A guest house that kept me hostage
We ran a small guest house. Every time a guest arrived, someone had to be there to open the gate. That sounds simple enough — until it becomes your whole afternoon. You can't go to the shops. You can't make plans. You're just waiting, watching your phone for the message that they're ten minutes away.
We tried a key safe. We tried giving out codes. We tried asking neighbours for help. None of it felt right. What we really wanted was to just open the gate from wherever we happened to be — from a restaurant, from the office, from the couch, OR, better yet, to allow the guests to open for themselves so we could live our lives undisturbed
So we built something that could do exactly that. A small device wired into the gate motor, controllable over WhatsApp. Send a message, the gate opens. That was the first version of SmartRemote.
Guest house
Where the idea was born — a gate that needed someone standing next to it
WhatsApp first
No new app to learn — just a message to a number you already know how to use
Then the office
Staff arriving early, clients visiting — the same problem in a different setting
Control from anywhere
From anywhere with a data connection — not just from the property
3
Independent switches per device
4
Ways to control — WhatsApp, Telegram, App, Browser
0
Monthly fees or cloud subscriptions
∞
Schedules that run without internet
Then we used it at the office
Once the guest house gate was sorted, we wired up the office. Staff arriving before anyone else — no more waiting outside. Clients showing up when you're five minutes away — they could be let in remotely. A delivery at the front gate while everyone was in a meeting — handled.
We added scheduling for the lights and the irrigation system at the property. Set them once, they run on their own. The device stores the schedule itself — no internet required, no cloud to go down, no subscription to remember to pay.
SmartRemote is the device we wanted to exist but couldn't find. So we made it, used it ourselves, and now it's available for anyone with the same problem.
The principles behind the product
Simple enough for anyone
If you can send a WhatsApp message, you can use SmartRemote. We deliberately avoided building something that requires a manual or a YouTube tutorial to set up.
Reliable over clever
We chose reliability over features. The gate must open when you send the message. The lights must turn on at the scheduled time. Everything else is secondary.
Works without the cloud
Schedules run on the device. Power comes back after a cut and the schedule resumes automatically. No monthly fee, no service going down, no data harvested.
If you've ever had to be somewhere just to open a gate, this is for you
Guest house & Airbnb owners
Check guests in remotely. No more waiting around for arrivals. Share a WhatsApp number and they can let themselves in.
Small offices & businesses
Let staff in before you arrive. Buzz in clients when you're in a meeting. No intercom hardware required.
Homeowners
Gates, lights, irrigation, pool pumps. Schedule them. Control them remotely. Stop coming home to a dark house.
Property managers
Manage access for multiple staff, cleaners, or contractors. Each person uses their own password for the switch they need.
Stop waiting. Start controlling.
SmartRemote is a compact device that wires into your existing gate motor, lights, or pump — and lets you control it from anywhere. No new wiring, no electrician, no subscription.