Smart Tech Is In The House There is a significant technology trend impacting the vacation rental market – the adoption of Smart Home technologies by homeowners and Vacation Rental Managers (VRMs). This blog tends to focus on nuances of this trend, but let’s step back and take a high-level view of this fast-paced trend; growth in the sector, the benefits and risks…
In a previous post, I discussed the value of innovation from the perspective of the Harvard Business Review. Harvard Business Review: Take a Chance on Technology Innovation! It’s Worth the Risk. Here’s a quick reminder… By their nature, businesses tend to avoid risk. Once something “works,” we have a tendency stay the course. We stop looking for those awesome “hacks”…
2015 is knocking on the proverbial door. Rather than looking back at the year that was (adios 2014!), let’s take this opportunity to tease out the BIG 2015 trend… Smart home control, smart automation, Internet of Things….whatever title you want to prescribe, it’s going to be GIANT. You can stay current on a plethora of articles predicting the (continued) explosion…
Internet of Things. Smart Home. Smart Control. Home Automation. Smart Business. Business Automation. What the heck are we calling this tsunami of a technology trend? The confusion around “smart” technology starts with the name and extends all the way to vendors, technology capabilities, business applications and best practices. Smart technology is pretty much the wild west of today. A whole…
A few weeks ago I shared a blog post asking if Apple was racing towards the smart home. It turns out, the answer to that question is a GIANT, yes! Apple is indeed jumping into the smart home arena. To make the market a bit more exciting, Google is doubling-down on their smart home bets as well…and a slew of…
At the beginning of 2014, I made the prediction that 2014 would be the year that smart home control went mainstream in the vacation rental industry. Based on PointCentral activity in the first five months of 2014, I’d say it’s a pretty good prediction—10 VRM installs in the next three weeks! It seems the famed consumer products watchdog, Consumer Reports, shares a…
At the beginning of 2014 I made the prediction that 2014 would be the year that smart home control went mainstream in the vacation rental industry. Based on PointCentral activity in the first five months of 2014, I’d say it’s a pretty good prediction – 10 VRM installs in the next three weeks! It seems the famed consumer products watchdog,…
It has been a whirlwind few weeks of installations, trade shows, and travel. With another 10 vacation rental managers installing before the summer begins! It’s exciting to see the vacation rental industry embracing the benefits of smart home control. The positive response to PointCentral from VRMs is universal…and much appreciated. 🙂 As excited as everyone is about the technology, I…
Will smart home control lead to profitable vacation rentals? Hmmmm. There are a lot of ingredients to creating a profitable business, but considering the basis of this blog, I’m pretty sure you can guess my answer to that question. 🙂 Heck yeah! I’ve written about creating a profit with smart home control and how the operational improvements will create real…
Last week I shared a post describing the potential to Create a Profit with Vacation Rental Smart Home Control. I whole-heartedly stand behind the message of that post. Smart Home Control is a service that your guests and homeowners want (ah hem, you can check out a post on that topic as well :)). However, I’d like to take a…
You don’t hove to put up with the hassle and time spent on key management; automate access control at your property and assign temporary access codes to staff, vendors, and potential guests, so you can remain offsite while knowing exactly who’s coming and going, and how long they’re there.
Lost or duplicated keys are no longer a safety issue with keyless locks that can be controlled remotely from anywhere in the world. This increases guest safety and offers convenient amenity that helps differentiate your property from the rest.
Control your property’s temperature settings from anywhere in the world with our smart thermostat, which also allows you to create energy-efficient schedules so that when a unit or property is vacant, the temperature automatically adjusts. This prevents your HVAC from being overworked, saves on utility costs, and prevents you from spending time traveling to and from that unit to make adjustments. And thanks to built-in HVAC analytics, if your system isn’t working property, you will receive real-time notifications, preventing small issues from becoming costly emergencies.
Guests will also be able to remotely control their thermostats and set their own schedules based on their lifestyles, ultimately saving them on their utility bills:
Source: http://www.alarm.com/blog/energy-star-smart-thermostat
Trained on real data collected from thousands of HVAC units, our system learns which HVAC behaviors to look for so when an issue occurs, it will automatically notify you in real-time so you can take action before a small problem becomes on expensive failure. This ultimately saves significant maintenance staff time, prevents costly repairs or replacements for owners, increases the life span of your HVAC system, and improves resident experience by preventing HVAC failure.
