Complete Guide: OwnerRez + SmartThings Smart Lock Automation

If you're using OwnerRez for your vacation rental bookings and SmartThings for your smart locks, you're sitting on a powerful combination. The problem? Getting them to talk to each other isn't straightforward.

This guide covers everything you need to know about automating guest access codes—from understanding how the integration works to setting it up in under 10 minutes.

Why OwnerRez + SmartThings?

Let's start with why this combination makes sense for vacation rental hosts.

OwnerRez: The Host's Choice

OwnerRez has become the go-to property management system for independent hosts who want professional-grade tools without enterprise pricing. It offers:

• Direct booking website integration
• Channel management (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com)
• Unified inbox for guest communication
• Automated messaging and triggers
• Detailed financial reporting

Most importantly, OwnerRez has a robust API that allows third-party integrations to access booking data in real-time.

SmartThings: The Hub Standard

SmartThings is Samsung's smart home platform, and it's become the de facto standard for Z-Wave and ZigBee smart locks. If you have a Yale, Schlage, or Kwikset smart lock, chances are it's connected through SmartThings.

SmartThings advantages:

• Works with most major lock brands
• Local Z-Wave/ZigBee mesh network (reliable even if internet drops)
• Mature platform with years of stability
• OAuth API for secure third-party access

The Challenge: No Native Integration

Here's the problem: OwnerRez and SmartThings don't talk to each other natively.

OwnerRez is focused on booking management. SmartThings is focused on device control. Neither company has built a direct integration—which means hosts are left to bridge the gap themselves.

Manual Method (The Hard Way)

Without automation, here's what hosts do for every booking:

1. 1Log into OwnerRez to get booking details
2. 2Note the guest's check-in/checkout times
3. 3Open the SmartThings app
4. 4Navigate to the lock for that property
5. 5Create a new user code with the correct dates
6. 6Copy the code back to OwnerRez messaging
7. 7Send check-in instructions to the guest
8. 8Remember to delete the code after checkout

With 10+ bookings per month, this becomes a significant time sink—and a major source of errors.

iCal Method (The Unreliable Way)

Some hosts try using iCal calendar feeds to automate codes. The idea: export your OwnerRez calendar as iCal, import it into a lock automation tool, and let it program codes based on calendar events.

Problems with iCal:

How GuestsKey Bridges the Gap

GuestsKey connects directly to both OwnerRez and SmartThings APIs, creating a real-time bridge between your bookings and your locks.

The key difference from iCal: real-time webhooks. When a guest books on Airbnb at 3 PM, OwnerRez notifies GuestsKey within seconds. The code is scheduled before the guest even finishes reading their confirmation email.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Here's exactly how to connect your OwnerRez bookings to your SmartThings locks using GuestsKey.

Prerequisites

• OwnerRez account with at least one property
• SmartThings account with hub and connected lock(s)
• Lock must support user codes (most Yale, Schlage, Kwikset do)

Step 1: Create Your GuestsKey Account

Visit guestskey.com/onboarding and create your account. You'll need a valid email address. No credit card required for the 14-day trial.

Step 2: Connect OwnerRez

Click "Connect OwnerRez" and authorize access. GuestsKey will:

• Import all your properties
• Fetch the last 12 months of bookings
• Set up a webhook for real-time updates
• Retrieve guest contact information

This takes about 60 seconds depending on how many properties you have.

Step 3: Connect SmartThings

Click "Connect SmartThings" and authorize via Samsung's OAuth flow. GuestsKey will:

• Discover all your SmartThings locations
• Find all connected locks in each location
• Set up device control permissions

Important: You only need to authorize once, even if you have multiple locations. SmartThings OAuth grants access to your entire account.

Step 4: Map Properties to Locks

For each OwnerRez property, select:

• Which SmartThings location it belongs to
• Which lock(s) control access to that property

GuestsKey shows a dropdown of available locations and locks. Simply match them up.

Step 5: Configure Automation Settings

For each property, configure:

Step 6: Enable Automation

Toggle on "Guest Automation" for each property. GuestsKey will immediately:

• Generate codes for all upcoming bookings
• Schedule activation at check-in times
• Schedule deactivation at checkout times

That's it—you're automated.

Understanding the Code Lifecycle

Every guest code goes through a predictable lifecycle:

You can view the status of all codes in your GuestsKey dashboard. If a code fails to apply (network issue, lock offline, etc.), you'll see an error state with details.

Cleaner Code Automation

One of GuestsKey's most useful features is automatic cleaner access during turnovers.

How It Works

1. 1You set a permanent cleaner PIN (e.g., "2580")
2. 2GuestsKey detects gaps between bookings
3. 3Cleaner code activates at checkout time
4. 4Cleaner code deactivates at next check-in

Example Scenario

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Code Not Applied at Check-in

• Lock offline: Check SmartThings app—is the lock connected?
• Hub offline: Verify your SmartThings hub has power and internet
• Slot conflict: Lock may be full—delete old manual codes

Guest Phone Number Missing

Some booking channels (especially Airbnb) don't include phone numbers in the initial booking. GuestsKey handles this by:

1. 1Checking if phone is in the booking data
2. 2If missing, fetching full guest details from OwnerRez
3. 3If still missing, generating a random code instead

Booking Changes Not Reflected

If a guest changes their dates:

• OwnerRez webhook notifies GuestsKey
• Existing code schedule is updated
• New activation/deactivation times set

This happens automatically—no action needed.

Summary

OwnerRez + SmartThings is a powerful combination for vacation rental hosts—but without proper integration, you're stuck with manual code management or unreliable iCal syncs.

GuestsKey bridges the gap with:

• Real-time webhook integration (not iCal)
• Memorable phone-based codes
• Automatic cleaner access during turnovers
• Full code lifecycle management

Setup takes 10 minutes. After that, your locks manage themselves.