Home Security for Renters

Home security for renters can be a tough road to navigate. Just because you don’t own the place that you’re living in, doesn’t mean you don’t want to be protected. There are many reasons Why You Need a Home Security System. Being a renter doesn’t have to affect your ability to solve these problems. You will want a company that will call for help on your behalf at all hours in case of a break-in, fire, and even medical emergency. Sure, there are certain benefits of an alarm system that can be specific to a homeowner, but you will also benefit as a renter.

Regardless of your reasons for renting, you are not alone in the rental market. Home security for renters ultimately affects you the same as a homeowner. We’ll explain what your options are and how you can protect yourself, your loved ones, and your belongings.

Why do home security companies choose not to install systems for renters?

The homeowner legally owns the property. This is the biggest reason most security companies don’t work with renters. The renter doesn’t have final say in what can or can’t be done in a home. It’s important that prior to any installation you receive approval from your landlord. By getting approval first from your landlord it avoids installation complaints.

Another reason security companies steer clear of renters is that renters move frequently. Fortunately, there are still security solutions available if you plan to move in the near-term.

Factors to consider when purchasing home security for renters

As previously mentioned, approval from your landlord is a must. This ensures that you are compliant with your lease terms. It also prevents any early friction in the landlord/tenant relationship. Be sure your landlord approves you installing a security system in the home.

Make sure the system equipment and monitoring plans are transferable. You need to make sure that there are no penalties for transferring your plan. You also want to ensure that the equipment can move with you. This way you’re not forced to purchase new equipment, even if they allow you to transfer the monitoring plan.

An additional consideration would be to have flexibility with adding equipment to the plan at a future date. You will want to customize a package with equipment that you need for your current home, but also have the ability to add-on additional equipment as your needs change with future moves.

Fortunately, there are providers that do allow renters to install their system and they also allow the system to be transferred when/if you move.  Contact us to find out which providers will work in your situation.

Tips for a safer rental home

Meet your Neighbors! Even if you don’t plan on living there forever. It’s good to have friendly faces nearby keeping an eye on your place.

Renters Insurance: Regardless of where and how you live. Having renter’s insurance financially protects your stuff. There are affordable insurance options that can help cover the cost of stolen or damaged items.

Home Services Connections

Are you a real estate agent or title agent? Do you offer your new homeowners an efficient way to connect and set up their new home services connections upon closing for their new residence? Post option period efficiency has been lacking for most of the real estate industry. Don’t worry MovePad is here to help!

MovePad Helps Your Clients Post Option Period

The days of handing your clients a piece of paper with possible home services connections providers can now be a thing of the past! When you hand your client a list of possible service providers. Requiring them on average to call 4-5 home services connections providers. This process can take several hours of their day. With them researching and then having to go through automated systems and call centers to set up services. Often resulting in them being sold products they don’t want or need. Let’s face it…for someone to take 4-5 hours off work to set up their connections…isn’t efficient.

MovePad is a trusted name in the relocation technology industry. Their platform pulls up all the available home services connections at your client’s new address. Their transparent system immediately lets your client know who’s available at their specific address. The new homeowner/tenant can then select which services and plans they want. The best part is that MovePad has a system that allows the homeowner to directly connect all their home services connections on their platform. Pretty cool, right? No more having to deal with call centers! That’s something we can ALL be happy about. The process gets all the residents home services connections done quickly. Allowing them to focus on what matters the most…their personal lives.

Home Services Connections MovePad Connects

MovePad has large partnerships with national vendors across the country enabling them to directly connect multiple home services connections. Below are some of the more prominent services they help people moving with:

Movers

With a network of over 500+ national movers. They can help you find a licensed and insured mover anywhere in the United States. Their platform allows you to get real-time quotes from several providers. Allowing you to pick the mover that’s right for you!

Internet & TV

Partnered with all the big-name broadband providers allows MovePad to offer you the fastest internet options available at your house. MovePad a utility concierge helps clients to see which Internet & TV providers have cable lines in their area. Saving you tons of research time. Once they help you narrow your options down they can connect the services for you instantly.

Home Security Systems

Making sure your home, most likely your biggest investment is protected, is very important. MovePad has national partnerships with some of the most trusted names in the industry. Allowing you to customize your options at your household. Shop and learn about multiple state of the art automated features that can be installed into your new home.

