Schlage Encode Plus Smart Lock
A top-tier keypad lock with built-in WiFi and Apple Home Key support. No hub required, and the build quality is bulletproof.
Recommended Gear
The gear behind every great guest experience.
Everything we use to run Cozy Quarters, our own DC rental, from the smart lock on the door to the soap in the shower.
DisclosureThis page contains Amazon affiliate links. Nested Stays may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.
Access & Entry
Access & Security
Lock it down before your first guest checks in.
Smart entry is non-negotiable for STR hosting. These are the locks and lockboxes we recommend for reliable, remote-managed access.
Yale Assure Lock 2
The lock on my door. Clean design, rock-solid reliability, and works seamlessly with most smart home setups. Guests love the keypad, I love not worrying about it.
Master Lock Key Lock Box
The one I use for backup access and key handoffs. Weather-resistant, easy to mount, and gives you a secure way to manage entry without being there in person.
Eufy Security eufyCam S330
My go-to outdoor cam. No monthly fees, local storage, and the video quality is genuinely impressive. Set it up once and forget about it.
Smoke + CO Detector
The exact detector I have in my unit. Comes with a 10-year sealed battery so there's nothing to replace and no hardwiring needed — just mount it and it's good for a decade.
Fire Extinguisher
Every rental needs one and most hosts wait too long to add it. Keep it mounted, visible, and in date — guests notice and it matters for your listing compliance too.
First Aid Kit
A fully stocked kit is one of those things guests never mention until they need it. Stock it once, check it annually, and it pays for itself the first time someone needs a bandage at 2am.
Power
Power & Connectivity
Batteries and WiFi — the infrastructure layer every smart home device depends on.
TP-Link Deco BE63 (Mesh Router)
The router running my property. WiFi 7 mesh coverage that handles every smart device in the unit without breaking a sweat. Guests get fast, reliable internet and I never get complaints about the connection.
Eneloop AA Batteries (Rechargeable)
The gold standard for rechargeable AAs. Long battery life, hundreds of recharge cycles, and they hold a charge for years sitting on a shelf.
Eneloop Pro AA Batteries (Rechargeable)
The ones in my smart locks. Higher capacity than the standard Eneloops, which means fewer swap-outs and one less thing to think about between guest stays.
Eneloop AAA Batteries (Rechargeable)
What I keep stocked for TV remotes and smaller gadgets around the unit. Rechargeables pay for themselves fast when you're replacing batteries this often.
Eneloop Pro AAA Batteries (Rechargeable)
The high-capacity AAA option for anything that drains batteries quickly. Same pro-grade reliability as the AAs, just in a smaller form factor.
Surge Protector
Protects every device plugged into it from power spikes. Cheap insurance for your smart home setup — one bad surge can take out hundreds of dollars of equipment.
Smart Home
Smart Home
Remote property control and energy management.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
The thermostat I run in my property. Remote control, scheduling, and occupancy sensing all in one — and guests never have to fumble with it because you can set limits from your phone.
Honeywell Home X7S Smart Thermostat
A solid alternative to the Ecobee if you want smart control without the premium price tag. Easy to set up and covers all the remote management features an STR host actually needs.
Linkind Matter Smart Plug
Turn any regular outlet into a smart one. Matter compatibility means it works across every major smart home platform, and it's the easiest way to automate lamps, fans, or anything else that just needs an on/off switch.
Guest & Bathroom
Guest Room & Bathroom
Everything in the guest's personal space — bedroom, bathroom, and comfort essentials.
Utopia Bedding Queen Comforter Duvet Insert
The duvet in my unit. Fluffy enough to feel luxurious but washes and dries easily between stays — exactly what you want when turnover speed matters.
Mellanni Bed Sheet Set
What's on my beds. Soft, durable, and holds up to frequent washing without pilling or fading. Guests consistently comment on how comfortable the bedding feels.
Utopia Bedding Premium Waterproof Mattress Cover
On every mattress in my property. Fully waterproof but doesn't feel like it — protects your investment quietly so guests never notice it's there.
Closet Hangers
Uniform hangers make the closet look intentional instead of thrown together. A small detail that adds up when you're going for a hotel feel.
Hair Dryer
A guest expectation at this point. Having one mounted or stored in the bathroom saves you from a string of messages asking if you have one.
Hand Soap Dispenser
The one on my bathroom sink. Refillable dispensers look cleaner than a row of plastic bottles and cut down on waste and restocking costs over time.