By offering a video doorbell to your guests, they will enjoy the added security of always knowing who is at their door. With an integrated camera, motion sensor, digital microphone, and speaker, users can answer the door and speak to visitors via two-way audio directly from their phone app.
PointCentral has partnered with the largest names in Properly Management Software to provide seamless integrations for easy implementation and day-to-day operations. Your PMS system will be in constant communication with PointCentral, allowing property status changes and automation events to automatically process through both platforms.
For the past 7 years, we’ve been developing, installing, and monitoring enterprise properly automation systems that remove headaches, delight guests, and improve the bottom line through increased occupancy.
By focusing on residential properly managers and their needs, we’ve been able to address pain pants that are specific to making your jobs and lives easier.
PointCentral devices connect using cellular network to ensure that critical information is always flowing between you and your properly. You’ll never have to worry about Wi-Fi going out and causing your system to go down. We also encrypt all communication at key points along its journey to ensure property manager and guest data is kept secure. Learn more about our secure data practices here.
Our dedicated on-boarding team delivers best-in-class installation training and support tools, including USA based property manager focused support team. We also have a nationwide third-party team available to handle or supplement installation efforts.
Being part of a larger entity —Alarm.com (NASDAQ:ALRM) —we have the proven track record and financial stability to be a long-standing, reliable partner. And when it comes to the hardware we offer, we make sure to partner only with device manufacturers that meet the highest quality standards for use in multi-unit properties; you can rest assured that out hardware products will work the way you need them to for the long-term.
Don’t let key management continue taking time away from your daily tasks. Automate your turn days with keyless locks, which allow you to assign temporary access codes to staff, maintenance. and cleaning crews, so you can remain offsite while knowing exactly who’s coming and going, and how long they’re there.
Eliminate the need for guests to stop by the office to check in or out. Because our system will know when all cleaning crews and workers are done servicing the properly, you and your guest will automatically be notified when the house is ready. Your guest will then receive their access code that is active only during the length of their stay.
By using keyless locks, you will also eliminate the risk involved with having old duplicated or lost keys, ultimately increasing safety for your guests and your properly.
With a smart thermostat, you’re able to control temperature remotely, so your guests always arrive to a comfortable atmosphere year-round. You also have the power to set temperature limits so your HVAC system isn’t over-worked while occupied, preventing wear and tear that can cause costly damage.
With automatic schedules, you can rest assured that when your property 6 vacant, the temperature automatically adjusts accordingly.
Our smart thermostat lowers costs by automating temperature control:
Source: http://www.alarm.com/blog/energy-star-smart-thermostat
..and if you need to make changes, you con easily adjust from anywhere in the world.
Trained on real data collected from thousands of HVAC units, our system learns which HVAC behaviors to look for so when an issue occurs, it will automatically notify you in real-time so you can take action before a small problem becomes on expensive failure. This ultimately saves significant maintenance staff time, prevents costly repairs or replacements for owners, increases the life span of your HVAC system, and improves guest experience by preventing interference during their stay.
PointCentral has partnered with the largest names in Properly Management Software to provide seamless integrations for easy implementation and day-to-day operations. Your PMS system will be in constant communication with PointCentral, allowing property status changes and automation events to automatically process through both platforms.
Receive instant notifications if a sensor detects water from a leaky water heater, bathroom or kitchen sink. Pair water sensors with automatic water shut-off valves and have the sensors shut the valve instantly if a leak is detected.
Keep an eye on unoccupied properties and receive alerts if there is unexpected activity. See when guests arrive at occupied properties.
Allow your guests to have remote control over their vacation home’s garage door, so in wet or snowy climates, they are able to drop off their gear or equipment before trekking through the house. This not only gives your guests added convenience, but protects the property from wear and tear.
Allow residents remote control over their home’s garage door, so they never have to worry about whether or not they’ve left the door open after they’ve left for the day.
For owners or property managers who want added protection during the off-season, our partners can add monitored security to any property.
Being part of a larger entity —Alarm.com (NASDAQ:ALRM) —we have the proven track record and financial stability to be a long-standing, reliable partner. And when it comes to the hardware we offer, we make sure to partner only with device manufacturers that meet the highest quality standards for use in multi-unit properties; you can rest assured that out hardware products will work the way you need them to for the long-term.
PointCentral connects all of your devices through one single app, so you can control your properties from one place and one single login, no matter where you are.
Since 2011, we’ve been developing, installing, and monitoring enterprise properly automation systems that remove headaches, delight guests, and improve the bottom line through increased occupancy.
