For multifamily properties in today's competitive market, a modern access control system is more than just a way to open gates and doors. It’s the cornerstone of your entire multifamily security strategy, blending physical security with smart technology. Choosing the right apartment access control system is a critical investment in resident convenience, operational efficiency, and the long-term value of your asset.

But not all security solutions are created equal. Outdated hardware, hidden maintenance costs, and clunky user interfaces can create major headaches for property management and residents alike. When evaluating your options, it's crucial to look beyond the surface features. Here are the five key factors to consider when choosing a system that truly works for your residents, staff, and future growth.

1. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

An access control system isn’t a one-time purchase. When evaluating solutions, it's crucial to look beyond the initial quote and analyze the total cost of ownership. Traditional systems often come with significant hidden fees that inflate costs over time, making them far less cost effective than they first appear.

Hardware and Installation

Hardware-based systems require expensive trenching, wiring, proprietary panels, and professional installation, leading to substantial upfront capital expenditure.

Ongoing Maintenance

Don't forget to account for recurring maintenance fees, on-site service calls to fix broken readers, and the cost of replacing lost or damaged key fobs, which can be $25-$50 a piece. Over time, these operational expenses add up significantly.

How Sentry Solo Reduces TCO: Sentry Solo eliminates these physical hardware costs entirely. As a hardware-free platform that uses simple QR code access and residents' own mobile devices, there is no wiring, trenching, or expensive on-site equipment to purchase, maintain, or replace. This drastically reduces your total cost of ownership from day one and provides a predictable, budget-friendly subscription model.

2. Resident Adoption & User Experience

Even the most technologically advanced system is useless if residents can't—or won't—use it. High resident adoption is the ultimate measure of success, and it hinges on a user friendly experience. In communities with a wide range of ages and tech-comfort levels, simplicity is paramount.

The Problem with Complexity

If a system requires a complicated mobile app or a difficult setup process, residents will find workarounds that compromise your security measures, like propping doors open or sharing codes. This not only defeats the purpose of the investment but also increases support calls to your staff.

How Sentry Solo Drives Adoption: Sentry Solo is designed for universal ease of use. The experience of keyless entry is seamless. Residents use a simple web portal on their mobile devices to manage visitors. Guests simply scan a QR code and enter a PIN—no app download is required. This low-friction approach is intuitive for all technical skill levels, leading to near-universal adoption and fewer support headaches.

3. Real-Time Visitor Management

In today's on-demand world, a simple intercom is not enough. A modern system must include a robust and trackable real-time visitor management component that empowers both residents and staff while providing enhanced security.

Empower Residents with Granular Control

Your system should allow residents to easily manage their own guests without involving staff. The system should grant access permissions that are both secure and flexible, ensuring that only authorized individuals can enter. With Sentry Solo, residents can instantly issue secure, time-limited digital guest PINs, putting them in control.

Enhance Staff Awareness and Security

Manual check-ins and handwritten logs are inefficient and create security gaps. A digital system provides a real-time, exportable visitor log, so your staff knows exactly who is coming and going. This is a significant upgrade over passive video surveillance, providing actionable data to resolve incidents quickly.

4. Cloud-Based vs. On-Premise Systems

The debate is over: for multifamily properties, cloud based access control wins on nearly every metric. On-premise systems require physical servers, manual software updates, and on-site maintenance, making them expensive, vulnerable, and outdated.

The Cloud Advantage

A cloud-based access control system eliminates the need for on-site servers, enables powerful remote management from any device, and is inherently more secure and scalable. Security patches and feature updates are handled automatically by the provider, ensuring your system is always running on the latest, most secure version. This provides a level of high security and redundancy that is nearly impossible to achieve with a single on-site server.

Sentry Solo is 100% Cloud-Native: As a fully cloud based access platform, Sentry Solo gives you all these benefits without the burden of physical infrastructure. You can manage your entire property from anywhere, at any time.

5. Scalability and System Integration

Your access control solution should be flexible enough to grow with your business. A truly scalable access control system works for a single building or a large portfolio without adding complexity or requiring a complete hardware overhaul.

Seamless Growth and System Integration

With hardware-based systems, adding a new door means another expensive installation project. A cloud-native solution allows you to manage access for new doors or properties with a simple software configuration. Furthermore, look for strong system integration capabilities. Sentry Solo is built to integrate with leading Property Management Software (PMS), which automates workflows. When a resident is added or removed from your PMS, the system can automatically grant or restrict access, saving staff time and eliminating human error.

Sentry Solo: The Clear Choice for Modern Apartments

Sentry Solo was built to address the 5 critical factors for modern multifamily properties:

  • It lowers your total cost of ownership by being 100% hardware-free.
  • It drives resident adoption with an incredibly simple, user friendly interface.
  • It streamlines real-time visitor management for both residents and staff.
  • It leverages the power and high security of the cloud for reliable remote management.
  • It offers seamless scalability and system integration for your entire portfolio.

No wiring, no kiosks, no installations—just seamless access and full oversight from day one.

Ready to ditch the hardware and simplify access across your communities?

Learn More About Sentry Solo →