Remote Locks - Long Distance Property Managment
has anyone knows if there is a product out there that will allow a landlord to open a door via cell phone or internet. i am thinking of managing a property hundreds of miles away, and using technology to show the property. making a web site with photos of the property, and cameras to monitor who comes in, i have not found a lock yet that will allow me to open the doors without being there.
Any Ideas???
Let me guess, you have a technology background.
As to specific solutions...
I know of nothing but I have never searched for the same.
You are assuming power is on, the network is working for the cameras over the web and other such things. I find that when I am showing a place the utilities are in a state of flux or are sometimes less then fully functional.
It might be better to try and pay a local person who is home a lot to let folks in and then lock up.
Lets assume you work out the details and find such a lock. It needs to be something that can stay mounted when tenants are living there or you will to pull it and then re-install each time.
John
[addsig]
You could use a pushbutton or keypad lock and then change the combo whenever a tenant moves in. I really hate to drive out to my rentals to show them. Especially when they show up about 10% of the time. Thought about having a neighbor show it but then decided that I really want to see who may be moving into my property. You can tell a lot from just seeing how a person acts, looks, what kind of vehicle they drive, is the radio blaring as they pull up to the house...
Blue, I think that may be a statement you would want to keep to yourself. Now a days the outward appearance of a person doesn't tell nearly enough about what they are capable of.
So if a young guy rolls up to your rental with his radio playing loud, jumps out his SUV with shiny rims on it, all his clothes are way too big, his jewelry way too gawdy and his baseball cap is to the back - you wouldn't rent to him?
That's sad, because I just described people like Justine Timberlake, Usher, Ashton, and who the heck else knows..
Sounds like a market niche for Onstar, they already have a reputation for opening car doors from outer space for clients who've locked their keys inside...
If they don't respect the neighborhood (having the music up loud) what makes you think they are going to respect you??
Quote:
On 2004-09-21 15:48, InvestmentSaavy wrote:
Blue, I think that may be a statement you would want to keep to yourself. Now a days the outward appearance of a person doesn't tell nearly enough about what they are capable of.
So if a young guy rolls up to your rental with his radio playing loud, jumps out his SUV with shiny rims on it, all his clothes are way too big, his jewelry way too gawdy and his baseball cap is to the back - you wouldn't rent to him?
That's sad, because I just described people like Justine Timberlake, Usher, Ashton, and who the heck else knows..
try www.Alarmlock.com
Joel,
just like my first sentence says. The outward appearance of a person says nothing about their character, integrity, or financial stability.
I remember foundly not too long ago, I went into a local jewelry store to purchase an engagement ring. I was dressed in attire that I was comfortable in, which is usually baggy jeans, an oversized T-Shirt, a baseball cap to the back and Timberline boots which are not tied up.
I was ready to purchase a ring in the neighborhood of 8 - 10k but because no one would acknowledge my presence after being in an almost empty store for about 15 mintues, I knew I wasn't going to be buying from this place. So what I did was once someone finally approached me; I had them show me damn near every ring that they had in my price range, decided on a ring, paid cash for it, (I've only made 2 other purchases of this amount in cash. Because of my outward appearance it's easier / quicker for me to purchase with cash rather than pay by check or credit card because, for some reason they have to do 101 checks to verify my identity even with more than 3 peices of ID - and one being state issued, the another being my SS card.) then before she could put the cash in the safe - requested to see a manager and requested a refund, then I told him why. He assured me that it wasn't because of my tan skin or my clothes..... Yeah Right!
I also like to play my radio loud sometimes and sing along to the music. I guess I wouldn't be able to rent your place, even with a 700 credit score and a 75k a year day job? That's too bad! It's a good thing I'm purchasing and investing in my own real estate huh?
I think your missing the point. If somebody does like playing their music real loud, they will be a problem. I would say they are the worst tenant. They annoy their neighbors, their neighbors complain about it, and then you have to get rid of them for playing their music too loud, you've got pissed off tenants, and a tenant that doesn't understand why they are getting kicked out... "Its not THAT loud..." and they fight their eviction, blah blah blah...they are no good. I don't think anybody said anything about how anybody dresses, it was about disrespect, which is high in my books on not accepting tenants.