Storage

Not able to sell bulk items in your pre-move garage sale? Moved too many items and they won’t all fit in your house? No worries! UtilityHound’s platform will shop multiple storage locations around your new home. Allowing you to select the storage sizing, air-conditioned units or not, and what monthly pricing fits your budget.

Rental Insurance

Is your landlord or apartment requiring you to get renter’s insurance prior to moving in? Well, guess what…MovePad also helps with this! Not only will they help you with the basic services most new residents need. They also will help tenants with renter’s insurance. This can easily be connected online through MovePad and only takes a couple minutes!

How Can You Use MovePad?

If you’re in the Real Estate Industry (Realtor, Broker, Title Agent, Mortgage Agent, Property Management, Home Inspector) you can easily visit their partner’s page. They’ll get you set up so you can easily refer your clients for home services connections assistance. Remember, connecting services doesn’t have to be inefficient and take hours upon hours. Let MovePad set up all these home connections services for your client in a matter of minutes. All while making you look like a Rockstar!

Realtor Marketing Ideas – Be the Go-To Agent

You put a lot of time and effort into helping your clients find the right home to buy, or ensuring you can sell their home for the best price.  You want what is best for your client and do what it takes to make them happy.  Word of mouth and referrals are great ways to get your name out there, but how do you differentiate yourself amongst the other 2 million registered real estate agents1 in the United States?  What value do you add that other agents don’t that you can utilize in your realtor marketing?  Consider these questions and tips to help determine how you can adjust your realtor marketing to further expand your marketing efforts.

What Do You Do Differently From Other Agents?

Do you have expert knowledge in a specific area of real estate?  Use this to your advantage and target your realtor marketing efforts towards people who could benefit from this area of expertise.

Use Social Media, Marketing Ads, and attend Networking Groups

  • Be active on Social and ensure you have at least LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook accounts.  Regularly post and update these accounts to keep people engaged.  These a great free sources of getting your name and brand out there.
  • Some well-known sites, such as Realtor.com have paid realtor marketing available.  There are various marketing levels and plans available that can be used to fit your budget and needs.
  • Use email marketing to keep in touch with past clients and prospective clients.  Be sure to import your contacts from all sources (business cards, social media contacts, etc.).  Having a regular emailed newsletter is a great way to keep your information in front of people.  An added bonus with using this realtor marketing technique is that email open rates are much higher when emails are received from someone familiar.  In this case, your former clients are likely to open your emails, which keeps your name on their mind, and in turn, can lead to referrals.
  • Have a well-designed website and include online contact forms.  Contact forms serve as a quick and easy way for potential clients to reach out to you when they’re already on your website viewing information about you and your business.  You can also ask happy clients to leave reviews for you and post these reviews to your website.  Reviews offer a great source of independent validation.

Want A Free Value-Add Service That Will Help You Stand Out In Your Realtor Marketing Efforts?

MovePad offers a complimentary utility and home service connections service for your clients. This is a great value-add that you can incorporate into your Realtor Marketing. These services are free to both the client using the service and the real estate professional that refers their clients. You help the client find their home, why not add a service to your business that connects the home services for their move too?  We know how important it is to you that your client is taken care of in the best possible way, and our service not only continues to take care of them in this process, but we also put a priority on excellent customer service.  Check out our Partner Page to learn even more about our service and how you can use it to help your business and your clients.

Alarm Equipment Options

Advances in technology have led to vast improvements in the home security features that are available to consumers today. In the past, your system included sensors on the doors and windows, plus perhaps a motion detector. And, the only way to know if there was a breach in your home was when you received a call from the security provider’s monitoring center. Now, not only do you have visuals in the home, plus control of Smart Home devices, you also have access to all of this on your smartphone or tablet. So what are the different types of alarm equipment available to you?

Contacts

Door & Window Sensors – These basic types of equipment are still essential to have a safe and secure home.

Glass Break Sensors

An intruder could potentially bypass setting off your alarm should they break through a window and not trip the door or window opening sensors. However, a glass break sensor adds an extra layer of protection to avoid this issue.

Motion

Motion detectors are still frequently used as an extra sensor to add to the security from door and window sensors.