By focusing on residential properly managers and their needs, we’ve been able to address pain pants that are specific to making your jobs and lives easier.
PointCentral devices connect using cellular network to ensure that critical information is always flowing between you and your properly. You’ll never have to worry about Wi-Fi going out and causing your system to go down. We also encrypt all communication at key points along its journey to ensure property manager and guest data is kept secure. Learn more about our secure data practices here.
Our dedicated on-boarding team delivers best-in-class installation training and support tools, including USA based property manager focused support team. We also have a nationwide third-party team available to handle or supplement installation efforts.
You don’t have to put up with the headaches and wasted time that come with key management systems. Automate access control at your property and assign temporary access codes to staff, maintenance, and cleaning crews, so you can remain offsite while knowing exactly who’s coming and going, and how long they’re there.
Increase the efficiency of your turn days by being able to remotely control access and receive real-time updates on the status of your property.
Gone are the days of lost or duplicated keys floating around and becoming a safety issue or resulting in fraudulent leases or property damage.
PointCentral access control also allows you to offer unattended showings, so potential residents can tour your property at their convenience without you having to be on-site. You can create a unique, temporary access code, and you’ll receive a notification when the resident has left so you’ll know when to follow up on their visit.
Give residents increased peace of mind by offering video cameras that allow for awareness of what is going on inside a home, outside a home or at the front door.
Give residents increased peace of mind by offering video cameras that allow for awareness of what is going on inside a home, outside a home or at the front door.
By offering a smart thermostat, you can attract more residents who are willing to pay more to live somewhere with smart property automation. Tenants will be able to remotely control their thermostats and set their own schedules based on their lifestyles, ultimately saving them on their utility bills.
With automatic schedules, you can rest assured that when your property 6 vacant, the temperature automatically adjusts accordingly. This prevents your HVAC from being overworked, saves on utility costs, and prevents you from spending time traveling to and from that property to make adjustments.
Our smart thermostat lowers costs by automating temperature control:
..and if you need to make changes, you con easily adjust from anywhere in the world.
Trained on real data collected from thousands of HVAC units, our system learns which HVAC behaviors to look for so when an issue occurs, it will automatically notify you in real-time so you can take action before a small problem becomes on expensive failure. This ultimately saves significant maintenance staff time, prevents costly repairs or replacements for owners, increases the life span of your HVAC system, and improves resident experience.
Create energy-efficient schedules so that when a unit or property is vacant, the temperature automatically adjusts. This prevents your HVAC from being overworked, saves on utility costs, and prevents you from spending time traveling to and from that property to make adjustments. And if your system isn’t working property, you will receive real-time notifications, preventing small issues from becoming costly emergencies.
By offering a smart thermostat, you can attract more residents who are willing to pay more to live somewhere with smart property automation. Tenants will be able to remotely control their thermostats and set their own schedules based on their lifestyles, ultimately saving them on their utility bills.
Our smart thermostat lowers costs by automating temperature control, reducing energy consumption by:
Source: http://www.alarm.com/blog/energy-star-smart-thermostat
..and if you need to make changes, you con easily adjust from anywhere in the world.
Trained on real data collected from thousands of HVAC units, our system learns which HVAC behaviors to look for so when an issue occurs, it will automatically notify you in real-time so you can take action before a small problem becomes on expensive failure. This ultimately saves significant maintenance staff time, prevents costly repairs or replacements for owners, increases the life span of your HVAC system, and improves resident experience by preventing HVAC failure.
Receive instant notifications if a sensor detects water from a leaky water heater, bathroom or kitchen sink. Pair water sensors with automatic water shut-off valves and have the sensors shut the valve instantly if a leak is detected.
And if a sensor detects the ambient temperature drops too low — putting your property at risk for frozen pipes — you will receive a real-time alert so you can address the issue before it becomes an emergency.
Give residents the convenience of being able to control their lights remotely, while also creating schedules so that lights automatically turn on or off, saving energy and adding convenience and safety to daily living.
Allow residents to control their smart home devices from their favorite voice assistant, such as Google Assistant. Amazon Alexa, or Apple Siri.
For residents who want a fully monitored system, our partners can add monitored security to any properly.
PointCentral has partnered with the largest names in Properly Management Software to provide seamless integrations for easy implementation and day-to-day operations. Your PMS system will be in constant communication with PointCentral, allowing property status changes and automation events to automatically process through both platforms.
