I look forward to an even cheaper, simpler system.Just a note, I needed to go Nest (with internal battery) because of the old set up in the building (two wire thermostats and didn’t want to run a “C Wire/power wire”) if your heating electric or have a newer system you can find even better, more cost effective thermostats(Ecobee seems to be the most “affordable, flexible, over the counter solution”, but I suggest stoping by a heating or electrical speciality shop before making a purchase like this for income properties)In terms of monitors and alarms, it still seems like an expensive leap to make based on a “what if factor”.

If I’m not wrong, they start from somewhere in the range $200.Check for the features like the night vision, record time, battery time and the memory storage.With the world moving faster than ever before, I shudder think that a day would come when people would walk around 24/7 with a camera clipped to their body.There is even the wearable watch cam, camera keychain, button cam kit, smiley pin, or even the pen type.

I have looked for battery operated fans or dehumidifiers but have had no luck.

Example:Check water heaterCheck all skins for leaksCheck all toiletsChange batteries on CO2 and smoke alarmInspect A/CChange out air filtersHas being proactive helped you save money in the long run.

With some research I found a bar code on the battery in the garage.

What brands do you recommend and what types do you prefer (battery operated vs hardwired, wifi or not, etc)? 

I’ve also had scenarios where one battery died and it was advantageous to have a second phone with my contacts.

At minimum every rented room should have a smoke detector  (ideally hardwired,  batteries WILL walk away) and a fire extinguisher.   

Each lock is operated by (4) AA batteries. 

Utility costs were kept low in large part due to using battery powered equipment when and where possible.