Greetings,

Does anyone use home security cameras at their rental properties? Do you prefer hardwired or battery powered?

@Michael Craig I use security cameras at my Vrbo. They are outside only. They are hardwired. I don't want to deal with changing batteries. My cameras are POE (power over Ethernet) so one Ethernet cable is used for signal and power to the cameras. If you only pay $300 for a wireless camera system at Sam's then you are getting what you paid for.

I use higher end Digital Watchdog cameras and software and I love this system.

On my Airbnb, I use Ring doorbell that provides a wired or battery-operated functionality. I prefer wired, which is just swapping the low voltage doorbell wires from the existing doorbell to the Ring doorbell.

No issues.

I have a security system on my house that's hard-wired. I paid $1200 installed for a 4-camera system and a 2 terbyte hard drive (holds four weeks of footage). 

It's worth every penny. I haven't had a need for a system on any of my rentals (knock on wood) but if I did I'd buy something similar to what I currently have. 

If you decide to go with professional instillation then get as many quotes as possible. And after you choose a quote you like, ask if they'll go any lower if you pay cash.

My lowest quote was $1350 and they went down to $1200 for paying cash. 

@Michael Craig wired is definitely the way to go, so you don't have to continually change out the batteries.  An Arlo cam I have lasts about 2 months, in moderate to light traffic areas.

Beyond that, why are you wanting them?  If they are not connected to the internet, you will need local storage to save footage to.  If you want cloud-based, you will need to pay for internet to be able to access from anywhere.

We use either the Nest or Ring Cameras.  Both support POE.  We have an electrician install POE ports near the cameras and boom we're off to the races.  We also setupa mesh network with SSL encryption too.

Just installed (2) types of out of the box wireless cameras systems (wired and wireless).  Budget & deterrence is the factor.  Eufy by Anker was $200 for 2 cameras, $150 for wired flood light  cams.  These are good and the newer versions/models had facial recognition that snap shots zoomed in faces and sends those faces to your phone which is better than a screen shot of the entire screen because you'll end of going to viewing footage on other notifications (something is at side gate).  There are wired simple Wyze Cameras that go for $25 + $20 if you need longer cables to power the unit or weather proof housing.  If you can hide them under the eaves / under protection, you're good.  Add $12 memory card each camera, completes the system.  So I spent $800 on (4) eufy cams , solid, easy, good tech, $180 for (6) Wyze Cams. 

You'll need to decide if you require high def/high quality cameras and which location.  Mix high quality with general quality to build a system.  Yes it would be great to have 1 system but they both do what I need and I didn't spend $1K.  Also would you have more coverage/cameras or better footage?  Having both increasing the price.  I'd use that extra savings for other issues on the property.