When choosing security systems and your Milford rental property, the choices are plenty. You may be wondering if now is the right time to install a home security system in your rental properties.
Installing a security system is a good and smart idea. But there are also many important things to consider before moving forward. For you to make the right choice for your properties, it’s best to know more about tenant privacy, cost, and other things for home security systems for rentals.
Installing a home security system may seem like a great idea because a tenant’s sense of security would be increased in the rental home. However, before a Milford property owner decides to install a security system in the rental property, he or she should check every aspect of the situation first.
Cost is an important thing to consider. Security companies often use the lure of a low-cost installation to entice you into signing a deal with them, only to have monthly monitoring fees and other expenses inflate the cost. Should you install a security system, you should make sure that everything is in place and decide beforehand who should be responsible for paying any related fees at Milford rental property. In areas where crime rates are high, what is necessary to keep your property and your tenants out of harm’s way is a reliable security system.
But if prospective tenants have a different perspective about the neighborhood, a security system can send a wrong message. Then we have to factor in costs. When computing for the monthly cash flows, the costs of security systems must be factored in if you are paying for these yourself. However, if you expect the tenant to pay for it, make sure they agree to do so before signing the lease. If you simply assume they will pay for it, but the tenant doesn’t want to, you may run into problems.
A security system may not even be important to some tenants. It may be because the neighborhood is safe, so a security system seems unnecessary. Or some tenants may lack the technical know-how and struggle using the system correctly and eventually give up out of frustration. You don’t want to install a system that does little to enhance security on the property.
Sometimes, your security system or security company may not be to your tenant’s liking. Your tenant might opt instead to install his or her security measures. Other tenants might prefer a home security system linked to their smartphone so that it would be easier for them to manage it.
Remember to consider the issues of privacy. Security systems with integrated cameras are the norm these days. Such systems are affordable but we should remember that it is illegal to take photos or videos in any area where your tenant would have a reasonable expectation of privacy. 0
When security cameras are placed on the exterior of the rental house, make sure that it shouldn’t capture parts of the property that shouldn’t be captured. It is best to check with the neighbors before installing exterior cameras to ensure that they know and are comfortable with which areas of the property are being recorded.
In the end, meeting the needs of the tenants should be a priority when choosing to install a home security system in your rental property. But you will soon arrive at the best decision for your investment properties after you have considered all the necessary information. Contact us online or call 203-821-7303 to speak with one of our Milford property managers today.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.