In today’s fast-paced rental market, self-guided apartment tours (SGT) have continued to rise in popularity for both prospective tenants and multifamily property managers. Offering the utmost convenience, these tours allow renters to explore properties on their own schedule while simplifying the leasing process for management teams. However, with this flexibility brings the need for additional security measures to protect the property, residents, and assets.
Multifamily technology has responded to this challenge with tools like perimeter video, intercom systems, smart locks, and innovative fraud prevention solutions. Self-guided apartment tours now rely on a combination of these technologies to safely allow prospective residents to access a unit without the need for a leasing agent on-site.
Here we take a look at the key technology that can be used alongside SGTs to keep your property secure:
Smart Locks
Smart locks play a central role in self-guided apartment tours by granting secure, time-limited access to properties, ensuring only authorized individuals can enter during designated periods. Once verified, potential residents will receive a time-specific access code to the property that deactivates after the tour. Smart lock systems can then be set to automatically relock properties to maintain a secure environment for existing residents and the vacant property.
Perimeter Video Surveillance
Perimeter video surveillance protects properties during self-guided tours, providing real-time monitoring of entry points, common areas, and surrounding property boundaries. These systems detect and record unusual activity, giving property managers clear visibility into who enters and exits the premises during tours. Additionally, the recorded footage serves as valuable evidence for property managers in the case of unauthorized activity, offering peace of mind to both property managers and current residents.
Fraud Prevention with CheckpointID
CheckpointID is an identity verification solution that enhances security and limits potentially fraudulent activity in the multifamily housing industry, particularly during self-guided tours. This technology verifies government-issued IDs and cross-references them with portrait photos to confirm the identity of prospective residents before clearing them for access to a property. By protecting against the risks associated with identity theft and unauthorized access, CheckpointID helps property managers to maintain a secure leasing process that is both seamless and flexible for prospective renters.
The Role of Geofencing in self-guided apartment tours
Geofencing allows property managers to create virtual boundaries around properties where access codes or digital keys are only activated when prospective residents arrive near the property, preventing unauthorized access. This added layer of control gives property managers the ability to ensure that all tour requests are legitimate and aligned with scheduled times. By integrating geofencing with tools like smart locks and CheckpointID, property managers can maintain tight control over property access, reduce the risk of fraudulent activity, and provide a secure experience for prospective renters.
To find out more about the technology you can adopt to make self-guided apartment tours safe and to keep your property secure, contact us today.
Want to find out more about access technology? Read Nate Wysk’s article on multifamily access control for VAMA.
