Air Conditioner Security Cages And Turnkey Deals

Atlanta, GA · Member since 2015 · 11 posts · 1 vote

I'm curious as to the psychology involved with external security measures. Specifically whether or not marketing 'added security' via #ACCages, Steel Doors, Burglar Bars, Crawl Space Doors, etc. would make a property More/Less Attractive to resale?

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Curt DavisBusiness Member

Flipper/Rehabber · Memphis, TN · Member since 2008 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes

10y

I dont know if seeing a caged ac unit should be a dis qualifier. Even in nice areas, vacant homes are subject to theft.

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Jeff Robert
Real Estate Agent · Grand Rapids, MI · Member since 2016 · 127 posts · 56 votes
10y
I guess it would of course depend on the area, but I wouldn't waste my money if merely as a marketing technique. I think i would take a different approach: sell those products/services to the new buyer after they take possesion.
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Jeff B.
Buy & Hold Owner · Redlands, CA · Member since 2015 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
10y
Looks ugly and imo sends the wrong visual message. Want to keep the property forever - - - armor all the doors, windows and external fixtures and it starts to look like Ft Knox or the Alamo.
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Hank Sacco
Norcross, GA · Member since 2014 · 54 posts · 26 votes
10y
Specific to Metro Atlanta, many of the areas where distressed properties are located have this problem. It was an epidemic at one point. The folks looking to buy or rent in these areas know it as well as you so go ahead and protect your property or the A/C may not be there when its time to close.
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Jeff B.
Buy & Hold Owner · Redlands, CA · Member since 2015 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
10y
If class-c properties is the doorway to REI, then try hard to get one in a class-B neighborhood. This gives room for improvements, better equity and then better tenants and rents :)
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Jason Hern
Investor, Realtor · Decatur, GA · Member since 2015 · 89 posts · 45 votes
10y
I would never try to market this. It's not a positive thing, but only if necessary explain it as a necessary evil. But keep in mind in June 2015 Georgia passed a new law requiring a receipt for a new unit or a licensed contractor to recycle AC equipment, copper pipe and wire. I believe this is going to significantly reduce the amount of thefts.
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Account Closed
Investor · Newnan, GA · Member since 2013 · 86 posts · 33 votes
10y
We went looking for house in Decatur this weekend for my single daughter, and if we saw a neighborhood with caged a/c units we crossed it off the list. So selling the upside to an owner-occupant might be a questionable.
But flipping over the coin, Grasshopper, I've sold SFR rentals in the 30310 zip code, Oakland City area, to out-of-state investors, and there it was a plus, offering a safe, secure, ready-to-rent property is truly turnkey. Installing a cage on a class-c rental property is good business.
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Curt DavisBusiness Member
Flipper/Rehabber · Memphis, TN · Member since 2008 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
10y
I dont know if seeing a caged ac unit should be a dis qualifier. Even in nice areas, vacant homes are subject to theft.
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Phil Earley
Property Manager · Cumming, GA · Member since 2015 · 261 posts · 199 votes
10y
One of the first rules I learned was if the ac unit needed to be put on the security system, it was not an area we needed to be investing in.
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Cal C.
Investor · Peachtree Corners, GA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
10y
if someone is trying to sell you a turnkey property with an iron cage around the outside Hvac unit RUN!
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Andy Luick
Real Estate Investor · atlanta, GA · Member since 2013 · 456 posts · 237 votes
10y
@Janice Traub- are you asking us because you are marketing cages? In areas like 30310 and 30311 it's just a cost of doing business there. Even on the nicest block you have someone eying the house and as soon as it's vacant, they're robbing the place. The legislation won't help much at all as few of these units get reinstalled "new" somewhere...they head to the scrapper for a quick $20. Most of the neighbors won't rat anyone out in those areas so if you can slow them down or deter them...all the better.
I once had a property on elizabeth in 30310 and we spent a fortune on a theft proof cage. In the end, the property went vacant. Someone wrapped chain around our cage, tied it to a truck in the neighbor's yard and pulled the cage out of the ground. The street is still a hell hole even if it's at the rear gate to Ft Mac. It's time will come but I don't wish to be a part of it.
We still selectively use cages but it's more on how private the yard is around the property. On our east point properties, we use cages half the time. But if someone is venturing into areas like oakland city, adair park, capital view or pittsburgh.....just have to have them.
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Derrick Craig
Memphis, TN · Member since 2013 · 969 posts · 524 votes
10y
@Janice Traub
There is nothing wrong with having cages around AC units outside that is normal here in Memphis even in some of the great rental areas, churches and a lot of businesses have them around there condenser units definitely not a disqualifier in my eyes. More like a QUALIFIER to me added protection!!
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Janice Traub
OP
Atlanta, GA · Member since 2015 · 11 posts · 1 vote
10y
WOW! Thank you all for taking the time to respond so very quickly.
@Jeff Robert Sellers generally don't have any concern for what steps buyers take after closing. As you stated, depending on the area, but often it's a matter of saving money by putting the measure in place to deter vandalism.
@Jeff B. I would have to say that having worked in the street-by-street, turn-by-turn Metro Atlanta market for many years (in various capacities) there's even significant equity to be mined in Class-C locations. It's a 'don't throw the baby out with the bath water' kind of town.
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Janice Traub
OP
Atlanta, GA · Member since 2015 · 11 posts · 1 vote
10y
@Hank Sacco My thoughts exactly. I wanted to know other people's opinions regarding relevancy and marketability of the home and the product. Better safe than stupid. One of the bigger issues is realizing that this is not an 'inner-city problem'. It's simply a problem. Location, Location, Location doesn't necessarily universally apply.
@Jason Hern Laws were made to be broken. The legislation did make a shift in thieves taking the copper line-set as apposed to the entire condenser in some cases. Unfortunately the cost to repair is virtually the same.
@Curt DavisThanks for stating the obvious (depending on one's perception of reality) in that theft is not geographically restrictive.
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Hank Sacco
Norcross, GA · Member since 2014 · 54 posts · 26 votes
10y
Originally posted by @Janice Traub:

