Should you have an Airbnb security system?

BY MIKEL HUBBARD

FORMER HGTV PRODUCER | CO-FOUNDER, THE HOST CO |
OWNER, TIMES EIGHT PROPERTY & DESIGN

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Lights! Cameras! … Alarms? Is a security system necessary for an Airbnb and what're the rules around it?

If you decide you want to go the route of locking it down, let us offer some things to consider:

FIRST: Cameras should always be kept outside - and should ALWAYS be disclosed to the guests in the listing, the rules and in the house manual.

Big Brother is watching you watch your guests FYI

SECOND: Be prepared if you do go the route of security systems. You’ll be turning them on and off remotely between guests, or else you’ll be woken up in the middle of the night by an arriving guest who “can’t find the code”. We’re not a fan of alarm systems in a short term rental as keeping them booked is really your best security system, though we understand not every host has that luxury.

THIRD: Here are your options!

SIMPLISAFE

SIMPLISAFE

Simplisafe is great because their monthly monitoring fees are minimal and it doesn’t require wi-fi to run (which can sometimes be spotty or dropout). You do have to buy the system up front so keep an eye for one of their flash sales where you can pick up their system for 30-50% off or check out their refurbished packages which already come at a substantial discount.

GOOGLE NEST SECURE ALARM

NEST SECURE ALARM

Goog Nest Secure Alarm is stylish, it’s simple and it comes with lots of options to customize it. You can add cameras and you can have it talk through your Google Hub or Google Home. It’s a really sophisticated system. Don’t want to pay for monthly service? You don’t have to. You can monitor it through your phone and cameras if you’d like. Want 24/7 monitoring? They’ve partnered with Brinks for round the clock monitoring and cell phone backup (so if the wi-fi goes out, it’ll still call the cops). The monthly service fees are higher than Simplisafe, unless you sign up for a three year contract.

RING

RING

Although the Ring system is quite popular, we have found the actual app to be limiting on what it''ll allow you to control remotely. We love it because it’s sleek and stylish, but the downsides are that you’re unable to disable the security lights or hardwire their doorbells (which means constantly charging the batteries). But the system does work well and gives you a clear signal, allowing you to communicate with the person on camera.

ADT

ADT

The benefit to an ADT system is that you often pay nothing up front for it, or if you do, it’s very little. ADT makes their money off their contracts so although the upfront cost is non-existent, expect to pay roughly $50/month for monitoring. ADT is one of the oldest companies in the home security game, so they’re extremely adept at what they do.

ARLO

ARLO

Arlo does have some emergency 911 calling options, but mainly they’re a security camera system vs. a home security system. A lot of homeowners only want the option to record what’s going on on their property so that if something happens (like a raging party), they can go back and see what it was. For passive security like that, this is the system for you with packages to record and save photographic proof.

Got a security camera system you love or want to give us input on your experience with the systems above? That’s what the comments are for. Share, please!