Real estate security: Why you should set up security measures for your property

Real estate owners and brokers can’t rely on apartment security systems organized by individual tenants to secure their property. Setting up an integrated building access solution to safeguard the whole building is the first step property managers take to protect their tenants and property and mitigate potential risks.

As much as busy buildings make security for real estate seem obsolete, that’s far from the case. Without an integrated security system, the constant flow of people can even increase the probability of security breaches. For instance, without an access control system, any potential criminal can enter a highly-frequented property without arousing much suspicion. Any unauthorized access can result in burglaries, theft, vandalism, violence, and property damage.

The larger the residential property, the bigger the security needs, threats, and considerations. Securing the main entrance and common building areas needs to be complemented by securing the property perimeter, joint spaces, parking lots, parks and recreational areas.

Securing your real estate is not just another expense but an investment that pays dividends. Setting up smart technology like an integrated access control solution will raise the property value in the real estate market. Agents use security as one of the key benefits when selling a property. After all, one of the first questions buyers and renters ask when searching for a new home is, “How safe is this property and this area?”

What is the ideal security setup for a real estate building?

Both residential and commercial properties get a mix of visitors daily. Multi-floor building layouts have vertical and horizontal frequency, so relying only on security guards is quite challenging and pricey.

Real estate security solutions for larger property management businesses need to include integrated video surveillance and cloud-based access control. A basic mechanical lock and key solution and one person to monitor the entrance are too big of a security and compliance risk.

Commercial and residential real estate properties have unique security needs but mostly share similar risks. Installing modern access systems and cameras at the main doors significantly reduces the most common security threats. It automates visitor management and mitigates risk by enabling you to keep records of all people who get in and out, like permanent residents, delivery people, and the cleaning staff.

Cloud-based access systems like Kisi make it easy to issue and set mobile or physical credentials, organize users into groups with different access privileges, and set access schedules based on the groups’ needs.

Modern access control solutions enable you to monitor and get notified of important security events. Besides getting notifications of the people entering your property, you can get notified of potential security threats, like a door being forced or propped open. To further increase the security and value of your real estate, integrate your access control with other security systems, like cameras and fire alarms.

Cloud-based security solutions that support mobile access will empower you to manage your real estate security system for multiple locations remotely from one central point. The added layer of convenience and the various migration possibilities decrease the risks and costs associated with manned security.

What should real estate building managers consider when setting up the security process?

Many government authorities don’t leave security for real estate to the total freedom of the property owners. Real estate security is often treated as a public good. As a property manager, you might have some leeway in how you handle maintenance and budget spending. Property taxes, compliance requirements, and arrangements for contractors are a different story, though. Officials are heavily interested in keeping things in these areas by the book.

For forward-looking real estate managers, electronic access control enables integration of smart buildings within smart cities. As a long-term investment, the immediate investment in areas with such potential will have additional payoffs in the future.