@Hank Sacco My thoughts exactly. I wanted to know other people's opinions regarding relevancy and marketability of the home and the product. Better safe than stupid. One of the bigger issues is realizing that this is not an 'inner-city problem'. It's simply a problem. Location, Location, Location doesn't necessarily universally apply.
@Jason Hern Laws were made to be broken. The legislation did make a shift in thieves taking the copper line-set as apposed to the entire condenser in some cases. Unfortunately the cost to repair is virtually the same.
@Curt DavisThanks for stating the obvious (depending on one's perception of reality) in that theft is not geographically restrictive.
Jason, you are spot on. I had a line set ripped out but the condenser left behind. Luckily the coil was fixable but still a $1000 repair and they took all the brand new appliances.
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James DeRoest
Investor · Century, FL · Member since 2015 · 950 posts · 603 votes
10y
In our area at least, copper thefts stopped when either state or local law made the scrapyard owners liable for copper. In a single stroke, thefts dropped dramatically, but it was still being shipped out of state to neighboring counties, who eventually updated their laws.
Since then (3 years ago) I don't know of a single outside unit taken.
(It also helped that some woman working at a scrapyard weigh station was arrested by our Sheriffs Department for mis-weighing certain customers. When they interviewed her - she ratted on just about every scrap scam in the county. The following day, doors came off hinges, 26 people were arrested in dawn raids and 11 people went on the run.)
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James DeRoest
Investor · Century, FL · Member since 2015 · 950 posts · 603 votes
10y

In answer to the question in the ad, I'd simply cut the wire mesh on a corner on two sides with my sawzall, attach a rope to the cage and my truck and pull the lot apart.
A lot of people don't realize that thieves only want the copper, so you cut the external mesh, cut the outer casing of the condensor, and cut the copper out directly in place.
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Patrick L.
Real Estate Investor · Saint Petersburg, FL · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 951 votes
10y
Originally posted by @James DeRoest:

