Security cameras on a STR

Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions

Security cameras on a STR

TX · Member since 2016 · 48 posts · 13 votes

I'm putting the finishing touches on my first STR and wondering if anyone has suggestions on security cameras and where to place them? I won't be putting any on the interior for obvious reasons, but on the exterior I'm thinking the front door, garage, and back door. My only worry with a back door camera is there's a decently sized patio in the back and I don't want guests to feel like they don't have privacy.

What do you all do for security on your STRs?

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Paul Sandhu

Investor · The worst town to live in, KS · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes

Quote from @Nathan Gesner:

National Talk Like A Pirate Day was last week.

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Luke CarlPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Tennessee Florida · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 5k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Christopher Oliva:

I'm putting the finishing touches on my first STR and wondering if anyone has suggestions on security cameras and where to place them? I won't be putting any on the interior for obvious reasons, but on the exterior I'm thinking the front door, garage, and back door. My only worry with a back door camera is there's a decently sized patio in the back and I don't want guests to feel like they don't have privacy.
What do you all do for security on your STRs?

I've always wondered is it "A STR" or "AN STR"? It's not a vowel, but...... Any English teachers?

camera's can't be on living areas including roof decks patios swimming pools or back yards. This is what I was told by VRBO and Airbnb. That being said if you call back and get someone else 2 minutes later you'll probably get a different answer. Most people use the ring floodlight pro.

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Ken Boone
Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
Yep I use ring floodlights. Easy to setup and access. You just need to make sure you disclose that you have one, it's location and what it is covering. Given your scenario I would skip the back door.
3 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
3y
This is 2019, but at least then AIR allowed cameras in the homes. Yes you had to disclose them but not where they were....
https://mashable.com/article/a...
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Kenneth Woodruff
Investor · Lancaster, PA · Member since 2022 · 74 posts · 104 votes
3y
Quote from @Christopher Oliva:

I'm putting the finishing touches on my first STR and wondering if anyone has suggestions on security cameras and where to place them? I won't be putting any on the interior for obvious reasons, but on the exterior I'm thinking the front door, garage, and back door. My only worry with a back door camera is there's a decently sized patio in the back and I don't want guests to feel like they don't have privacy.
What do you all do for security on your STRs?

0 Reply
Kenneth Woodruff
Investor · Lancaster, PA · Member since 2022 · 74 posts · 104 votes
3y
We have full perimeter cameras on our STR's; that includes all doors, parking and yard/deck. There is a spot on AirBNB and VRBO that asks if they are present, we disclose location of all and have never had a complaint, in fact we have had some guests tell us they appreciate the security.
We also have the ability to disable if a guest requests and we have a guest access so they can see the camera views as well if they wish. For our STR's this has worked well, hope it helps.
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Paul Sandhu
Investor · The worst town to live in, KS · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
3y
I keep a Zmodo camera aimed at the front door and HDTV. My renters know to unplug it when they arrive, and plug it back in when they leave.
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Michael BaumPro Member
Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
3y
Just the front door for us. Anywhere else it is like spying.

@Luke Carl, rule of thumb. Sound out the acronym. An Short Term Rental is grammatically wrong. A STR is not.
1 Reply
Trish Mccoy
Real Estate Agent · Grass Valley, CA · Member since 2017 · 185 posts · 198 votes
3y
I have ring doorbell, then camera monitoring front and driveway, and on in rear monitoring all sliding doors when vacant. I let them know carmeras are turned off when they are occupying the home, except the ring.
1 Reply
John UnderwoodPro Member
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
3y
The ring cameras are about as easy as they get. We put one up above the front porch so that it points at the driveway. This monitors all the comings and goings of guest and the daily Black Bears walking through the front yard. This camera has a solar panel to keep the battery charged.
1 Reply
Ken Boone
Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
Yea I had some guests that were really happy I had a ring camera. Bears came and messed up their Harleys. They called to see if we had video footage for their insurance company. We did.
2 Reply
Henry T.
Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
Wyze cam front and back doors. I wanna know if 1 person goes in or 30.
1 Reply
Leslie Anne Morris
Real Estate Agent · Smoky Mountains, TN · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 984 votes
3y
We use the ring floodlight also and monitor the driveway. On a few there is a ring doorbell when a floodlight can’t be installed logistically
1 Reply
Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Michael Baum:

Just the front door for us. Anywhere else it is like spying.

@Luke Carl, rule of thumb. Sound out the acronym. An Short Term Rental is grammatically wrong. A STR is not.

