I run 3 short-term rentals and wanted to automate as much as possible—pricing, guest communication, and access.
Here are the exact tools I use and why.
Smart Locks: Lockly
I use Lockly smart locks across my properties to eliminate key handoffs and make check-in seamless. Guests receive codes, and I don’t have to worry about lost keys or lockouts.
- Eliminates the need for physical key handoffs
- Generates unique access codes for each guest stay
- Fingerprint and keypad options provide flexible entry methods
- Reduces risk of lost keys and lockouts
- Allows remote access management from anywhere
- Easy to update or revoke codes between guests
- More secure than traditional lockboxes
- Clean, modern look that fits well with vacation rentals
This completely removed the stress of coordinating key exchanges and made check-in fully hands-off and allowed me to manage guest access remotely.
👉 Compare the best smart locks for Airbnb
Pricing: Beyond
I use Beyond to automatically adjust pricing based on demand, seasonality, and local events. Before using it, I was guessing on pricing. Now it’s automated and optimized.
- Automatically adjusts pricing based on demand and seasonality
- Removes the need to manually update nightly rates
- Helps capture higher rates during peak weekends and events
- Prevents underpricing during high-demand periods
- Easy to set minimum/maximum pricing guardrails
- Syncs directly with Airbnb and VRBO calendars
- Gives confidence that pricing is optimized without constant monitoring
- Took pricing from guesswork to a consistent, automated system
This is the biggest lever I use to increase revenue without increasing effort.
Read my review of Beyond Pricing here
Messaging: Host Tools
Host Tools handles automated messaging for guests—booking confirmations, check-in instructions, reminders, and more. This saves hours every week.
- Automatically sends guest messages at each stage of the booking
- Handles check-in instructions, reminders, and follow-ups
- Eliminates repetitive manual messaging
- Keeps communication consistent across all guests
- Saves several hours per week in back-and-forth messaging
- Syncs with Airbnb and VRBO for seamless automation
- Reduces the risk of missing important guest communication
- Allows me to manage multiple properties without being glued to my phone
This is what makes the day-to-day management actually manageable.
Read my review of Host Tools here:
If I were starting over, I would set these three systems up on day one.
👉 How to automate your Airbnb (step-by-step)
Automation Planning Tools
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