Do any of you use IP cameras to remotely handle some PM tasks?

Question

Hi,

Since I may be investing upwards of 1 hr and 45 min away from where I live, I've been contemplating the logistics of self management. Since it won't always be easy to get there, I thought using IP cameras could be a great way to handle some management tasks. Obviously it wouldn't be practical once a tenant moves in, but if you need to purchase a property to fix up, you could communicate and keep track of contractors/other visitors in the event you couldn't make it to the property.

• Buy a few IP cameras (couple hundred bucks), and place them strategically throughout the property where you know work will be done.
• Download whatever app needed for that brand camera.
• Have a lockbox, the code to which you can change remotely via an app.
• Schedule work, contractor goes in with code, cameras detect motion and turn on.

You can now communicate with the contractor and keep tabs on how things are progressing on the property all from your smartphone screen while you're at work. Once they're done you simply change the lockbox code from your phone. I figure if you alert people before hand of the cameras, get consent and feel you can trust (very important) them, this could be a useful management technique.

Anyone else doing this? Any of you think it's crazy and wouldn't consider it for any reason?

Sean Tracey · Answer

Hey @Jacob Pereira Ideally, I would get basic cable internet service (in my area it costs me about $35/month) without an annual contract. Other methods, like relying on a cellular data connection, might prove to be cost prohibitive. I think it would depend on how much data would be needed for the video feed. If you could get a mobile hotspot and leave it at the property it might work. Most carriers would charge 10$ per Gigabyte over whatever data limit you have. I just finished reading @Brandon Turner's book on Rental Property Investing, and one of the things that has been sticking in my mind is how he talked about starting to think about how you CAN do things, instead of can't. Kind of a simple motivational statement, but it made me realize how often I tend to think of why things won't work instead of figuring out ways to make them work. With some more research, I believe there could be a way to get connectivity in a cost-efficient manner.

Jerry W. · Answer

Interesting concept. I am intrigued by it. I would put up a sign on the front and back doors that this property is monitored by remote cameras. Be sure they do not get placed whee they look at toilets, etc. You might even get a break on your property insurance.

Jacob Pereira · Answer

Hi @Sean Tracey,

I couldn't agree more. Figuring out how things can work is the only way to survive in our business. Like I've said, I would love to hear the experiences of others who have gotten this to work so I can consider it for my properties. For the record, my farthest property is 20 minutes from my current residence so it's not the end of the world if I can't get it to work, but any task I can complete without putting on pants is a win in my book.

Jacob Pereira · Answer

I love the idea, and I've toyed with it as well, although I've never gone even as far as to figure out implementation. How will you get connectivity to the cameras? You'll need some sort of connectivity, which might be difficult if you don't live there. I know there are some that can work with a cellular chip, but I think that's a pretty expensive monthly fee. I'd love to hear if anyone has good solutions to this, because that would help my situation as well.

Kimberly H. · Answer

Cool idea

Sean Tracey · Answer

Thanks for the suggestion for taskrabbit and wegolook @Ian Ray. Always great to learn about more tools that can help streamline processes.

Sean Tracey · Answer

@Lorin K. I was thinking something along the same lines lol. Robots, and automation in general, may just have some very cool benefits for real estate investors. Might be some years before the robot overlords become a possibility.

Jerry W. · Answer

Even if you own a house you can violate privacy laws. Many states have laws that prohibit eavesdropping or monitoring places where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The sign is to remove the reasonable expectation of privacy.

Sean Tracey · Answer

@Alexander Price that is certainly something to consider. Thanks for pointing that out. I figure the real issue is not so much knowing if they're working, since you'd realize that from not being able to connect to them or see the video feed, but if they did glitch frequently they could become a nuisance. Hopefully there are reliable models that keep this sort of stuff to a minimum. Some may even let you reboot remotely as a troubleshooting step.

Lorin K. · Answer

I have thought of the very same idea. PTZ cameras with zoom would help a great deal. I was thinking "Would it be cool to have a mobile robot with Camera and screen on it...that is can mill around the house to inspect the work done? Well there is such robots but often used for other purposes.

Do any of you use IP cameras to remotely handle some PM tasks?

Do any of you use IP cameras to remotely handle some PM tasks?

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