Shampoo / Conditioner / Body Wash Dispenser Set
What's in my shower. Wall-mounted, refillable, and instantly upgrades the bathroom aesthetic from basic rental to boutique stay.
Ginger Lily Farms Body Wash (Vegan)
What's in my shower. Vegan, skin-friendly, and smells clean without being overpowering — the kind of product guests notice and appreciate without knowing why.
Ginger Lily Farms Shampoo (Vegan)
The shampoo I stock in my unit. Lathers well, rinses clean, and works for all hair types so you're covered no matter who's checking in.
Ginger Lily Farms Conditioner (Vegan)
Pairs with the shampoo and leaves hair feeling actually conditioned. Guests who care about what they put on their body will notice you went with something quality.
Bathroom Trash Can
Slim enough to fit anywhere, easy to clean, and a detail guests notice more than you'd think when it's missing.
Bath Mat
The one outside my shower. Non-slip, quick-drying, and thick enough to feel like a real hotel touch without being a pain to wash.
Toilet Paper
Stock more than you think you need. Running out mid-stay is one of the easiest ways to tank an otherwise perfect review.
Kitchen & Cleaning
Kitchen & Cleaning
Kitchen appliances, cooking basics, cleaning supplies, and turnover essentials.
Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker
Compact enough to fit any counter and guests love the convenience. Single serve means no wasted coffee and no cleanup beyond swapping the pod.
Drip Coffee Maker
The coffee maker in my unit. Simple, reliable, and makes a full pot — the right move for properties where guests might be staying a few nights and want a real morning routine.
Ginger Lily Farms Hand Soap (Vegan)
What's in my bathroom and kitchen dispensers. Vegan, gentle on skin, and the foaming formula means it goes further per refill than standard liquid soap.
Scrub Daddy Sponges
What I keep at my kitchen sink. They last longer than standard sponges, don't hold odor, and guests actually treat them well because they look new.
Paper Towels
A bulk staple for any rental. Always have more than you think you need — they go fast and running out is an easy avoidable complaint.
Trash Bags
Buy in bulk, stage one under the liner of each bin. Guests can swap their own without having to dig around for a replacement.
Dish Rack
What's in my kitchen. Does the job without taking up too much counter space — functional and clean looking.
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
What I stock for turnover and what guests reach for when they want to wipe something down mid-stay. Buying in bulk keeps your cost per unit low.
Febreze Fabric Refresher
What I use between stays to keep the unit smelling fresh. A quick spray on soft surfaces makes a bigger difference than most hosts realize.
Tools/Software
Tools & Software
The software stack that runs my property on autopilot
Some of the links below are affiliate or referral links. Using them supports Nested Stays at no extra cost to you.
Hospitable (PMS)
My homebase for running Cozy Quarters. Hospitable is a property management system that automates guest messaging, syncs your calendar, and gives you a unified inbox so everything lives in one place. It also lets you list your property across multiple Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like Airbnb and VRBO and keeps all your listing information synced automatically. I'm on the Professional plan, which includes smart lock integration so access codes are generated and sent to guests without me touching anything.
Sign up through my link and you'll get $30 in account credit to start.
Pricelabs (Dynamic Pricing)
The tool I use to make sure I'm never leaving money on the table. PriceLabs adjusts your nightly rates automatically based on demand, seasonality, and local events, with granular controls so you can fine-tune exactly how aggressive or conservative you want to be. It also lets you compare your pricing against comparable listings in your area so you always know where you stand in the market.
Sign up through my link and you'll get a 30-day free trial plus $10 in credit.
StayFi (Guest WiFi and Direct Booking Pipeline)
StayFi turns your guest WiFi into a direct booking engine. When guests connect to your network, they go through a branded landing page that captures their contact information. Since OTAs like Airbnb and VRBO don't let you market your direct booking site on their platforms, StayFi gives you a way to build that relationship once the guest is already at your property. It also has built-in email marketing tools so you can actually put that list to work.
Sign up through my link to support Nested Stays — no discount is passed through on this one, but it goes a long way.
Minut (Noise Monitoring)
My noise monitoring solution for staying on top of what's happening at the property without being there. Minut alerts you if decibel levels exceed a set threshold for a defined period of time, so you're not reacting to a false alarm every time someone laughs too loud. It also monitors the number of devices connected to your network, which gives you a reliable way to flag potential overcrowding if you have a strict guest count policy.
Sign up through my link and you'll get a discount on your Minut subscription.