Safety

Fire/Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Not only do these sensors alarm you in the home with sirens, as would any non-monitored detector, but it also notifies your security provider via the monitoring service. The biggest benefit being that these detectors initiate an immediate response from your security provider as they contact the fire department, on your behalf at the first sign of an issue.

Freeze/Flood Detectors – Do you live in a cold climate where water pipes can burst due to freezing temperatures? Perhaps you live in an older home and the faucets and water connections are potentially corroded without your knowledge? Neither of these factors may even be relevant to your situation, but if you have self-connected water connections, such as to your washing machine, there’s a risk of flooding. Equipment that detects these hazards at the start of the issue can help prevent thousands of dollars in damage to your home.

Cameras

Cameras are becoming a more commonly used. This is partially because of the value they add to your system and also because of the great prices offered in home security promotions.

Indoor/Outdoor Cameras: The most basic types of cameras do exactly what you expect…allow you to view what’s happening live. Extra features that are also available include built-in motion sensors. These motion sensors automatically notify you and send you live feed when motion is detected. Imagine if you have a child that is expected to be home right after school while you are at work, then the camera notifies you when they arrive. Alternatively, if motion is detected outside of your home when you are in bed, you can quickly check to see if it’s a potential intruder without ever getting up.
Doorbell Cameras: When your doorbell rings, the camera shows you an instant picture of who is at the door. An added feature of this alarm equipment is that it has a microphone allowing you to communicate with your visitor.

Smart Home Alarm Equipment

Integrate your light switches, lamps, outlets, and thermostat into your security system. This allows you to control your home from your phone, or even automate the various systems by programming lights or temperatures. Other types of alarm equipment that give you control of your home remotely include door locks and garage door openers. Never worry if you have left the home and forgot to close your garage door as you can monitor this on your smartphone.

Why Use A Utility Concierge to Set Up Your Home Security System?

The best of the alarm equipment choices are just that, they’re choices and those choices are yours. Mix and match what equipment is best for your home. To get a customized quote for your home security system, contact MovePad a trust utility concierge HERE. MovePad can set up new homeowners all across the United States with discounted alarm equipment. They will also help you evaluate the different providers and plans. Finding the best offers on the equipment that YOU need. Additionally, they can also help you connect any other services you need connected at your new home, condo or apartment!

Burglary Statistics – Don’t Become a Part of the Numbers

Why do burglars target specific homes? Well, there are lots of factors that lead to a home being burglarized. So we urge you to read on, get informed, be prepared, and avoid becoming a part of the next burglary statistics.

Burglary Statistics by The Numbers

As previously noted, there is an average of 240 burglaries every hour in the United States which is the equivalent to 4 break-in’s every minute. The average cost of a burglary is $2,361, according to FBI Data. When you consider that the cost of a home security system can be as low as $9.99 per week, the potential savings in the dollar costs alone can make it worth investing in an alarm system. Unfortunately, the psychological effects of having your home burglarized cannot be valued by the dollar. Another unfortunate truth to the statistics is that they are not objective. So, if you live in an area with an average of 15% of homes being broken into and your neighbor has a break-in, that doesn’t reduce the chances of your home being the next target just because of the statistics.

Reasons A Home Is The Target of A Burglar

  • No sign of an alarm system – This makes the break-in easier.
  • Shrubbery/brush around the home – This helps hide a person from street view.
  • Corner lot or isolated home location – Burglars look for a quick get-away, and if there are less neighboring homes, this makes it an easier target.
  • The home backs up to an alley – Similar to a remote home, an alley allows for an easy way in and out of the house with limited chances of being noticed.
  • You live alone or with no kids – The fewer number of people living in the home equates to the fewer chances that someone will be home at the time of an attempted break-in.
  • The outskirts of your home are dark at night – If you don’t have good lighting surrounding your home at nighttime, then it makes it easier for someone to go undetected.

You can’t avoid all of the reasons burglary statistics for a home being target for burglaries. However, you can prepare by learning all of the facts and taking preventative measures.

Educate Yourself to Protect Your Home and Know The Facts:

  • Most break-ins happen during the day when homeowners are at work or out running errands. Another high-crime situation is when you leave town. It’s not uncommon for thieves to watch your home and learn your patterns.
  • Most robbers break in through the front or back door. They look for the easiest and most “efficient” method of entry. It’s very important that you protect your home by locking all doors, windows, garages, basements, and any other potential entry point.
  • The first room they tend to go to is the master bedroom. It’s where the most valuable, but easiest target items are held. Although you typically picture a burglar walking out with your flat screen TV, it’s actually much easier for them to grab a bagful of your valuable jewelry.