Being part of a larger entity —Alarm.com (NASDAQ:ALRM) —we have the proven track record and financial stability to be a long-standing, reliable partner. And when it comes to the hardware we offer, we make sure to partner only with device manufacturers that meet the highest quality standards for use in multi-unit properties; you can rest assured that out hardware products will work the way you need them to for the long-term.
PointCentral connects all of your devices through one single app, so you can control your properties from one place and one single login, no matter where you are.
Since 2011, we’ve been developing, installing, and monitoring enterprise properly automation systems that remove headaches, delight guests, and improve the bottom line through increased occupancy.
By focusing on residential properly managers and their needs, we’ve been able to address pain pants that are specific to making your jobs and lives easier.
PointCentral devices connect using cellular network to ensure that critical information is always flowing between you and your properly. You’ll never have to worry about Wi-Fi going out and causing your system to go down. We also encrypt all communication at key points along its journey to ensure property manager and guest data is kept secure. Learn more about our secure data practices here.
Our dedicated on-boarding team delivers best-in-class installation training and support tools, including USA based property manager focused support team. We also have a nationwide third-party team available to handle or supplement installation efforts.
Click here to learn more about what we do to ensure data protection.
You don’t have to put up with the headaches and wasted time that come with key management systems. Automate access control at your property and assign temporary access codes to staff, maintenance, and cleaning crews, so you can remain offsite while knowing exactly who’s coming and going, and how long they’re there. Plus, you no longer need to worry about lost or duplicated keys floating around and becoming a safety issue.
PointCentral access control also allows you to offer unattended showings, so potential residents can tour your property at their convenience without you having to be on-site. You can create a unique, temporary access code, and you’ll receive a notification when the resident has left so you’ll know when to follow up on their visit.
By using a combination of a security panel and video devices, your entire property will be professionally monitored 24/7. Secure sensitive areas after the office closes, remain aware of entrance and common area activity in real-time, and receive visual verification of alerts and unexpected activity, no matter where you are.
PointCentral has partnered with the largest names in Properly Management Software to provide seamless integrations for easy implementation and day-to-day operations. Your PMS system will be in constant communication with PointCentral, allowing property status changes and automation events to automatically process through both platforms.
Receive instant notifications if a sensor detects water from a leaky water heater, bathroom or kitchen sink. Pair water sensors with automatic water shut-off valves and have the sensors shut the valve instantly if a leak is detected.
And if a sensor detects the ambient temperature drops too low — putting your property at risk for frozen pipes — you will receive a real-time alert so you can address the issue before it becomes an emergency.
Allow residents to control their smart home devices from their favorite voice assistant, such as Google Assistant. Amazon Alexa, or Apple Siri.
For garden-style units with attached garages, extend the resident’s control from the front door to their garage.
Keeping residents safe means securing your property. Protect your common areas by efficiently managing permissions for all access points to your property through keyless, single-credential access across. your entire property. Quickly add or delete access and remain aware of important activity in real time.
Give residents the convenience of being able to control their lights remotely, while also creating schedules so that lights automatically turn on or off, saving energy and adding convenience and safety to daily living.
Here are the answers to your most common questions!
If you can’t find something here, feel free to reach out to us at 888.532.3032 or [email protected]
Please visit our solutions page to understand what we can do for the types of residential properties that you manage.
PointCentral uses cellular communication and does not require an internet router for any device, except for video cameras (these devices need the higher bandwidth of WiFi, but our video cameras use VPN software to make up for WiFi’s lower security than cellular).
PointCentral offers a variety of cameras for us by property managers and residents, including still shot cameras, video doorbell cameras, exterior video cameras and interior video cameras.
Please contact your property manager to understand what lock options are available.
Yes, multiple properties and be synchronized with the same entry codes, and multiple locks at the same property can be synchronized with the same codes.
We have various styles of locks available. Please work with your PointCentral contact to understand what options fit your needs.
Strictly residence and common area doors at this point, though we are working on greater access control solutions and expect to announce these new services soon.
Please call us at 888-532-3032 and select Support or contact your Property Manager.
Our extensive list of partners is listed on our About Us page. Integrations are included as part of our standard software package, so please contact your Account Manager to enable these integrations.
Yes. When you create a code, you can select a time frame for the code to work.
We’ve chosen to work with Yale based upon their rich history of providing a robust and environmentally sturdy lock.
Yes, the PointCentral Smart Thermostat can monitor, report on and automatically adjust the humidity level in your properties.
