Perhaps just as important as these fun essentials is smart home technology, from energy-efficient thermostats to tech-enabled automated locks and security systems, which New England vacation homeowners are increasingly turning to to get the most out of their homes away from home and for peace of mind.
“This isn't just for the tech-savvy. It's becoming almost inevitable,” said Matthew H. Cole, president and CEO of Cape Associates Inc. in Eastham.
In addition to building custom homes, Cape Associates also manages a portfolio of about 480 privately owned properties on the peninsula, which is especially popular in the off-season.
“Whether you call it the 'Internet of Things,' or simply 'WiFi-connected devices' or 'smart devices,' they are becoming more and more common,” Cole said.
These gadgets have become especially popular recently: According to a January report from YouGov, an international online survey data and analytics technology group, 65% of Americans now own at least one smart home appliance or device, up significantly from 51% in 2020. Among the most used products are security products.
“People are just hungry for information,” Cole said. “They want to know what's going on in their homes, whether they're at home or not. They want to be in control.”
For some, that might mean having backup batteries to keep all your equipment running during coastal storms or mountain blizzards, or it might mean installing security cameras and smart lighting throughout your home.
All of this is true for JC Murphy, president of Savant Systems, a Massachusetts-based pioneer in the home automation industry.
During a recent Zoom call, Murphy quickly pulled up Savant's unique dashboard, showing real-time monitoring of his Florida vacation home, from the front door camera to the power draw of the pool pump.
“We think that from 15 years ago to now, the smart home experience has changed dramatically because of the explosion of connected devices in general,” Murphy said. “And that's just continuing to happen. In fact, it's happening very quickly.”
While data on the use of this technology in second homes isn't widely available, industry experts say the market is certainly part of a steadily increasing adoption of smart technology.
Vacation Rental Properties
“Airbnb has a lot of smart technology built into it. Our Airbnbs typically have three to five smart devices on them,” said Maria McNeice, founder of McNeice Management, which helps property owners in Massachusetts and the South list their rentals on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. She likened the service to a “front-desk concierge.”
The company's portfolio includes 150 properties, including 10 in Greater Boston.
“There's a whole range of devices running, whether it's smart thermostats, Ring cameras, decibel monitors or monitors that track how many devices are in the house if there's a party or whatever,” McNeice says, “So there's a whole range of devices out there now that are helping vacation rental owners.”
For McNeese customers, smart home technology is not optional.
Hotels that do business with the company are required to install, at a minimum, Wi-Fi-enabled keyless locks, a convenient device for maintenance workers and arriving guests that eliminates the hassle of having to hand over a key.
Similarly, Vacasa, a national vacation rental property management service with more than 700 properties in Massachusetts, offers its clients digital locks, decibel monitors and a “WiFi portal” that guests can log into upon arrival, similar to a hotel front desk, said TJ Clark, the company's chief commercial officer.
“Smart home is very fundamental to us,” Clark says, “so if we're bringing it into your home, we're bringing you a suite of smart home products that we think are really important to enhance your guest experience and the management of your home.”
While there are plenty of comfort features on the market, from smart TVs to air conditioning, most of the equipment made for the rental industry is geared towards “security and protecting the host,” McNeice said.
And the rental property owners she works with are often willing to spend more on such devices to protect their properties than, say, a smart thermostat, she said.
“That's probably the biggest concern for Airbnb owners because we're not dealing with billionaires,” she says. “Typically, it's their only investment property, and one guest party or significant damage can be extremely damaging to their operations.”
But smart technology can collect vast amounts of information about a property, which also raises privacy concerns for potential renters.
In March, Airbnb announced that it would no longer allow property owners to install security cameras indoors. While cameras were previously prohibited in bedrooms and bathrooms, hosts were allowed to install cameras in common areas like living rooms, kitchens and hallways, as long as they notified potential guests before booking that the cameras would be clearly visible. (Outdoor cameras are also subject to location restrictions and notices.)
“Airbnb is right: in most states, it's illegal to have live cameras in your home,” Clark says, “and that's the last thing your guests want. If you're a short-term rental, you want your guests to have a great experience, right? So having live cameras is a terrible idea.”
Because decibel monitors strictly monitor noise but don't record audio, McNeice said there's no “legitimate reason to need a dash camera.” “You'd be amazed at how many people fight me and want a dash camera. I think not only are they creepy, but they're just plain illegal.”
Privately owned villa
For private vacation homes, cameras don't necessarily have to be just for security purposes.
“If you have a nice view and you've had a tough day at work, it's nice to have the camera out and look out as if you were on the property,” says Cape Associates' Cole. “You might catch some wildlife on the camera. We call it a security camera, but it's more for visibility into what's going on than it is for security.”
For those looking to make their holiday home more high-tech, Cole recommended starting with planning for a strong, reliable Wi-Fi supply.
In Cape Town, homeowners may choose to install “redundant connections,” such as connecting through a traditional cable internet provider in addition to satellite-based provider Starlink, so that devices stay connected even if one connection drops, Cole said.
Smart valves, which shut off the water supply to a home if a leak is detected, are also one purchase homeowners should consider, especially since they “can pay for themselves through insurance discounts,” he said.
Cape Associates has recently completed a number of installations of battery backup systems such as Tesla Powerwalls as an alternative to, or in addition to, emergency generators, which can play a key role in preventing pipes from freezing when a winter storm knocks out the power, Cole said.
“The software that runs it is tied to weather forecasts, so on days like today when high winds are expected, the batteries are fully charged the day before so they're ready for the storm,” he said. “You get a warning for that.”
And of course, there's still a lot technology can't do: When the power goes out, Kohl's property management company comes to the rescue.
“Having a little bit of technology and the human element when needed can make owning a second home less stressful, more stress-free and more enjoyable, and we all need to get away from it all and go to our happy place every now and then,” he said.
Contact Christopher Gavin at cgavinjournalism@gmail.com or follow him at X. @GlobeHomessubscribe to our weekly real estate newsletter at Boston.com/address-newsletter.