Security Cameras - Am I the Asshole Retiree

[Snoopy59]

In 2024, I wanted to have some home security cameras installed on my 2 story home for three reasons. First, it will give me something to tinker with. Second, the cameras have AI tracking of cars, faces, people, pets, and license plates. I will be able call out neighbors who think my lawn should be their dog's urinal. Why? I grow my lawn through a germination process called overseeding. I essentially select the best cultivar of grass seeds to use based on a national study that grades the grass on characteristics like color, germination rate, drought and disease resiliency. I don't use sod. Third, I was going to invest in a robotic mower and the cameras would serve as a second layer of security.

I received a few estimates for running the CAT6 and installing the cameras from business owners. One guy who gave me an estimate had a  terrible camera and installation plan. A second guy was going to use cheap materials. 

The third estimate I received had a solid installation plan. However, the sales representative had some minor issues. He gave me an estimate for 17 hours of labor. I raised the bullshit flag so he revised it to 11. He tried to tell me that I will need to be trained on my cameras, which drove the 17 hour estimate. I told him, "How are you going to train me on cameras I hand selected myself and purchased?  Cameras for which you don't even sell? You can literally watch a 5-10 minute video on how to set the cameras up via YouTube." I won that debate. I remember him telling me I'll need a cloud key and they could run an HDMI cable for my system to one of my big screen tvs. I told him that my UNVR acts as a cloud key. You can bring up the live feeds for all your cameras through Ubiquiti's app for smart tvs and cell phones. I am for certain I crushed his soul at that point. At some point, he mentions being a "retired Army colonel." I raised the bullshit flag again.

I selected the third estimate. They had great installers who installed everything in 11 hours. I haven't had any issues in over a year with their work. There was two minor issues like not leveling the doorbell camera and not wiping silicone off the base of two cameras. 

Ubiquiti came out with a new camera in September 2025 that I wanted. I attempted to receive an estimate from the same small business to install my 6th camera. Apparently, my sales representative was fired. They told me he was wanted by the FBI and he was no retired Army colonel. "I was shocked, I tell you 🙄. The small business gave me a different "installer/sales representative" named Mike.

Mike tried telling me it will take 5-7 hours to install one camera for $1.3K-$1.6K. I called him out on his estimate. Mike's first excuse was that he has been installing cameras for 20 years and he is a veteran too. Then he tried to use some lame excuses to pad his estimate by telling me the technicians have to go up and down a ladder and load cable before visiting my home.

I torched Mike's ass. First, I told him that I have my own cable just like last time. I sent this to him in my highly detailed contract requirements before he issued his estimate. Second, I informed him that my solar company installed a fully functional, 23 panel solar system on my 2 story roof in 6 hours with 3 technicians. His 2 camera technicians are only going up to the first level eaves, which is half the distance that the solar technicians had to travel up a ladder. Third, it took 11 hours to install everything last time for a grand total of $1.6K. Around 10 hours was spent on running CAT6 and installing 5 cameras, which equates to 2 hours per camera. I told Mike that he must be doing California high school math because it's not accurate. Mike tried to tell me that he likes to give higher estimates so customers feel like they're receiving a deal when they have to pay less.

Needless to say, I hired a different small business. The owner told me it will take 2-3 hours maximum. 

Am I the retired flying asshole here for essentially calling out the small business that I previously worked with?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 6 minutes ago by Snoopy59

[FlyingWolf]

Probably.

It's true that it is difficult to find good help....  but that story took long enough to put together... Why not do the work yourself?

[Snoopy59]

3 hours ago, FlyingWolf said:

Probably.

It's true that it is difficult to find good help....  but that story took long enough to put together... Why not do the work yourself?

I live in an area with a lot of retirees. At least 3 of my neighbors on all sides of me are retired. I'm the youngest at age 43. Anyway, we live by a golf course where a lot of elderly chose to retire. You're right, there are a lot of dishonest people out there. The elderly get taken advantage of by lots of business owners from what I garner on the Nextdoor app. It's kind of pathetic and sickening. 

Why I don't install the CAT6 and camera myself?

