This holiday season, more people than ever will be saying “no-no-no” to hotels and opting to stay at vacation rentals instead. In fact, over 1 million travelers are expected to skip the traditional accommodation options this season and book a place to stay on Airbnb. That also means there are a lot of folks who will be renting out their place this Winter. That’s where we come in.
Over the past few weeks, thousands of hosts and guests have visited ProductBnB and told us which products and services they’d recommend to other Airbnb hosts to make their homes more efficient, secure, unique, and, well, homey!
We’ve interviewed the companies with the best products on ProductBnB and compiled the ultimate guide for buying that perfect, last-minute gift for anyone who rents out their place on Airbnb. And since it’s the season of giving, we’ve also included some exclusive discounts just for you!
Stack
Stack in 5 words:
Lights that respond to you
What was the inspiration for creating this product?
Stack: Before founding Stack, our CEO Neil Joseph was working in the Tesla Factory when he looked up at the ceiling and thought to himself — why are all of these lights so bright when the windows let in enough natural light? After two years of development, Stack has launched the Downlight, which dims with ambient light, turns on and off according to room occupancy, and adjusts color temperature throughout the day in sync with your body’s circadian rhythm to keep you feeling your best.
Who is your target audience?
S: Our lights aren’t just for the “tech crowd” — we’ve designed them to be simple and intuitive to setup and use so that everyone can enjoy responsive lighting.
What differentiates you from similar products out there?
S: No other lights have embedded occupancy and ambient light sensors directly in the bulb, so they create a non-invasive way for Airbnb users to know when their guests arrive and leave. We believe that the future of the internet of things lies in products that make our lives simpler; other connected lights just move the light switch from the wall to your phone, which actually complicates your experience. Stack lights work out of box to make your home comfortable and responsive to you.
Cost:
$150 for the Starter Kit
Head to ProductBnB for an exclusive discount code for Stack lights!
dojo
Dojo in 5 words:
Online privacy and security solved
What was the inspiration for creating this product?
dojo: My daughter had a band aid on her laptop and I asked her why? She said it was sick as it had a virus.
Who is your target audience?
d: Techies, moms, and small business owners who want to control their online privacy and cyber security.
What differentiates your product from similar products out there?
d: It looks amazing and is exceptionally easy to use.
What are you wishing for this holiday season?
d: A joyous Netflix and Chill.
Cost:
Retails for $199 but order by 31 Dec 2015 and save $100!
Boxpitality
Boxpitality in 5 words:
Hospitality supplies for Airbnb hosts
What was the inspiration for creating this product?
Boxpitality: The inspiration came from my own need as a host; I’ve been hosting in NYC since 2011 and I wanted a simple and convenient way to stock my Airbnb listing.
Who is your target audience?
B: Hosts on Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO, etc.
What differentiates you from similar products out there?
B: Our main differentiator is our brand, when a host purchases a Boxpitality product they know they get a high quality product with beautiful packaging that delights their guests and enhances their hosting experience.
What are you wishing for this holiday season?
B: Reach one million Boxpitality orders!
Cost:
$22.99 for a box of 18 toiletry kits
Head to ProductBnB for an exclusive discount code for Boxpitality kits!
Point by Minut
Point in 5 words:
Gives your home a voice
What was the inspiration for creating this product?
Minut: When you’re at home, you hear things, you feel things and you intuitively know what’s going at home. We wanted to give you that same sense of awareness when you’re away.
Who is your target audience?
M: Anyone who wants to monitor a home while preserving the privacy of people who share the space.
What differentiates your product from similar products out there?
M: Before Point there were two options to monitor a home, cameras or complex multi-sensor systems. Point gives you peace of mind to know that things are fine, without cameras or complexity.
Cost:
Retails for $119 but order by 31 December 2015 and save $20!
RemoteLock by LockState
RemoteLock in 5 words:
WiFi smartlock for your property
What was the inspiration for creating this product?
LockState: Our inspiration was simple…customers demanded it from us. We had overwhelming requests from hosts and owners of short-term and vacation rental properties for a door lock that could be controlled by the Internet. They needed a way to let guests and travelers in without having to meet and exchange keys. They also wanted to eliminate the nuisance of late-night calls from guests and travelers who were locked out. We wanted to offer a lock that was easy to install and connect and that could use a customer’s existing WiFi network.
Who is your target audience?
LS: Airbnb hosts and owners and managers of vacation rental properties. Also, office buildings and small businesses.
What differentiates your product from similar products out there?
LS: Our lock is still the only direct cloud-controlled WiFi lock with a keypad. With the RemoteLock you simply connect using your existing WiFi router while other lock companies require complicated installation of new network equipment to talk to their locks. Also, while the RemoteLock can be controlled with a smartphone app, the keypad allows guests and travelers to open the door with a simple pin code. Other locks require guests to download an app onto their phone, complicating the guest’s experience and locking out travelers if they forget or lose their smartphones.
