How One Vacation Rental Company Scales Smarter with RemoteLock
Since 2015, Mid-Florida Vacation Homes has helped guests experience the best of central Florida with upscale accommodations just minutes from theme parks, golf, and natural attractions. But with nearly 90 properties under management, owner Chris Abbott knew early on that operating a strong business required more than just clean linens and friendly service — it meant automating operations wherever possible.
That’s where RemoteLock came in. Mid-Florida began using the platform in 2016, adopting it ahead of competitors. “I always subscribe to the KISS [keep it simple, stupid] method,” Abbott explained. “RemoteLock just popped up before anybody else — and it worked.”
Today, most of Mid-Florida’s homes are managed with RemoteLock software. From initial adoption to its ongoing success, Abbott credits three key benefits: total control, automation, and visibility.
Automating Access for Better Guest Experiences
Time-sensitive PIN codes are the backbone of RemoteLock’s vacation rental solution. Integrated directly with Mid-Florida’s property management system, CiiRUS, RemoteLock automatically generates a unique access code for every guest reservation. Codes activate precisely at check-in and expire at check-out, ensuring no early arrivals or lingering guests.
Before automation, managing access was far more manual. “We had one house that was supposed to check in at 4,” Abbott recalled. “When I went by at noon, they were already there. We were only using four codes at the time — one per quarter.” Now, every guest gets their own code, and misuse is virtually eliminated.
Gaining Control Without Complexity
With dozens of properties spread across the region, RemoteLock gives Mid-Florida centralized control over who can access each home — and when. That applies not just to guests, but also to housekeepers, inspectors, and contractors. Abbott and his team can assign access by role, schedule it in advance, and make updates from anywhere.
Because the system is integrated with CiiRUS, staff never need to jump between platforms. Booking data automatically informs access schedules, so there’s no need to send manual codes or coordinate with third-party apps. “The integration keeps everything in one place,” Abbott said. “That’s huge.”
Encouraging Homeowner Buy-In
While Mid-Florida operates a few homes on other systems, Abbott highly encourages homeowners to switch to RemoteLock. Why? The benefits speak for themselves: increased security, streamlined operations, and fewer access issues. “It gives us total control over who enters any property,” he said. “That’s not something you can say with keys or even traditional smart locks.”
And because RemoteLock works with a wide variety of hardware — including Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, and even offline locks — property owners don’t need to invest in expensive infrastructure upgrades to get started.
Unlocking the Power of Integration
Mid-Florida’s use of RemoteLock is powered by a seamless integration with CiiRUS, one of the industry’s leading vacation rental property management systems. This connection means everything from bookings to billing to access control can be handled in a single dashboard.
When a new reservation is confirmed, a unique PIN is created and sent to the guest. If the booking is canceled or updated, RemoteLock immediately syncs those changes. For property managers juggling dozens of units and multiple channels, this automation eliminates hours of manual work and dramatically reduces the risk of human error.
The integration also provides real-time visibility into access events. Whether a housekeeper arrives on time, a guest checks in early, or a lock needs a battery replaced, the Mid-Florida team knows right away.
A Smarter Way to Grow
Mid-Florida Vacation Homes demonstrates how RemoteLock supports vacation rental companies ready to scale without sacrificing service. By combining RemoteLock’s universal access control with the CiiRUS platform, Abbott and his team run smoother operations, deliver better guest experiences, and stay ahead in a competitive market.
“The system just works,” said Abbott. “And it keeps getting better.”
RemoteLock
Automated Access Control and More
RemoteLock has been automating access control and improving on-site property operations efficiencies across multiple industries, including vacation rental and multifamily, for more than ten years. As a leading access-centered property operations software platform provider with more than 10,000 customers in 75+ countries, RemoteLock helps property managers enable, control, and automate access and climate control across their portfolio. RemoteLock’s platform saves property managers time and money through the elimination of tasks for onsite staff and helps scale businesses with greater confidence. It is differentiated by its dozens of integrations with applicable hardware and business software systems for an easy-to-use, turn-key solution.
