The so common and globally accepted American Dream for buying a home and having the perfect family has evolved a fair amount over the past decades. Today’s dreamers have second homes or exotic vacation properties abroad. These lakeside cabins, cottages in the forests, beach huts on exotic islands, and apartments in quaint medieval cities, sit empty 90% of the time. Their owners are either working to save for their next vacation or footing the bill for the mortgage and property expenses.
Vagabondish is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Read our disclosure.
Commonly owners will let their properties to friends and family for breaks and special occasions. However, with the advancement in mobile technology, changes in travel habits, a thirst for more authentic holiday experiences, and a drive to make extra money, there has been a boom in vacation rentals, apps, and businesses like Airbnb, Hostaway, and Vrbo.
Individuals from all backgrounds are listing their homes as vacation rental properties.
- Revenue in the vacation rentals segment is projected to reach US$96.85bn in 2023.
- In the vacation rentals segment, the number of users is expected to amount to 0.90bn users by 2027.
- The average revenue per user (ARPU) is expected to amount to US$115.50.
- In the Vacation Rentals segment, 75% of total revenue will be generated through online sales by 2027.
Source: Statista.com
Protecting Your Vacation Rental
With high demand forecast, and the growth of this industry the topic of security is something that cannot be overlooked. With more people renting their homes to guests, protecting your investment against burglaries, criminal damage, theft, or trespassing is important. Security is not only about keeping your property safe but also ensuring the safety of your guests.
When it comes to choosing security cameras for your vacation rental, there are several factors to consider. The right cameras can help protect your property, deter potential criminals, and provide peace of mind for both you and your guests.
Choosing the Right Security Cameras for Your Needs
Determine Your Specific Security Needs
A good assessment of your property, its layout, and size is the best place to start, ask yourself what areas may need monitoring the most. Are there any areas that are darker at night or overgrown with vegetation? How well are the entrances, common spaces, parking areas, and outdoor spaces secured? Perhaps you already have good lighting, and you have manned security patrolling the area or property.
Important to consider too are the areas and rooms inside the property, do they need monitoring and why? This analysis will help you determine the number and types of cameras you may need.
Camera Types and Features and Design
With the development of camera technology and technological advancement, there is very little that modern cameras cannot overcome. Again, going back to your needs and security requirements will help you decide what will meet your needs best.
For example, you may need to monitor your property, from another location or even another state, country, or continent. Vacation properties can be anywhere in the world and so monitoring requirements may need to go through the internet and be wireless. The differences between CCTV analog cameras do not stop here. Wireless cameras are easier to install and can be moved around, working off the Wi-Fi signal strength and long battery life. Wired cameras may need to be installed by a professional and may need to be permanent. However, they don’t rely on battery power and can use that power on more features.
Consider camera types:
- Indoor cameras are ideal for buildings, rooms, and common areas.
- Outdoor cameras are ideal for larger spaces, are designed to withstand the elements, and are suitable for monitoring outdoor spaces.
- Dome cameras have a dome-shaped housing making it difficult for intruders to determine the camera’s direction.
- Bullet cameras, sleek and cylindrical, are commonly used outdoors and act as a great deterrent.
- Drone cameras, aerial flying platforms that offer surveillance on a different level, are good for tracking targets or intruders and can cover larger outdoor areas. Truly a high-tech solution to surveillance however they are subject to tight legal regulation.
Consider the features you may need:
- Image resolution, cameras with higher resolution capabilities e.g.1080p can capture higher quality images and detailed footage.
- Night vision will allow you to monitor your property at night and in pitch-black darkness. These cameras also tend to have infrared LEDs to help clear footage in low-light conditions.
- Motion detection cameras that are triggered by any movement and then can send alerts with pictures to smartphones.
- Two-way audio features are a feature that would send an alert to you and then allow you to communicate with intruders or guests through the camera.
Conclusion
Can you put a price on security and peace of mind, not just your own but that of your guest?
It’s important and you should carefully consider your needs, budget, and any future needs that may arise. However, don’t forget to consider privacy issues. It’s one thing for a guest to feel safe and another to feel spied on, so clear signs and communication should be implemented. Do your homework, a little research and advice will help you protect yourself, your investment, and those in your care.