Convince me to keep ADT Security on my STR

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Convince me to keep ADT Security on my STR

AJ Satcher
Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2021 · 133 posts · 60 votes

Hi all,

Before converting my home into a STR, it was my primary residence for 1 year. I installed an ADT home security system at the time and have since been paying a monthly subscription for their services for the past 4 years in total. I do not use nearly as much of the security features since I don't live there anymore.

My contract is up soon and I cannot think of one good reason to continue with them with the way I am now using my property. I've already given ADT thousands to this point in equipment and service fees and that would just continue if I renew. I have an alternative solution to setup a Reolink camera system  - 4 cameras, 2TB storage, 24/7 recording - $400, that's it, no strings attached. From a numbers standpoint, this is a no-brainer. 

Is there anyone out there who would stand by keeping ADT on my STR? If not, I think the Reolink option is an awesome choice! I just think the ADT security system is overkill at this point, especially since I am never arming the system because of frequent reservations.

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Samuel Awosolu
Lender · Florida / Georgia · Member since 2025 · 58 posts · 28 votes
8mo
Quote from @AJ Satcher:
Quote from @Samuel Awosolu:

Hey AJ,

I've seen a lot of STR owners move away from traditional alarm systems once the property is no longer their primary residence, and honestly, it usually comes down to the type of neighborhood and the level of risk you're trying to mitigate.

Similar to what you are doing. Most hosts rely on Ring or similar surveillance setups with the exterior cameras, doorbell cams, and motion alerts that go straight to your phone. For a moderately safe area, that’s typically more than enough. You get real‑time notifications, you can monitor guest activity, and you avoid the monthly subscription fees.

I think an alarm system can still make sense in higher‑crime areas or if you keep valuables inside the home. ADT gives you automatic police dispatch if an alarm is triggered and no one disarms it, and the same goes for fire response if a smoke alarm goes off. That’s really the main value at this point.

If your STR is in a reasonably safe neighborhood and you're not storing anything high‑value inside, your Reolink setup sounds like a solid, cost‑effective move. Most hosts don't arm their systems between reservations anyway, so paying a monthly fee for something you're not using doesn't seem like it will be beneficial for you cost wise.


I appreciate your response! This neighborhood definitely isn't the best but also not the worst. All things considered, my street is relatively quiet. C class neighborhood at best.

I probably don't have anything in the home worth more than $300. Like you mentioned with other hosts, I'm not arming the system between reservations at all so to me this is the biggest value lost.


I use to live in Atlanta for 17 yrs. I first lived in Lithonia, then I moved to Smyrna. Bought my primary residence in Douglasville off Lee Road. City was Lithia Springs. Then I bought investment property in Decatur and East Point. Sold all of them around 2014 and moved to Florida. I wish held them. They were great properties. Which area do you have your STR in ?

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  • Samuel Awosolu
    Lender · Florida / Georgia · Member since 2025 · 58 posts · 28 votes
    8mo

    Hey AJ,

    I've seen a lot of STR owners move away from traditional alarm systems once the property is no longer their primary residence, and honestly, it usually comes down to the type of neighborhood and the level of risk you're trying to mitigate.

    Similar to what you are doing. Most hosts rely on Ring or similar surveillance setups with the exterior cameras, doorbell cams, and motion alerts that go straight to your phone. For a moderately safe area, that’s typically more than enough. You get real‑time notifications, you can monitor guest activity, and you avoid the monthly subscription fees.

    I think an alarm system can still make sense in higher‑crime areas or if you keep valuables inside the home. ADT gives you automatic police dispatch if an alarm is triggered and no one disarms it, and the same goes for fire response if a smoke alarm goes off. That’s really the main value at this point.

    If your STR is in a reasonably safe neighborhood and you're not storing anything high‑value inside, your Reolink setup sounds like a solid, cost‑effective move. Most hosts don't arm their systems between reservations anyway, so paying a monthly fee for something you're not using doesn't seem like it will be beneficial for you cost wise.

    1Reply
    • AJ Satcher
      OP
      Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2021 · 133 posts · 60 votes
      8mo
      Quote from @Samuel Awosolu:

      Hey AJ,

      I've seen a lot of STR owners move away from traditional alarm systems once the property is no longer their primary residence, and honestly, it usually comes down to the type of neighborhood and the level of risk you're trying to mitigate.

