You have happy tenants and well-maintained properties, but sometimes it might feel like you spend half your life driving around to check on everything.
If you want to spend less time traipsing around properties looking for leaks and inspecting roofs, then smart devices can be a godsend.
These four smart home device additions can make it infinitely easier to keep an eye on your property and ensure everything is in good order—and you can do it from your phone.
Install Leak Sensors
You never know when a water heater will leak or a pipe will rupture. But you can catch the issue quickly if you have leak sensors installed.
Leak sensors are usually part of a larger security system that also includes entry sensors for doors and windows and motion detectors. But if you don’t want to invest in an entire security system, you can get a standalone leak sensor like the iHome Dual Leak Sensor.
Use Smart CO and Smoke Detectors
Carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke detectors are essential for keeping your properties and guests safe and secure. But these tools require regular checks and battery changes to keep things running smoothly.
Smart detectors can monitor themselves and alert you, both when there’s an actual problem and when they just need new batteries or aren’t working properly.
For example, the Nest Protect alarm can monitor for both smoke and CO. It also performs self-checks hundreds of times per day and sends any alerts directly to your phone.
Set up Smart Lights
Smart lights can deter potential burglars and help keep your property secure. Most importantly for your property checks, they also last a very long time.
Most smart bulbs are advertised to last thousands of hours. For example, Philips says its Hue bulbs last 25,000 hours. By contrast, non-LED light bulbs tend to last a mere 1,000–2,000 hours.
Because smart lights communicate directly with your phone, you can also turn lights on or off and set timers and schedules no matter where you are. That’s especially useful if you have any unoccupied properties that need a little extra security.
Put up Outdoor Security Cameras
You can’t keep an actual eye on your properties at all times—but you can keep digital eyes on them.
Outdoor security cameras make it super easy to check in on your property and look around. Most outdoor cameras these days have wide-angle lenses that let you see a large area at once, and they also support digital zoom.
When you choose an outdoor camera, make sure it records in 1080p. That way, you’ll still be able to see the image clearly when you zoom in.
If you want to ensure you’ll have really clear images, go with something like the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor, which has a 4K image sensor to keep your visuals crystal clear.
With the right smart devices, you can save a huge amount of time on property check-ins. Use connected products that send alerts right to your phone and stay informed without driving across town.
About the Author: Mindy Woodall is a writer focusing on smart devices and home security. For five years, she’s written about technology and how it can improve our daily lives.