In answer to the question in the ad, I'd simply cut the wire mesh on a corner on two sides with my sawzall, attach a rope to the cage and my truck and pull the lot apart.
A lot of people don't realize that thieves only want the copper, so you cut the external mesh, cut the outer casing of the condensor, and cut the copper out directly in place.
Even a minimal cage is a deterrent. If someone wants something they can always steal it, it's just a matter of how much work and how much risk. Now you're talking about running a sawzall and using your truck? If you just wanted copper wouldn't you just keep moving until you found another house that had no cage instead?
I used to put cages on my class C properties but with new laws and scrap prices being so low it really hasn't been as much of an issue lately around here. On a rental I don't think a cage would turn off a buyer, better safe than sorry especially knowing that as a rental it may go vacant from time to time where as an owner occupied property would stay occupied.
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Janice Traub
OP
Atlanta, GA · Member since 2015 · 11 posts · 1 vote
10y
@Derrick Craig Thank you for such an unbiased and accurate account of #ACCages not being limited to 'bad' areas. Many people think it's other people's problems until the issue hits home. I appreciate you weighing in on the discussion.
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Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
10y
@Patrick L. just a fact of life in most rental areas in most parts of the country.
you don't run into it as much in the desert since many times they put them up on the roof.
I actually had my first one stolen in Portland.. I have never seen a cage in this entire 2 million metro... but our new construction can get hit with copper thieves .. pulling wires before sheet rock.. in some areas.. but generally pretty calm in these areas.
I lost count on how many condenser's have been stolen from props we owned or had secured as collateral... along with how many houses were completely stripped.. its an issue in most rental areas east of Rockies... just is... fact of life and daily occurance.. and many times its the neighbors
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Jim Adrian
Architect · Papillion, NE · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 840 votes
10y
If someone wants the ac let them have. This will result in less damage to the property and less repair cost. Yes they aren't cheap to replace. Put a security sign up in the front. These units can be bolted down when they are installed.
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Janice Traub
OP
Atlanta, GA · Member since 2015 · 11 posts · 1 vote
10y
@Andy Luick I'm asking the question because I'm interested in getting back in the business of real estate and because I also market cages. Because I market cages I lack objective criticism with regards to how others view the product.
The idea is to create branding around the fact that these homes are sold with an added security feature to address a concern that my arise with vacancies. The responses that have been posted with regards to Metro Atlanta threw me for a loop. No one mentioned the vandalism that took place at 285 and S. Cobb Drive, the retail markets in Cartersville, the office parks near Club Drive in Gwinnett, or the offices located on Powder Springs Road Roswell. Only the inner-city mentally registers as a place where such a sad product is required.
Lack of Product Education is to blame...just like the Hover Board Injuries that are clogging up emergency rooms. I truly had no idea that people thought so very little of a product that stands to save them thousands in damages.
To you and @Account Closed, @Phil Earley and @Cal C. A tongue in cheek question as to why an external cage is more unappealing than a home security sign posted on the front lawn?
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Account Closed
Investor · Newnan, GA · Member since 2013 · 86 posts · 33 votes
10y
A sign is deterrent to a perceived threat of the crime. They have those in Buckhead. The cage means they're actually jacking a/c units.
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James DeRoest
Investor · Century, FL · Member since 2015 · 950 posts · 603 votes
10y
Originally posted by @Patrick L.:

Originally posted by @James DeRoest:

In answer to the question in the ad, I'd simply cut the wire mesh on a corner on two sides with my sawzall, attach a rope to the cage and my truck and pull the lot apart.
A lot of people don't realize that thieves only want the copper, so you cut the external mesh, cut the outer casing of the condensor, and cut the copper out directly in place.
Even a minimal cage is a deterrent. If someone wants something they can always steal it, it's just a matter of how much work and how much risk. Now you're talking about running a sawzall and using your truck? If you just wanted copper wouldn't you just keep moving until you found another house that had no cage instead?
I used to put cages on my class C properties but with new laws and scrap prices being so low it really hasn't been as much of an issue lately around here. On a rental I don't think a cage would turn off a buyer, better safe than sorry especially knowing that as a rental it may go vacant from time to time where as an owner occupied property would stay occupied.
Seriously. cages are not a deterrent. If they have time to get to a condenser, they have time to get through a cage. A church near us had 3 fairly large outside condensers, all stolen, 4 weeks later the thieves came back for the replacements which were in cages this time. The third attempt was thwarted by cameras watching the units.
The problem is that condensers are usually put out of sight, which makes them easy prey on an empty house. You rarely see a condenser that's out directly in front of a house for all to see. So yes, if you could get behind a property with a vehicle, you could easily pull it off the base and get to it, but that was just a suggestion.
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Julian Jackson
Real Estate Agent · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2014 · 36 posts · 13 votes
10y
Wow, great thread! I agree with everything that was said about the 30310 and the 30344. These are great properties that I have seen going up in values. You still need the cages. Best thing I can say is KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS. Talk to the people that own around you and become their friends. They are the community, and they will look out for you like family if they know you.
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Jeremy Tillotson
Investor · Fort Wayne, IN · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 515 votes
10y
@Phil Earley @Cal C.Just saying I have seen million dollar homes have the a/c stolen so glad to know I have less competition, really though its just part of this business. I saw a home in a gated community last year that had 5 a/c's stolen off it, (yes it was that big of a home).
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