      Similar to what you are doing. Most hosts rely on Ring or similar surveillance setups with the exterior cameras, doorbell cams, and motion alerts that go straight to your phone. For a moderately safe area, that’s typically more than enough. You get real‑time notifications, you can monitor guest activity, and you avoid the monthly subscription fees.

      I think an alarm system can still make sense in higher‑crime areas or if you keep valuables inside the home. ADT gives you automatic police dispatch if an alarm is triggered and no one disarms it, and the same goes for fire response if a smoke alarm goes off. That’s really the main value at this point.

      If your STR is in a reasonably safe neighborhood and you're not storing anything high‑value inside, your Reolink setup sounds like a solid, cost‑effective move. Most hosts don't arm their systems between reservations anyway, so paying a monthly fee for something you're not using doesn't seem like it will be beneficial for you cost wise.


      I appreciate your response! This neighborhood definitely isn't the best but also not the worst. All things considered, my street is relatively quiet. C class neighborhood at best.

      I probably don't have anything in the home worth more than $300. Like you mentioned with other hosts, I'm not arming the system between reservations at all so to me this is the biggest value lost.

      1Reply
    • Samuel Awosolu
      Lender · Florida / Georgia · Member since 2025 · 58 posts · 28 votes
      8mo
      Quote from @AJ Satcher:
      Quote from @Samuel Awosolu:

      Hey AJ,

      I've seen a lot of STR owners move away from traditional alarm systems once the property is no longer their primary residence, and honestly, it usually comes down to the type of neighborhood and the level of risk you're trying to mitigate.

      Similar to what you are doing. Most hosts rely on Ring or similar surveillance setups with the exterior cameras, doorbell cams, and motion alerts that go straight to your phone. For a moderately safe area, that’s typically more than enough. You get real‑time notifications, you can monitor guest activity, and you avoid the monthly subscription fees.

      I think an alarm system can still make sense in higher‑crime areas or if you keep valuables inside the home. ADT gives you automatic police dispatch if an alarm is triggered and no one disarms it, and the same goes for fire response if a smoke alarm goes off. That’s really the main value at this point.

      If your STR is in a reasonably safe neighborhood and you're not storing anything high‑value inside, your Reolink setup sounds like a solid, cost‑effective move. Most hosts don't arm their systems between reservations anyway, so paying a monthly fee for something you're not using doesn't seem like it will be beneficial for you cost wise.


      I appreciate your response! This neighborhood definitely isn't the best but also not the worst. All things considered, my street is relatively quiet. C class neighborhood at best.

      I probably don't have anything in the home worth more than $300. Like you mentioned with other hosts, I'm not arming the system between reservations at all so to me this is the biggest value lost.


      I use to live in Atlanta for 17 yrs. I first lived in Lithonia, then I moved to Smyrna. Bought my primary residence in Douglasville off Lee Road. City was Lithia Springs. Then I bought investment property in Decatur and East Point. Sold all of them around 2014 and moved to Florida. I wish held them. They were great properties. Which area do you have your STR in ?

      1Reply
    • AJ Satcher
      OP
      Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2021 · 133 posts · 60 votes
      8mo
      Quote from @Samuel Awosolu:
      Quote from @AJ Satcher:
      Quote from @Samuel Awosolu:

      Hey AJ,

      I've seen a lot of STR owners move away from traditional alarm systems once the property is no longer their primary residence, and honestly, it usually comes down to the type of neighborhood and the level of risk you're trying to mitigate.

      Similar to what you are doing. Most hosts rely on Ring or similar surveillance setups with the exterior cameras, doorbell cams, and motion alerts that go straight to your phone. For a moderately safe area, that’s typically more than enough. You get real‑time notifications, you can monitor guest activity, and you avoid the monthly subscription fees.

      I think an alarm system can still make sense in higher‑crime areas or if you keep valuables inside the home. ADT gives you automatic police dispatch if an alarm is triggered and no one disarms it, and the same goes for fire response if a smoke alarm goes off. That’s really the main value at this point.

