Cameras are great allies for keeping your home and property safe. Many hosts love the option of having a pair of eyes on their home at all times – especially for those looking to manage from out of state. Here – I will discuss some basic camera etiquette for those who choose to get cameras. Remember – Airbnb will shut your home down for any undisclosed cameras in the listing. There have also been reports of past guests setting up “secret cameras” in your home disguised as innocent objects. These are all problems that you do not want. Here are some tips to avoid extra drama when it comes to cameras on site and what you can do to make sure your guests are comfortable with the arrangement.
1. Always Disclose Any Cameras on your Listing
Whenever I get a booking or serious inquiry – I always remind guests of the cameras on site. I begin the response with “Hi Guest! Thanks so much for booking! Just in case it was overlooked I just wanted to mention and remind you that this home does have surveillance. We have a Ring camera, a camera facing the driveway and a camera in the patio room facing the pool.” Please let me know that you are comfortable with this arrangement. Let me know if you have any questions!
2. Tell Your Guests Why You Have Cameras
I always find it best to be honest with your guests up front to set the expectations before arrival. During the welcome message I will remind them of the camera set up and let them know WHY we have them. “Hi Guest! Just wanted to remind you that maintenance will be on site for the pool – which is the reason for the cameras in the backyard.” “What time will you be arriving to the home? I just like to ensure you arrive safely and had no issues accessing the front door. Looking forward to hosting you and your group this week – let me know if you need anything during your stay!”
3. Ensure Guests The Cameras Do Not Record Audio
Recording audio is a big no no. What could be worse than a host reaching out to a guest about something that was said on site? Disclose that the surveillance devices do or do not have audio recording capabilities ON your Airbnb or Vrbo listing. I don’t feel it’s necessary to remind them of this feature with the check in information.
4. Don't "Spy" On Your Guests
It’s never appropriate to spy on your guests. This causes all kinds of terrible scenarios that can often times, be gently handled AFTER check out. Unless you get a complaint from some outside source about something happening at your home – you should not be accessing your cameras for any reasons outside of check in and check out.
