We tried to go back to the seller and get a credit to do the panels and bring the fire/smoke/CO monitors and alarms up to code, and got shot down.

It will be vacant during the rehab obviously and the work will begin up to 2 weeks after I get the keys.Do you all recommend security monitoring of some sort?

Someone in my Facebook group shared an awesome resource for remotely monitoring properties. https://www.wyzecam.comObviously you would still need wifi but these are way cheaper than Nest Cams and get great reviews. 

As new apartments open across the city in record numbers, vacancy rates have grown, rents have stopped rising and landlords are offering an increasing number of freebies to get tenants in the door.For years, the Seattle rental market was so heated that renters would constantly monitor online listings and quickly show up to available apartments with checkbooks and references in hand.

Slap the new tenants name on the lease Then just monitor....

Most PMs don't deal in LOs so they wouldn't be able to help there either.If you're not in a rush then your best bet is to monitor kijiji and call/text/email every For Sale by Owner ad with a house that matches your criteria and ask if they would consider doing a rent to own.

I am about to start a new rehab project and was thinking about adding some sort of security system in it to monitor who is coming in and out of the house and overall security.

I would recommend monitoring the BiggerPockets events near Augusta to see if anyone is hosting an event in your area.

Is there any way to monitor washer usage besides separate metering?

If you go over a certain value or percentage on the rehab funds, you must pay to have a consultant monitor the flip and handle payments.