      If your STR is in a reasonably safe neighborhood and you're not storing anything high‑value inside, your Reolink setup sounds like a solid, cost‑effective move. Most hosts don't arm their systems between reservations anyway, so paying a monthly fee for something you're not using doesn't seem like it will be beneficial for you cost wise.


      I appreciate your response! This neighborhood definitely isn't the best but also not the worst. All things considered, my street is relatively quiet. C class neighborhood at best.

      I probably don't have anything in the home worth more than $300. Like you mentioned with other hosts, I'm not arming the system between reservations at all so to me this is the biggest value lost.


      I use to live in Atlanta for 17 yrs. I first lived in Lithonia, then I moved to Smyrna. Bought my primary residence in Douglasville off Lee Road. City was Lithia Springs. Then I bought investment property in Decatur and East Point. Sold all of them around 2014 and moved to Florida. I wish held them. They were great properties. Which area do you have your STR in ?


      Oh wow, you would’ve made a killing for sure if you kept them! But hindsight is 20/20. I am envious of Florida though lol. Why did you choose to sell?

      I have STRs in Decatur, East Atlanta and East Point.

      1Reply
    • Samuel Awosolu
      Lender · Florida / Georgia · Member since 2025 · 58 posts · 28 votes
      8mo
      Quote from @AJ Satcher:
      Quote from @Samuel Awosolu:
      Quote from @AJ Satcher:
      Quote from @Samuel Awosolu:

      Hey AJ,

      I've seen a lot of STR owners move away from traditional alarm systems once the property is no longer their primary residence, and honestly, it usually comes down to the type of neighborhood and the level of risk you're trying to mitigate.

      Similar to what you are doing. Most hosts rely on Ring or similar surveillance setups with the exterior cameras, doorbell cams, and motion alerts that go straight to your phone. For a moderately safe area, that’s typically more than enough. You get real‑time notifications, you can monitor guest activity, and you avoid the monthly subscription fees.

      I think an alarm system can still make sense in higher‑crime areas or if you keep valuables inside the home. ADT gives you automatic police dispatch if an alarm is triggered and no one disarms it, and the same goes for fire response if a smoke alarm goes off. That’s really the main value at this point.

      If your STR is in a reasonably safe neighborhood and you're not storing anything high‑value inside, your Reolink setup sounds like a solid, cost‑effective move. Most hosts don't arm their systems between reservations anyway, so paying a monthly fee for something you're not using doesn't seem like it will be beneficial for you cost wise.


      I appreciate your response! This neighborhood definitely isn't the best but also not the worst. All things considered, my street is relatively quiet. C class neighborhood at best.

      I probably don't have anything in the home worth more than $300. Like you mentioned with other hosts, I'm not arming the system between reservations at all so to me this is the biggest value lost.


      I use to live in Atlanta for 17 yrs. I first lived in Lithonia, then I moved to Smyrna. Bought my primary residence in Douglasville off Lee Road. City was Lithia Springs. Then I bought investment property in Decatur and East Point. Sold all of them around 2014 and moved to Florida. I wish held them. They were great properties. Which area do you have your STR in ?


      Oh wow, you would’ve made a killing for sure if you kept them! But hindsight is 20/20. I am envious of Florida though lol. Why did you choose to sell?

      I have STRs in Decatur, East Atlanta and East Point.

      I held them through the financial crisis and I didn't think the market was going to ever recover. Home prices were still suppressed or stagnant. I was seeing very little appreciation at the time and I wasn't educated enough on the cyclical nature of real estate and market cycles. A few years after I sold and started learning more about real estate cycles. I realized It was actually the time to buy or hold not sell. The market did make a come back. Occasionally I would check on home prices of the properties I use to own. Just to see.  My previous home in Douglasville doubled in price from where I bought it. The other properties in Decatur and East Point did a 1.7x from where I bought it. It's a valuable lesson  learned for sure.
      1Reply
  • Ebonie Beaco
    Lender · Chicago, IL · Member since 2025 · 204 posts · 101 votes
    8mo

    Hi AJ,

    I look at this from both my real estate investor side and my risk management side.

    When this was your primary home, a full monitored system like ADT made sense. Once a property becomes a short term rental, the needs change. At that point it is less about a traditional alarm system and more about protecting the asset, limiting liability, and having visibility on what is happening at the property.

