The build-to-rent (BTR) and single-family rental (SFR) markets are growing, but so are the risks. According to a recent report from Newsweek, markets like Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth are seeing sharp rises in squatting incidents.
For property managers and owners, the challenge has always been scale. Securing one vacant home is easy; securing hundreds of scattered single-family units is a logistical headache.
Until now, managers had to set arming schedules one property at a time, a process that was too time-consuming to be effective
Enter Nightly Arming from PointCentral. We have moved beyond manual arming to deliver enterprise-grade, bulk automation that secures your entire portfolio of vacant homes every night.
Security at Scale: How It Works
Nightly Arming is specifically designed to solve the complexity of securing vacant single-family homes. It allows operators to apply a single rule across thousands of properties, ensuring every empty home is locked and armed automatically at the end of the day.
- Bulk Automation: No more manual scheduling. You select the time (e.g., 10:00 PM), and the system automatically arms panels in your portfolio’s vacant properties.
- Occupancy Intelligence: Nightly Arming ensures that rules only apply to properties that are marked as vacant in the PointCentral property manager portal or through a property management system (PMS) integration. The arming schedule is automatically removed once a new resident codes in for the first time, preventing false alarms.
- Maximum Security: Panels are armed in the “Arm Away” state, the most secure setting available, ensuring maximum protection against break-ins.
Protection That Doesn’t Impede Operations
The fear with automated security is that it will lock out the people who actually need to be there, like maintenance staff or prospective renters. Nightly Arming was built to avoid disruptions to essential operations.
The “Auto-Disarm” Workflow
Imagine a maintenance technician needs to enter a vacant unit at 8:00 AM to fix a sink. With PointCentral, they don’t need to fumble with a security panel code. When they enter the smart lock pin, the system automatically disarms the panel.
The result? The technician enters, completes their work, and leaves without interacting with the security panel. If the unit is still vacant that night, the system re-arms itself automatically.
Fail-Safe Design
Many properties use panels primarily as automation hubs rather than security devices. Our fail-safe design excludes panels configured solely as hubs from arming commands, ensuring connectivity remains stable and residents retain local control.
Real-World Impact
For Property Managers
Managers overseeing large build-to-rent operations no longer need to worry about which units are left vulnerable over the weekend. They can now manage hundreds of homes from a single dashboard and know every vacant unit is secured at night. Additionally, leasing teams can still conduct self-guided tours during the day without setting off alarms.
For Property Owners
Investors with a growing portfolio can prevent squatting incidents that cost thousands in legal fees and damages. Nightly Arming gives them an automated defense system against theft and vandalism, protecting assets and reducing liability without increasing operational overhead.
Focus on Value, Not Vigilance
Your team’s time should be spent on leasing and resident satisfaction, not manually checking security panel statuses.
With Nightly Arming, you can stop squatters, prevent vandalism, and automatically secure thousands of vacant properties with no hindrance to daily operations.
Ready to secure your portfolio? Contact us to learn more about Nightly Arming.