PointCentral has support available for both property management staff and residents
Property management staff that elect to self-install get access to our MobileTech app that helps walk them through installation and setup steps. If you run into questions, simply call us at 888-532-3032 and select support.
Yes – the PointHub our hub supports multiple devices, including multi-thermostat and multi-lock homes.
Yale has been innovating in the lock industry since 1840. Yale fully stands behind the locks, including coastal climates all around the world, with a 3 year warranty.
Our thermostat works with optional sensors and property status to coordinate temperature control with resident demands in an energy efficient manner, saving 10% to 15% off monthly bills on average. Our system also provides the property manager with data when an HVAC unit is not performing properly, and also allows the property manager to set temperature ranges to prevent system damage.
Cellular service has close to 99.9% reliability, while Cisco reports that 43% of broadband/WiFi customers experience an outage at least once a month. In the extremely rare case that the cellular network goes down, existing codes are maintained in the lock and there is a hidden ‘backup code’ that would allow property managers to grant access in the event of an emergency.
A standard PointCentral system includes our cellular hub, a door lock and a thermostat. On average, it takes a maintenance technician 20 to 25 minutes to install and setup this hardware.Here is a link to an installation overview video. We also have certified 3rd party installation partners nationwide that can also do installations for a small charge.
The locks can store 240 unique PIN codes.Expiring codes are deleted as they expire, freeing up space for new codes.
The locks can be set to auto-lock, so unlocked doors are not a security risk.
However, if the locks are set to manual lock, they are locked by simply touching the keypad. If the lock is left open, you can remotely lock the lock from any web-enabled device.
After asking the appropriate security question to identify Authorized User, the PIN can be provided and/or the door remotely unlocked
Many devices are battery powered, and many of the main-electrical powered products, such as the thermostat and hub, also include a backup battery, to maintain function during the occasional power loss.
Oracode Live is a service focused solely on bringin remote access to DormaKaba locks. PointCentral provides complete property automation services, including online keyless locks but also HVAC monitoring, water monitoring, lighting control, voice assistant integration and video monitoring. To learn why more property managers use our enterprise platform, please visit https://www.pointcentral.com/why-pc/
PointCentral has been providing property automation services to short and long term property managers since 2012. To learn why more property managers use our enterprise platform, please visit https://www.pointcentral.com/why-pc/
Please contact us if you are interested in being a partner.
PointCentral on the iOS and Google Play
Yes. With the push of a button, you can lock and unlock your door. You can also use a code at the lock, manually lock the door from the inside, or use Google Home or Amazon Alexa to lock doors from within the home.
Yes. You can customize settings for your heating and air conditioning and make changes at anytime via your smartphone. You can also change the temperature on the thermostat by directly interacting with it, enabling scenes or geo-fences, or using your voice with Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
Yes. Please talk to your property manager about available accessories.
PointCentral works with both Google Home and Amazon Alexa. We also have apps for iOS and Google Play devices, an app for the apple watch and apps for the Apple TV and FireTV.
Yes. Temperature schedules can be set and changed via your smartphone, tablet or desktop computer.
We have taken care to select partners who manufacture devices that we know will hold up in rental environments, and we only work with those devices. We are confident that you will find a device for every need, and we are committed to making sure these devices are competitively priced.
If you are a resident, please contact your property manager. If you are a property manager, please call us at 888-532-3032 and select support.
Property Manager support: 9a-9p ET (Mon-Fri), 10a-7p ET (Saturdays)
Resident support: 9a-6p ET (Mon-Fri)
*Support hours may vary for holidays
If you are a resident, please contact your property manager. If you are a property manager, please call us at 888-532-3032 and select support.
Please reference lock support documentation on our partner website.
The temperature may be automatically set based on the house status. Please call us at 888-532-3032 and select Support.
Your username is the email you were registered with. If you are a resident, this is the email address that you gave your property manager. If you are a property manager, this would be the email address you gave us during onboarding. Please visit our customer login site to login with this username and the temporary password you received.
Please visit our customer login site and select login help if you need to reset your password.
If you are a resident in a PointCentral enabled home, please contact your property manager to register your Account. If you are a property manager who is interested in learning more about us, please take 2 minutes to schedule a demo with us.
No, due to security reasons, the system generates random codes for users.
Yes. You can create a user code at any time from your phone. Please login to our customer site and create a new user.
If you are a guest or tenant in a property, please contact your property manager or call the number and select Option 3.
If you are a property manager please email us at [email protected] or call the number below and select Option 2.
