But what if guests don’t want the lights in the house on at dusk? Can they turn them off?
Yes. At least in my house I still have switches.
2 Likes
Yes, if they want to change things they can. My airbnb is 3 bedrooms in my house, I sorta kinda think that having the hall lights on when it gets dark would be everyone’s preference, but there are wall switches. Entry doors that lock automatically when you go thru them so that forgetting to lock them becomes a nonissue could ‘possibly’ be something that a guest would not want to happen, but as in all things airbnb, being guest -centric means making them as comfortable as possible.
I’m pondering this. In principle I find it appealing.
If I’m just arriving, dragging my suitcase & a cooler & rushing to the bathroom, whatever is on the TV is going to ignored.
However an on demand welcome video could be appealing.
Create a YouTube video & send the link via Airbnb or text to their phone? Use the Airbnb scheduled messages to the guest at the beginning of your check in window?
If the guest receives link before they arrive guest #2 can view it while riding.
1 Like
We do have fun with it. Once the lights and show were running I didn’t have to do much. We keep good records on the expenses. The lasers were a super bargain about 3 years ago and I bought 30 of them. Now, not so much. We have had guests tell us over and over that the Enchanted Forest was one of the reasons they booked with us. When no one is there, my wife and I sit on the deck and enjoy it. I have about $500 bucks in the home automation. We pay for an Amazon unlimited music account and that is $17 a month. It has definitely been a good investment. The lasers work because the cabin is up against a very large hill. Thanks for your note.
1 Like
I really like your idea. I am going to have to explore it. Thanks! I haven’t done any YouTubes but I am sure I can learn. Now I have my project for next week. I’ll let you know how it goes. Do you have a YouTube you give guests?
We have had a blast but there have been a few warts. We have four groups listed as “would not accept another reservation”. Weird stuff though. Airbnb website and support creates some of our, “You have to be kidding” moments. One of the best automation purchases was our Wyze robot vacuum. It is fantastic. $269.00 The guest leaves and I start Rosie.
2 Likes
I like the question. Right now the answer is no.
Probably >60% of my guests need coaching on basic tech in the condo like how to access Netflix on the smart TVs & what to do if they goof up the selected input on the TV.
Then we have basic how to access the Airbnb messages especially leading up to checkin. (Checking email only on Saturday morning isn’t enough)
I’m 61 so my guests are more receptive to a little coaching from a peer.
I think my more tech savvy guests would like a welcome video but right now I don’t have enough of an audience
1 Like
Love the Jetsons reference.
Trivia question, “what’s the dog’s name?”
His name is the most often forgotten
Astro 2020202020202020202020
1 Like
We are about your age. (a bit older). I can still sing the “Meet George Jetson, his boy Elroy …” song.
Spacely Sprockets and the rest. My wife loves the YouTube idea. Now I have to do it. Thanks!
The dogs name is Astro but is pronounced Rastro. Love it.
2 Likes
Sounds like a good system. Did you find dependable outdoor wifi motion sensors? Waterproof doesn’t really mean waterproof.
Motion sensing is done at the floodlight, using infrared. I’ll use Wi-Fi controlled switches if I need to turn them on and off.
I never really watched that show as a kid. I was always pretty artistic, and I seem to remember thinking the art animation was ugly 
Muddy and JohnF. Power outages happen. All the lights go off in that case. We have emergency flashlights in each room. The only light we have problems with is the master bedroom overhead. It is on a switch and has a wifi bulb. When guest walk into the room the light is probably on because they used the “brighter” command to turn on all lights. They walk into the bedroom and by force of habit some folks they will turn of the switch. They then use the “darker” command to turn of the other bedroom lights. When they check out they will make a comment like, "I think the bedroom overhead light is out. It doesn’t come on when you say “echo brighter”. It isn’t working because they turned off the light switch. The kitchen, bathroom and main room ceiling fan (with light) are on light switches that are labelled. They seldom use the ceiling fan light. I am not sure why someone would want to turn off the Alexa system. In two years we’ve never been asked to. We haven’t anybody indicate anything other than they love it. Two words and 12 lights come on or go off. (or can be controlled individually) All the lights, powered by outlets or have wifi bulbs, can be turned on and off independent of the Alexa system. Nobody ever does though. (We never find a light turned off except the master bedroom switch. Last week we had a 78 year old man stay and he loved it. He didn’t have to wander around someone’s house and look for light switches. HIs grandaughter loved turning on and off the lights with Alexa We have had folks from 5 countries come through the cabin. We were worried that an accent would cause a problem but it hasn’t. Alexa figures it out. You didn’t indicate why you would want to turn off all the Alexa devices.
