreen, HD visual of who’s at your door from your cell phone or tablet, and you can communicate with them via a two-way intercom.

This gives you the ability to visually verify the identity of your guest, with the added capability of viewing from your mobile phone who is coming in and out of your Airbnb rental.

In order to keep your Airbnb investment safe and avoid potential lawsuits, some experts recommend that you disclose the presence of video cameras inside your home, while others suggest you place cameras in off-limits areas where valuables are stored. 

Dummy cameras (Amazon) ($5 – $30) are also an option for hosts keeping things on the cheap.

Many Airbnb hosts run up against the legal intricacies of the Airbnb Host Guarantee, which does offer insurance, but doesn’t cover the theft of personal valuables like jewelry or collectibles.

Cameras and sensors offered by security companies like SimpliSafe can keep you posted whenever a surface with valuables on it is disturbed. Keep in mind, that most sensors are made to supplement already existing home monitoring systems.

The good news is that SimpliSafe's products can be installed by yourself, which means their home security systems are more customizable, while still offering optional professional monitoring. Professional monitoring can be helpful in emergencies like break-ins, but you'll need to pay a monthly monitoring fee.

Our SimpliSafe review has more details.

Don't want to buy a whole security system to get motion detection? No problem. There are plenty of stand-alone motion sensors.

While spying on your guests isn't cool, using motion detectors to know when your guests arrive is handy. Plus, lot of movement could alert you to a rowdy party that you need to end before it becomes too destructive. The Minut Smart Home Alarm is a good privacy-first option that detects noises, motion, alarm sirens, temperature, and humidity without intrusive security cameras.

A motion sensor camera, like the Wyze Cam Pan v2 can also be useful if something is stolen or damaged at your rental. Just make sure to keep the cameras to public areas and out of the bathroom and bedroom areas, per Airbnb rules.