How to protect Vacant Home while rehabbing

Question

Just start to rehabbing and would like to know what is the most effective way to secure a vacant property in rehabbing stage. I read about the topics online and it seems that Dog, CCTV, light are useful. Without Wifi, a camera is not possible. I am thinking about the electronic dog barking alarm with motion detection but don't know what to choose. Any product recommendations? I don't see a product with real good reviews in Amazon.

Fake CCTV and fake Tv light are also considered. I plan to add them to the security package.

I know Simplisafe and might try one. However, I wonder what accessories do you choose? Is it really useful from your experience? Where can I find the promotion/discount code for Simplisafe? I remember the BP podcasts used to advertise it.

Thanks.

Adonna Pruette · Answer

We have absolutely had all tools stolen from a reno in progress property. Now my rule is if the guys leave it, they know for a fact it might get stolen. I'm usually on the job site everyday and every single day I have to remind them to not be lazy and pack their tools out with them. A few choose to hide them on site but I always ask them if they can afford to replace that item tomorrow morning after it's gone. I'm vigilant about it because those tools that got stolen the very first time all belonged to me. Thieves aren't honorable and they don't care how much you paid for an item or if it's a sentimental tool for someone (grandpa's hammer, etc.). Beyond that, hvac equipment is never on site until the day it's to be wired up. Any brand new copper piping isn't brought in until as close to the end of the job as I can push it. Any other building materials are brought in as close as possible to when it's needed. Only very heavy and difficult to move materials are usually laying around when I'm working on a place. Even then, it's probably locked up in the garage. Even plywood is brought inside the house and locked up at the end of the day. I run long days on my rehabs so my guys are usually on site by 8 am or so and I'm there by 10am. They leave at 5 pm and I'm probably there until 8 pm or later. I always leave a radio and a light on. I get really friendly with all my neighbors and make sure they have my phone number. I always get the mail and make sure the grass is cut every week, bushes are trimmed, etc.. I put motion sensor security front porch lights (and sometimes back porch lights too) on every house I do as well. Those are turned on and left on the entirety of the project as a deterrent. Every window and door are locked and personally checked by me at the end of the day as sometimes the guys can get careless and forget to check one. Every outside door has 2 locks on it - a doorknob lock and a deadbolt. I have a metal pipe cut to go in the track of sliding glass doors so it can't be forced open easily. I always leave outbuildings empty and unlocked. The garage door is always locked. None of these things are guarantees but we haven't been stolen from since I've started doing these things. Knock on wood. I also focus on middle class properties and try to stay away from anything less than that these days. I suggest that you walk your property and think like a thief. Where would you try first? Where can you get in unseen? Are there bushes that need to be cut back or taken out to provide less cover for potential burglars? Try to get a door or window open yourself. Is it ridiculously too easy or really difficult? Approach it from their standpoint and that should help you know a bit more about what you need to address.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Odd. I live in an area where all tools and materials are left on site and the property is wide open. I've never heard of someone stealing from a contractor, though I'm sure it has happened in the past.Consider placing trail cams on site to watch the entrances. They run on battery, can see in the dark without detection, and only take pictures/video when motion activated.

Lei L. · Answer

Thank you all. I am sorry that I couldn't reply to you earlier. Had some crazy days afterward and didn't have time to check BP.@John Woodrich Thanks for your info.

Lei L. · Answer

Thank you all. I am sorry that I couldn't reply to you earlier. Had some crazy days afterward and didn't have time to check BP.@Jennifer Rysdam Thanks for sharing. I guess the current cellular network can't handle too much video, it might be possible when 5G network is available. I am disappointed that they don't have the security light integrated into their system.

Lei L. · Answer

Thank you all. I am sorry that I couldn't reply to you earlier. Had some crazy days afterward and didn't have time to check BP.@Barry H. Wow, I am so sorry for you. That's terrible. Putting up $2000 for security bars is quite a cost! I guess the security system can only some bad guys out there.

Lei L. · Answer

Thank you all. I am sorry that I couldn't reply to you earlier. Had some crazy days afterward and didn't have time to check BP.@Adonna Pruette Again, thanks for your helpful information for the radio, security lights and alarm. I will probably try some solar powered LED security lights first to avoid changing bulbs. For the alarm, I just purchased a package from Simplisafe because it uses cellular and doesn't need wifi where my properties don't have yet. I checked Ring, it seems to me that you have to have Wifi to use it. With WIFI, Ring looks cheaper than Simplisafe.

Lei L. · Answer

Thank you all. I am sorry that I couldn't reply to you earlier. Had some crazy days afterward and didn't have time to check BP. @Charles Kao Thank you for all of your suggestions. I surely will talk to neighbors and they probably feel good about me turning a bad house into a desirable living space. I like/plan to buy houses which need a lot of work. May I ask you how to cover the windows in the rehab stage? My houses need a lot of work and I don't think you mean putting on blinds. Can I just tape some newspapers onto the windows? What is a POD? I searched online and find https://www.pods.com/storage-solutions/on-site-sel...Not sure if this is what you mean. How much does it cost?

John Woodrich · Answer

We use alarm systems. One thing to consider is your insurance - most insurance companies don't like to insure vacant or renovation properties. NREIG will insure them.

Jennifer Rysdam · Answer

I have a SimpliSafe system in my house that I'm flipping. I was disappointed that the camera doesn't work without wifi, but the rest does. Here in MN my biggest worry is the furnace going out and freezing up the house, so I have the temperature sensor and a motion sensor. I have it set for push notifications so it lets me know if it senses motion. I'm not in a high crime area, so I don't worry about it too much, but it makes me feel better when I go there that I know there isn't anyone in the house already.@Barry H. I'm surprised that your system didn't still go off. Doesn't SimpliSafe have back-up batteries in it to prevent loss of service if the power is cut? It still should've went off.

Barry H. · Answer

I bought a $300 SimpliSafe package and the vandals saw the signage out front which was an invitation to smash the electric meter (i.e. cut the power) then break in and steal the SimpliSafe system, including the motion sensor camera. I just spend about $2000 on every rehab now to put up security bars on every window and hope for the best. Animals live in the hoods.