1 Like
-
Paragraphs are your friends.
-
Guests expect switches to work. Use a wifi SWITCH and a regular bulb; that way their control of the light is more direct.
Many times what the ‘luddites’ think is confusing is simply that something is left counterintuitive. A light switch that does not ‘work’ sends many people into ‘push all the buttons to see if it helps’ mode.
On this forum, for example, you will find many folks complaining that their guests left a bad review because the guest could not operate a smart lock (so they complained that it was ‘intermittent’) or that it was too dark in the hallway on the way to the bathroom (when the hall light switch was not in an intuitive place to be found). Automation helps so much, but only if the host does not assume that the guest has the same thinking process as they did when they set it up.
2 Likes
I agree. Long, uninterrupted, no white space text is too difficult to read on my phone. Keep your audience in mind if you want to be heard
Your paragraph comment is spot on. You’ll notice that all my other posts used them. This was a cut and paste job. There are other errors also such as “of” instead of “off”. I’m trying to communicate and will take a less laissez faire attitude towards my writing. Mark Twain wrote that “God made some men good spellers, the others he made creative” I fall into the latter category.
I doubt if a Luddite would even think of booking our cabin. The write-up would probably not appeal to them. Some folks may not want to do “Deck Dancing” under the stars either. I look over other Airbnb listings and try to determine the marketing theme of the property. Sometimes I can’t tell there is one. Many may buy into the Airbnb pressure that price is the market differentiator and in some areas, it might be. Around here, everybody has nature and a beautiful view!
Our technology does not depend on a “high tech” knowledge by the guest. We make sure that anybody can use it. One of our last guests was in his late 70’s and he loved it. The idea from Annet3176 is fantastic. She is in her 60s (like us) and she has a YouTube idea. Where is the creativity in this forum?
Airbnb’s website creates a limited ability for a host to offer differentiation. The search relies on a location to start a search. Take a look at braecabin.com and go to the the Welcome Pilots section. The cabin is one mile from a small but beautiful county airport. The Airbnb website could easily use keywords to enhance searching capabilities. Pilots, airport, kayaking, fishing, hiking, etc. would be on our keyword list. I am not a web developer by any means and this website was put together in one weeked using a Wordpress free template.
In keeping with this thread’s host technology theme, it is a shame that Airbnb does not engage a higher technology approach both internally and externally with hosts. If they really want to increase the number of guest says, a broader approach to searching would be useful.
3 Likes
JF,
You are always welcome but you might not enjoy it. KKC indicated that, “The cabin is run of the mill.” KKC would be pleased that we have already upgraded the stove and microwave. I neglected to update the photo on the website. We would enjoy meeting you.
The cabin is remote enough that there isn’t cell service unless a guest can use wifi calling. We do have a VOIP phone. There aren’t any radio stations for music. There isn’t cable TV (Roku TV). The guest can sign in to their streaming service if they like. (We log them out if they forget).
The light show, music, news, weather, and specialty ambiance lighting inside and out would go away if you unplugged the Alexa system. Normal lighting and safety lighting is always there.
I suppose being left with a beautiful forest, birds that love food on the glass plates and a 2.5 mile hiking trail to the “haunted” cabin isn’t so bad. Come on down. Use that Superhost certificate!
HC
Short list of ‘scary’ technology that from time to time get mentioned here…
Alexa
Google Home
Wifi Routers
Cell phones
Paypal
Amazon
Ebay
did I miss anything? 
2 Likes