    From a numbers standpoint, I completely understand questioning a monthly service you are rarely using or arming. STRs have constant guest turnover, and most traditional alarm systems were built for owner-occupied homes, not high-traffic rentals. I see a lot of owners paying for monitoring they barely use.

    Where a system like ADT can still have value is if the property is in a higher-risk area, if you want professional monitoring for fire or carbon monoxide, if your insurance discount is meaningful, or if you are far from the property and want a third-party response. But even then, it only makes sense if it is part of your routine and actually being used.

    A lot of STR owners I know focus more on practical tools that help manage the property day to day. Exterior cameras for visibility, smart locks with access logs, noise monitors to prevent parties, leak detectors, and smart thermostats. Those tend to help more with real-world STR issues than a traditional alarm panel.

    Of course, cameras need to be exterior only and fully disclosed to guests. That part is important.

    As an investor, I always come back to ROI and function. If ADT is not lowering your insurance, not being used consistently, and not helping you operate the STR, it is fair to question keeping it.

    The way I would look at it is simple. Is it actually reducing risk for your STR today, or is it just an expense left over from when it was your home. That answer usually makes the decision clearer.

    1Reply
    • AJ Satcher
      OP
      Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2021 · 133 posts · 60 votes
      8mo
      Quote from @Ebonie Beaco:

      Hi AJ,

      I look at this from both my real estate investor side and my risk management side.

      When this was your primary home, a full monitored system like ADT made sense. Once a property becomes a short term rental, the needs change. At that point it is less about a traditional alarm system and more about protecting the asset, limiting liability, and having visibility on what is happening at the property.

      From a numbers standpoint, I completely understand questioning a monthly service you are rarely using or arming. STRs have constant guest turnover, and most traditional alarm systems were built for owner-occupied homes, not high-traffic rentals. I see a lot of owners paying for monitoring they barely use.

      Where a system like ADT can still have value is if the property is in a higher-risk area, if you want professional monitoring for fire or carbon monoxide, if your insurance discount is meaningful, or if you are far from the property and want a third-party response. But even then, it only makes sense if it is part of your routine and actually being used.

      A lot of STR owners I know focus more on practical tools that help manage the property day to day. Exterior cameras for visibility, smart locks with access logs, noise monitors to prevent parties, leak detectors, and smart thermostats. Those tend to help more with real-world STR issues than a traditional alarm panel.

      Of course, cameras need to be exterior only and fully disclosed to guests. That part is important.

      As an investor, I always come back to ROI and function. If ADT is not lowering your insurance, not being used consistently, and not helping you operate the STR, it is fair to question keeping it.

      The way I would look at it is simple. Is it actually reducing risk for your STR today, or is it just an expense left over from when it was your home. That answer usually makes the decision clearer.


      Very thoughtful response. Thank you

      0Reply
  • Jim Johnson
    Real Estate Agent · Memphis · Member since 2026 · 570 posts · 336 votes
    7mo

    Hi!

    You’re not wrong on the math — but here’s the case for keeping ADT, purely from an STR risk standpoint.

    It’s not about cameras. It’s about response.
    Your Reolink system records incidents. ADT is built to respond to them. Break-ins, fire, CO alarms, and burglaries are time-sensitive events. A monitored system can dispatch emergency services when you’re asleep, on a flight, or a guest ignores an alert.

    STRs have different risk than long-term rentals.
    You have a rotating group of strangers, guests unfamiliar with the house, cooking in a new kitchen, using appliances differently. Fire and safety risk is higher than in an owner-occupied home.

    Insurance angle.
    Some insurers give discounts for monitored alarm systems. More importantly, if there’s a major loss, having documented monitoring can strengthen your claim position.

    Guest behavior buffer.
    Even if you don't arm it, guests can. Clear instructions let security-conscious guests use it. It also deters opportunistic issues in higher-traffic STR areas.

    Liability protection.
    Smoke/CO monitoring tied to dispatch is the big one. Cameras don’t help if there’s a gas issue at 2am and no one calls.

    That said — if you’re only using ADT like a camera system and not using monitored fire/CO/security features, then yes, it’s overkill.

    The real decision isn’t ADT vs cameras. It’s:
    Do you want a monitored life-safety system on a high-turnover property, or just video evidence after something happens?

    1Reply
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