Doesn't matter what you make. If you make a ton of money, or don't make any money at all - You being able to afford the rent aside, it is how you repect your neighbors and the property is just as important.
If you come up to a viewing with the radio blaring. What make you believe that the Property Manager is going to think this is the only time you have your radio blaring??
First impressions are everything, including renting a place.
Quote:
On 2004-09-22 09:11, InvestmentSaavy wrote:
Joel, I guess I wouldn't be able to rent your place, even with a 700 credit score and a 75k a year day job? That's too bad! It's a good thing I'm purchasing and investing in my own real estate huh?
I know we are getting off track of the original post, but I must add my two pennies. True Story: I seen a situation where there was a guy who managed a golf course and his wife was a dentist & they lived in a condo unit. It seemed like every week they had a domestic violence party. The property manager made visits all times of the night & also police visits. BUT two doors down was this 22 year old kid who comes in the complex bumpin’ & blaring Hip Hop and R&B music. He parks, cuts his car off & goes in his unit and we hear no more from him. He leaves his unit, cuts his car on, radio comes on blaring and he goes off to work/school. I know because I lived in between the two. I guess the point I am trying to make is, no matter how the person looks on the outside and whatever kind of first impression a person makes. We as landlords/property managers take a 50/50 chance on EVERY tenant. We have all heard stories of the people who at first impression seem to be model tenants, but after the last document was signed they became the tenants from the devil. I personally will not hold anything against a possible tenant before I get to know them, if he/she plays music a little bit louder than I do or dress in timberlands & jeans. But I don’t think its wrong for a landlord to use their discretion screening tenant. It just become a question of character when a landlord rejects the possible tenant driving the car with the shiny rims, blaring Usher, DMX & Ice Cube BUT welcome with open arms the possible tenant who drives the pick up truck, blaring LeAnn Rimes, George Strait or Aerosmith or vice versa. I would then tell that landlord to take a good look in the mirror.
Quote:
On 2004-09-22 09:11, InvestmentSaavy wrote:
Joel,
just like my first sentence says. The outward appearance of a person says nothing about their character, integrity, or financial stability.....I remember foundly not too long ago....[snip]
Surely you see that your actions in the store did nothing to repudiate the stereotype that people who are dressed slack are a huge waste of time. Alas, I'm sure it felt good to prod "the man" a little.
[addsig]
My situation is similar in that my properties are 100 miles away. I have a property management company find tenants for me, but then I manage the properties. So far they have done a pretty good job at finding good tenants.
Try .smarthome.com or .x-10.com, these sights have many items that are internet automated.
Well to put my 2 cents in on both subjects here. As far as the locks go I think that is a great idea, but have no idea how you could set it up affordably. You are talking satellite relays and that sort of thing I would think. But maybe a good idea for a business?
As to the other topic being discussed in this thread, your personal judgements should have no place in who you rent to. You of course have a written policy on what your tenant screening guidlines are. Credit, LL history, Income guidlines are common. But you are looking at an eventual fair housing lawsuit talking the way you all are. I am not trying to be argumentative, but you can't base a decision on whether to rent to them on if they play thier stereo loudly when they come to look at the apartment.
form the original comment by blueford Quote: You can tell a lot from just seeing how a person acts, looks, what kind of vehicle they drive, is the radio blaring as they pull up to the house...
That kind of thinking violates fair housing laws. You are looking at huge fines if you get caught and let me tell you there are people who make a living busting smaller landlords that arent well educated in what they can and can't do. My advice, stick to your resident selection criteria. IF they qualify you rent to them if they don't qualify you don't rent to them. It isn't personal, it's just business.
Joe
[addsig]
You might try a GOOGLE search under Commercial Magnetic Locks, a Laundromat in CA swears by them>
I don't have a name brand but I do know that one of my properties has an entry gate with an intercom system that hooks up to a phone number. I hooked this up to the tenants cell phone at their request and called them from it, then they buzzed me in. I don't see a reason this could not work for you.
Hey,
Has anyone thought of how "off-putting" this would make a possible tenant feel? The first thing that goes through my mind is "if there is a camera at the front door, how many are hidden inside the house"???
Good point Bruce.
That is exactly what I would be thinking...my privacy. Big Brother.
I am going to check out some of the products mentioned.