What are you wishing for this holiday season?
LS: Peace on Earth, and Peace of Mind for Airbnb hosts and guests.
Cost:
$469
Head to ProductBnB for an exclusive discount code for the RemoteLock!
Scout
Scout in 5 words:
Modern and affordable home security
What was the inspiration for creating this product?
S: Upon the purchase of a new home, founder Dan Roberts was looking for a home security system. He realized that the industry was antiquated with old devices and expensive, long-term contracts. Scout was born to provide a more open and cost-effective solution that provides home-owners and renters flexibility in home monitoring.
Who is your target audience?
S: Anyone with a smartphone who owns or rents their home. Typically tech savvy millennials.
What differentiates your product from similar products out there?
S: Scout has optional 24/7 professional monitoring that can be added or removed at anytime. We allow users to pay month to month which provides the flexibility to add more security if desired. Scout is also connected with the best in class home automation devices like; Nest, Nest Protect, Philips Hue, LIFX, and Amazon Echo. Integrated with Scout, these devices create a better home security system.
What are you wishing for this holiday season?
S: A red ryder bb gun
Cost:
Prices vary. Hardware products start at $29.00 and the monthly Monitoring Plan starts at $9.99/month.
Head to ProductBnB for an exclusive discount code for Scout products!
SkyBell HD
SkyBell HD in 5 words:
Wi-Fi Video Doorbell for Smartphones
What was the inspiration for creating this product?
SkyBell: To make homes safer by allowing homeowners to see who’s at their door before opening it.
Who is your target audience?
SB: The target audience is homeowners, especially parents. This includes men and women aged 28–65. Airbnb hosts can also use the SkyBell to see who is coming in and out of their units.
What differentiates your product from similar products out there?
SB: We are “always on”, allowing a SkyBell user to start a live video stream at any time from the app — providing more monitoring over the front door. We’re also part of the Works with Nest and Xfinity Home platforms.
What are you wishing for this holiday season?
SB: Apple TV
Cost:
$199
Hacking Airbnb by Evan Kimbrell
“Hacking Airbnb” in 5 words:
The best Airbnb course online
What was the inspiration for creating this course?
Evan Kimbrell: I had been hosting for about 2 years and was the #1 listing in San Francisco. Seemed that a lot of hosts were struggling with the basics and could benefit from my trial and error approach to hosting. It was kind of an experiment because when I made it there was no such thing available so I wasn’t sure if anyone would buy it. Now there are probably a half dozen copycats.
Who is your target audience?
EK: Any host that wants to increase their bookings, their nightly rate, or figure out a more stress free and hands off way to rent & travel.
What differentiates your product from similar products out there?
EK: It was the first course and it has about 3x as much content as the longest competitor. It’s also made by someone who runs a big $$ property versus the case studies other people have built their courses on.
Cost:
$299 for 17 hours of video
Head to ProductBnB for a special discount code for “Hacking Airbnb”
Airbnb Hosting by Jasper Ribbers
“Airbnb Hosting” in 5 words:
Maximize income from Airbnb hosting
What was the inspiration for creating this course?
Jasper Ribbers: I noticed that a lot of hosts are leaving money on the table by not running their Airbnb listing optimally and I wanted to help them improve.
Who is your target audience?
JR: Current and aspiring Airbnb hosts.
What differentiates your product from similar products out there?
JR: My course comes with a lot of extras, like membership to a FB community, my guidebook and several tools
What are you wishing for this holiday season?
JR: What I’m really wishing for is to have a good time with my old friends from university who I’m going on a short trip with.
Cost:
$97 for 4 hours of video
Head to ProductBnB for a special discount code for “Airbnb Hosting”
August Smart Lock
August Smart Lock in 5 words:
Secure home access without keys
What was the inspiration for creating this product?
August: Both founders had used house cleaners in the past but constantly experienced difficulties letting them into their respective homes when they were away. They felt like there had to be better way to manage access to the front door that took into account changes in who has and should have access without having to replace lock.
Who is your target audience?
A: Consumers who are smart home enthusiasts who are also looking to add more security and control to their home.
What differentiates your product from similar courses out there?
A: We are a lock retrofit meaning we don’t replace your whole lock set, but rather we fit securely over the existing deadbolt. We support both iOS and Android and feature auto lock and unlock features that make it easy to enter and exit your home securely and automatically. We also offer a keypad accessory that communicates with lock and allows for secure entry without having to use a smartphone and a Doorbell Cam that allows customers to see who’s at the door, converse with them and ultimately let them in (if there’s an August Smart Lock on the door).
What are you wishing for this holiday season?
A: I’m wishing for a ton of snow to ski on, peace and happiness for everyone, and a safe holiday season.
Cost:
$199
