If you own a rental property and are looking for ways to make your home stand out from the rest of the rentals in your neighborhood, you may want to consider adding some tech upgrades to make your unit “smart”. 

For under a thousand dollars - or maybe even for half of that - some of the tech devices off of the list below may help you increase your rents and make your new tenants very happy! 

Today’s modern renters are looking for gadgets that are programmable, easy to control remotely, and add just the right amount of modern to be considered an advantageous amenity. Choose which devices will fit within your budget and will fill the desire of the market in your area.

 

 

As the vast majority of people have switched over to using smartphones nowadays, smart door locks are becoming even more popular. Smart locks give users entry into the unit without them ever needing to get out their key. These locks are operated by the user downloading an app on their phone and creating an account. At that point, they can begin using their phone as the key. Talk about convenience - never having to fish your door keys out of your pocket or purse again!

 

As the owner of the property, you may be concerned about security of the unit after the current tenant moves out. With most of these smart locks, the owner will set up an administrator account, and then will approve who the code can be sent out to. There are several accessibility options to choose from...unrestricted access -come and go at any time, limited access - such as when family is visiting from out of town, or restricted access - for a single entry, such as when a vendor would come to do a repair.

 

There are many brands and styles of smart locks to choose from. Do your research before buying to see which model and specific features you prefer.

 

 

Convenience is the name of the game when it comes to smart outlets. These outlets can be used in any room, and virtually any device can be plugged into it. Having these smart outlets allows your tenant to choose which items they would like to have the convenience of controlling remotely. Items such as lamps, chargers, and ceiling fans are all examples of ways your tenant will be able to use these.

 

 

 

If the unit you own is a fully furnished unit, then you might want to consider investing in a smart coffee maker. These programmable coffee pots can be turned on remotely from a smartphone or scheduled to start brewing at whatever time you choose. Talk about an upgrade - What tenant wouldn’t want to start a fresh brewed pot of coffee before they’ve even gotten out of bed?

 

The Amazon Echo is an easy and effective way to link all of your smart devices together at one central point. This type of hub will make it easy for your renter to engage all of the smart features you’ve provided to link up in one place. 

Not only will the Echo create an easy to use group of devices, but it will also be an excellent addition to the home itself. The Echo works overtime, doubling as a stereo speaker, personal shopper, and weatherman. Just ask the Echo whatever question you need an answer to, and it will direct you to the answer, or where to go to find it.

 

 

Smart bulbs are a great idea to control the lighting in your whole home from one single app. Stuck at work late? Turn on a few lights so you don’t have to come home to the darkness. Go out of town and worried you left the lights on? Check the app and turn off whatever you don’t want on. Having a party? Switch the color to create any mood you are trying to achieve. 

 

 

Whatever ideas you have in mind for your rental property, a small investment into the “smart” features of your home will certainly be an added bonus for any prospective tenant coming to look at your property. 

 

Making a few of these simple and inexpensive upgrades will certainly be a selling point when the time comes to sign a lease. And rest assured...the smart features you have invested in will most likely pay for themselves as you can raise your rents due to the desirability of renting a “smart home”.