What Steps Do You Need to Take to Help Keep Burglars At Bay?

Since you can’t control where your home is located or who lives in it, consider the following steps to help prevent a break-in.

  1. Invest in a home security system
  2. Display the fact that you have an alarm system
  3. Use your alarm system. It’s surprising how many residents have a system installed but don’t regularly arm the system when away from home.
  4. Ensure landscaping is trimmed so all windows and doorways can be seen from the street.
  5. Properly light your home. Utilize motion-detecting floodlights in areas where there is little to no traffic (think side-yard).

Burglars look for the easiest target that potentially has the most value. They don’t consider the long-term consequences and want to get in and out of a home as fast as possible with the most loot. Don’t become a part of the burglary statistics, instead, take the preventative measures that we’ve outlined to protect yourself and your home. To get started, contact us to find the best system for your individual needs and security.

Apartment Marketing Ideas – How to Stand Out from Your Competitors

Apartment Marketing Ideas to Increase Occupancy Rates

So you have friendly staff, a nice complex, and great amenities, but so does the complex across the street.  How do you entice new tenants to move into one of your units rather than somewhere else?  We’ll discuss apartment marketing ideas you can utilize to stand out as the best apartment community for prospective tenants.

Offer A Utility Connections Service

Use a complimentary Utility Connection Service to help your new tenants connect all of their services. Most people like to feel like their getting something extra. Whether it’s some sort of deal or the ease of connecting services.  Plus, a move is time-consuming and can sometimes be stressful and overwhelming.  By offering free utility connections, your tenants have one less task. Allowing them to focus on their move into your complex.

MovePad is a complimentary utility connection service that you can learn more about and even partner with for your community.  Offering concierge-type services to help tenants connect their utilities and services is a great way to add value to your complex and ultimately stand out from the competing complexes.

Sponsor Local Events And Charities

Your complex should be involved within the community.  Involvement portrays the complex as being human, rather than a faceless corporation but also helps to get your name known.  So not only will you feel good about contributing to the community, but it’s a great networking method.

Allow Events to Be Hosted On-Site

Do you have a shared community room, outdoor space, or a large business center?  Offer up the space to outside businesses/organizations to host their meetings and events.  This is a great way to get more people into your complex.  You never know who is considering a move, and one of the attendees could be very interested in what they see.  Be mindful of how often events are held and how much time is being used up by outside entities. In addition, be considerate by limiting the availability to the current residents.  You certainly don’t want your existing residents to feel like your amenities are never available to them.  The goal is to have both enticed outsiders and happy current residents!

Apartment Marketing Ideas for Social Media

New college students, tenants, and prospective tenants like to be in the know.  Keeping them informed about events, activities, and happenings in the complex. Posting via social media is a great way to let them stay up-to-date.  You can also use social media for marketing by posting complex pictures and advertising any specials or deals for new renters.

Another way to use social media to your advantage would be to offer people discounts or other incentives if they “Like” your Facebook page or check-in on Facebook in your community.  This helps spread the news about your apartment complex faster and shows prospective tenants that people are enjoying, living at, or interested in living at your complex.  The more interest you can generate, the better.

Claim Your Google Business Page

This may seem simple, but it’s amazing to see how many businesses overlook this.  Be sure to claim your Google Business Page so that you have rights to edit and update it as needed.  It’s important to keep the information on this page up-to-date because the majority of online visitors pass by a business or community if they can’t easily access the information online.  If you claim your Google Business Page, you can also ensure that all information about the community is correct and accurate, making it easy for prospective tenants to contact your complex.

Join Your Local Apartment Association

Joining your local apartment association is a great way to get up-to-date information on the current resources and tools available to you.  Many apartment associations also offer training opportunities for staff. In addition, vendor programs are offered that help tenants sign up with services.  And, as an added bonus, as a member of the association, you’re listed in their directory which many prospective tenants look at when apartment searching.

Start implementing these apartment marketing ideas to help stand out from your competition and gaining a competitive edge over other complexes. For help connecting utilities visit our contact us page.  Until next time…Happy Marketing!