12 Apr Gate Smart Lock Will Make Your Airbnb Business More Passive and Scalable

Disclaimer: this is a sponsored blog post from Gate Smart lock. However, I get a lot of readers asking me about the best solution for a wifi-connected smart lock. I believe Gate is a great solution to that problem. So, enjoy learning more about this!

Starting your Airbnb business takes time and energy. But once you get your Airbnb business off the ground—whether you plan to operate one Airbnb unit or one hundred—you will want to focus your efforts on creating a more passive income stream.

To do this, you’ll need to automate as many tasks as possible and line up dependable service providers such as cleaners and maintenance people.

One of the greatest money pits and pain points for scaling Airbnb hosts is the time it takes to physically let guests and service personnel in and out. If you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself running around properties and constantly working on errands, meeting guests, and checking in on cleaners and repairs.

So let’s be real: your physical presence is limited. You can only be in one place at a time. How can you find a way to let guests and service people in, smoothly, safely and securely, without needing to be there in-person?

Recently, I ran into an issue with unauthorized parties getting access to one of my Airbnb. This would have been avoided if I had access to a front door security cam.

All this can be solved with the Gate Smart Lock. Here’s how.

What is Gate?

Gate is the world’s first, all-in-one video camera smart lock designed to enable unattended access to residential, small businesses, and commercial properties—Gate is aimed at helping busy Airbnb owners increase their security, convenience, and control.

With Gate, you will have complete control to the front door without being on-site. The Gate Smart Lock is not only practical for everyday use, but also a huge time-saver for managing occasional deliveries, repairmen, and those all-important cleaners and room-flippers.

How does Gate work?

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Installation is a breeze. It’s designed to be DIY and takes just minutes to install on your door with the Phillips head screwdriver provided in the box. Gate fits on most standard exterior doors replaces the dead bolt lock.

Pro-tip: You can also use Gate to keep private areas of your unit off-limits to guests, like a spare bedroom or your wine closet.

Once you download the Gate App and connect the Gate smart lock to your smartphone, you will be able to give anyone access to the unit. And you can do it from anywhere in the world. As long as you have an internet connection, you will be able to unlock the door, send anyone a passcode for entry, and physically see anyone at the front door through a video camera in the lock. You’ll also be able to have a clear two-way conversation through Gate’s built-in audio system (more below).

What features does Gate have?

The Gate Smart Lock has features some smart locks have and a lot of features that others don’t, like an integrated doorbell, an LED-lit keypad for guests who arrive in the dark, a motion-activated video camera with two-way audio, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and built-in wi-fi.

From a security perspective, Gate is one of the strongest on the market. It’s a sturdy, durable device made from die-cast aluminum-zinc alloy metal.

Gate is a traditional lock

As a traditional lock, Gate supports a physical key entry. Although smart locks are great, you may decide to use a key entry at some point, so it is still a good option to have. A backup entry method for emergencies is never a bad idea.

But Gate is a smart lock, too

As a smart lock, Gate has more features than you would expect. It will allow you to give guests individual PIN codes that are valid only for the duration of their stay.  With just this technology, you will be able to eliminate several common problems that Airbnb rental unit owners face on a daily basis.

You will no longer need to physically let your guests into the unit, which frees up your time to makes this venture more passive and scalable. By simply creating and distributing unique access codes for your guest, you will be able to avoid the time commitment of meeting a guest at the unit. Each unique access code will allow you to track who enters and leaves the unit. In combination with the live video streaming, you will have no doubt about who, how many, and when someone is entering your Airbnb unit(s).

From your smartphone, you will also be able to grant entry to visitors who arrive late or early with a simple tap of a button. No more scrambling home from work. You can easily allow someone such as a guest, cleaner, or repairman, into your unit without ever setting foot on site.  

See your guests with Gate’s camera capabilities.

Gate’s small camera in the lock operates as a basic surveillance system that is becoming popular among homeowners in the age of “porch pirates.” The 720p camera has a 150 degree field of view that is activated by movement (you can control the sensitivity levels). The camera provides a live stream of any activity happening outside of your door. So if there’s trouble, you have footage — proof in the event of a mishap — of exactly what happened.

Not only that, Gate is on your door so the video capture is dynamic, moving with the individual(s) as they enter or exit your property. This is the feature that could have prevented unwanted guests at your property.

The battery lasts a long time.

Unlike a phone that has to be recharged every night, Gate’s rechargeable battery typically lasts between 2-3 months, depending on the amount of activity at your door. Recharging the battery takes about 5 hours to bring back to a full charge. If five hours is too long, don’t worry, you always have backup physical key access.

Gate uses wi-fi so you can manage your Airbnb from anywhere in the world.

Your Gate connects securely to your unit’s wi-fi. Even if your wi-fi goes down, your PIN codes are permanently cached on the lock itself. So as long as the battery is charged, access using PIN codes is always available.

Other locks use location-dependent connectivity like Bluetooth but require you to be in close proximity to your door. Gate lets you manage your door access and guests from halfway across the world, as long as you’re connected to wi-fi.

How much does Gate cost?

Let’s get down to brass tax.

Like most verified access security devices, Gate offers a number of monthly service plans. The Basic service plan is free and allows you to see live streaming video. The Premier service plan gives you access to view and share your videos for up to five days and comes with 10 permanent PIN codes. The Premier Plus service plan is the best value giving you access to see and share videos for up to 30-days and has unlimited PIN codes.

You can check out Gate Smart Lock on Amazon for $349.

However, Gate offers a number of bundle packages. While pricing varies, the most popular plan is the two-year Premier Plus, which gets you the Gate Smart Lock for $199 and a two-year Premier Plus subscription ($160). So $359 out the door.

Should you make this investment in your Airbnb business?

If you have more than 1 Airbnb unit, then the answer is yes.

An investment in Gate will make your Airbnb business easier to manage remotely and ultimately more passive. Yes, the upfront and recurring costs of Gate may seem large, but the amount of time you will be able to save will likely be worth it to you in the long run.

Consider the time you’ll regain by not having to arrange the various entry requirements to manage your Airbnb unit. A smooth, safe, and seamless security experience with a Gate Smart Lock will help you improve your overall time management and help provide a winning guest experience—increasing the chances of gaining return customers and glowing reviews.

Want to read a similar blog post on smart locks? Check out our guide here.

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