But the letter "s" starts with a vowel sound, so the acronym could be "an ess-tee-ar" instead of "a ess-tee-arr."
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Paul Sandhu
Investor · The worst town to live in, KS · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Nathan Gesner:

National Talk Like A Pirate Day was last week.
4 Reply
William Beck
Realtor · Branson, MO · Member since 2018 · 272 posts · 283 votes
3y
Very much recommend Ring doorbell products. Then maybe a camera facing the driveway. More than that it starts to look like you've got some guest trust issues.
1 Reply
Erik Stenbakken
Investor · Nortnern Colorado · Member since 2020 · 157 posts · 131 votes
3y
What you SHOULD do might be different than what you CAN do.
Check state laws too. In one state where I have property, it's illegal to have the camera see a hot tub regardless of where the tub is. And as many have said: DISCLOSE this clearly in listing.
2 Reply
Cameron MoorePro Member
Insurance Agent · DFW, TX · Member since 2021 · 348 posts · 245 votes
3y
Sometimes gives insurance discounts too!
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Joel Case
Rental Property Investor · Ocean Springs, MS · Member since 2022 · 349 posts · 301 votes
3y
Quote from @Luke Carl:

Quote from @Christopher Oliva:

I'm putting the finishing touches on my first STR and wondering if anyone has suggestions on security cameras and where to place them? I won't be putting any on the interior for obvious reasons, but on the exterior I'm thinking the front door, garage, and back door. My only worry with a back door camera is there's a decently sized patio in the back and I don't want guests to feel like they don't have privacy.
What do you all do for security on your STRs?

I've always wondered is it "A STR" or "AN STR"? It's not a vowel, but...... Any English teachers?

camera's can't be on living areas including roof decks patios swimming pools or back yards. This is what I was told by VRBO and Airbnb. That being said if you call back and get someone else 2 minutes later you'll probably get a different answer. Most people use the ring floodlight pro.

It's dependent on the sound of the following word. An STR, a short term rental. "eh" being a vowel sound you go with an.
2 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
3y
I state on VRBO and AIR that i have cameras, but I actually do not...
1 Reply
Michael BaumPro Member
Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Nathan Gesner:

Quote from @Michael Baum:

Just the front door for us. Anywhere else it is like spying.

@Luke Carl, rule of thumb. Sound out the acronym. An Short Term Rental is grammatically wrong. A STR is not.

But the letter "s" starts with a vowel sound, so the acronym could be "an ess-tee-ar" instead of "a ess-tee-arr."

Hehe like I said, a rule of thumb. Not a grammar law. :)
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Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Paul Sandhu:

Quote from @Nathan Gesner:

National Talk Like A Pirate Day was last week.

I had a neighbor in keep Portland weird whose business was Dress like a Pirate and they sure did. My daughter has camera on front door of her floating home.. but it caught fishermen coming out drunk and peeing off the deck LOL
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Angela Venger
Member since 2020 · 29 posts · 24 votes
3y
we only have the door ring, and so far that's been enough for us.
1 Reply
Kerry BairdPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Melbourne, FL · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
3y
I have a Eufy camera with automatic floodlights, set on the driveway. Or is that an Eufy camera?
2 Reply
Collin HaysBusiness Member
Property Manager · Gatlinburg, TN · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Luke Carl:

I've always wondered is it "A STR" or "AN STR"? It's not a vowel, but...... Any English teachers?

camera's can't be on living areas including roof decks patios swimming pools or back yards. This is what I was told by VRBO and Airbnb. That being said if you call back and get someone else 2 minutes later you'll probably get a different answer. Most people use the ring floodlight pro.

English Major here.

"A" Short Term Rental (STR).

And there is no apostrophe in "cameras", unless a camera possesses something.

"The photographer had multiple cameras."

"The cameras were clicking".

"The camera's lens was cracked."

For some reason, everyone wants to stick an apostrophe on any word ending with an "s", particularly if it is plural. As if the "s" is lonely and needs a friend. The role of the apostrophe is only to show possession of something, not because it looks cool.

My daughter asks me all the time why it is so important to earn a college degree. I tell her "because that is apparently the only place where you learn basic grammar any more." ;)

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Michael BaumPro Member
Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Kerry Baird:
I have a Eufy camera with automatic floodlights, set on the driveway. Or is that an Eufy camera?

I got that same one. Solar panel camera at Costco? 2 pack?
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