Summit County Mountain Retreats manages a wide variety of vacation properties in Colorado’s Summit County, from studios to large standalone homes. Based primarily in Keystone, with properties spread throughout the county, SCMR operates as a trusted property management company for homeowners. 

They don’t own properties themselves; instead, they offer owners tiered management programs, from basic services to their Platinum program, which allows owners to be completely hands off.

The Challenge 

As General Manager Brandon Terwilliger explains, traditional access methods posed a burden for both guests and staff. Guests often had to stop by the office to pick up key cards, parking passes, and welcome sheets before checking in. 

While effective, this process created unnecessary delays and detracted from the seamless mountain getaway that guests expect. For staff, managing keys and lockboxes demanded extra time, coordination, and manual tracking.

The RemoteLock Solution 

SCMR turned to RemoteLock to simplify property access across their portfolio. By integrating RemoteLock with Escapia, their property management software, SCMR now automatically generates unique, time-bound access codes for guests, staff, and contractors. 

This eliminates the need for guests to make an extra stop at the office, streamlines staff scheduling, and provides valuable access history.

According to Terwilliger, adoption has been strong: about 30-40% of homeowners choose to equip their properties with smart locks managed through RemoteLock. Although the initial cost of the locks can be a barrier for some owners, the long-term benefits quickly outweigh the investment.

Key Benefits

• Seamless Guest Experience: Guests check in directly at their rental without waiting at the office.
• Time Savings for Staff: Staff and contractors receive dedicated access codes, removing the need to manually manage keys or track down lockboxes.
• Operational Efficiency: Automatic code generation through Escapia means less manual work and fewer opportunities for error.
• Transparency and Security: Full access logs provide visibility into who entered a property and when, improving accountability.

Looking Ahead 

With more property owners seeing the value of streamlined access, Terwilliger anticipates wider adoption of smart locks and RemoteLock integration across SCMR’s portfolio. As he notes, the convenience of self check-in and the operational ease for managers and staff are quickly becoming expected standards in the vacation rental market.

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