#1. My home's exterior is stucco. Having someone with experience doing the drilling matters in my opinion. I can drill into wood easily, but I'm not willing to practice on my stucco. I doubt I have the drill bits too.

#2. I don't do ladder work unless it involves a step ladder. I leave ladder work to the professionals, especially at heights of 11-16 ft. 

On a separate note, these camera installers will try to put cameras well above 15 ft. It's intentional so you'll have to call the camera technicians for any repairs. That installation height would interfere with any AI features. The sweet spot is 10-11 ft.

During my retirement, I have learned about lawn care, plants, electrical, and construction. I had an electrician swap out 3 Arc-Fault Circuit Intereupter (AFCI) breakers. He looked over my bedroom paddle switch installation. He says, "I thought an electrician installed this based on how you turned your face plate screws. You didn't do anything wrong, the one breaker that's tripping is just old. It's smart that you purchased 3 new AFCIs from Lowe's in order for me to swap out the 3 old breakers." I told him that YouTube taught me how to install light switches. YouTube taught me how to turn the screws like an electrician. I have installed a motion sensing light switch in my bathroom as well. I have gotten really fast at electrical installations.

Edited 22 minutes ago by Snoopy59

[brickhistory]

Quote

I will be able call out neighbors who think my lawn should be their dog's urinal.

Making assumptions to get to my question - subdivision-like environment/sidewalk/public road and easement beside property, etc.  and dogs are being walked on a leash/controlled.  If these aren't valid, then please illuminate.

What, exactly, will you say to neighbors who own urinating dogs?  How are the neighbors, again assuming dog is being walked and not running loose, to prevent said dog from peeing on your superty-duperty bionic grass?  If it's just dogs running loose throughout neighborhood and targeting your prize Mexican sensamilla, then I get it.  Otherwise, WTF?

[Snoopy59]

1 hour ago, brickhistory said:

Making assumptions to get to my question - subdivision-like environment/sidewalk/public road and easement beside property, etc.  and dogs are being walked on a leash/controlled.  If these aren't valid, then please illuminate.

What, exactly, will you say to neighbors who own urinating dogs?  How are the neighbors, again assuming dog is being walked and not running loose, to prevent said dog from peeing on your superty-duperty bionic grass?  If it's just dogs running loose throughout neighborhood and targeting your prize Mexican sensamilla, then I get it.  Otherwise, WTF?

#1. I live in a HOA and you'll rarely see a dog running loose. You're more likely to see a coyote roaming than a personal pet. Pets roaming free wind up as a coyote snack like the stray cat in my screenshot.

#2. I have a custom made sign that's bright yellow and made of reflective aluminum. My sign essentially says, "CAUTION and to please keep dogs off the lawn due to the LEGAL, but hazardous herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers" I use on my lawn. There is a symbol on my sign of a man walking a dog with a bright red circle with a diagonal line through both figures.

#3. If your pets are urinating and pooping on lawns, the HOA will fine those individuals. We have more than enough parks, trails, and dog poop collection stations with FREE poop bags throughout our community for it to NEVER occur. 

#4. After one dog urinates in a spot to "scent mark." Other dogs will try to repeatedly mark that same spot. Pet urine has a lot of nitrogen in it, which will burn the grass and turn it yellow. To prevent the nitrogen burn, you have to dilute the area with water.

#5. Before I had to put my dog down, I walked her on the curb side and away from lawns. My body acted as a buffer and she was off leash. When we would get to the main street that is a 5 minute walk from our house. She can do whatever she wants because there aren't any homes along the route. The HOA has the poop stations along the route since it's meant for exercising and walking pets.

My cameras can create virtual boundaries and will notify me when someone crosses the property lines. What do I say to violators with pets? 

#1. I show them the video evidence because my cameras will track repeat offenders. My cameras will create "motion events" of the owner and pet for me to view.

#2. The sidewalk is public property. My lawn is private property. After you or your pet step onto my lawn, you're crossing onto my property. My insurance doesn't cover you or your dog being on my property WITHOUT my permission. 

I had a lady push back against her daughter and dog being allowed on my lawn. I told her that I would have her (the mom) trespassed. Especially after trying to address the issue twice before. I also told the mom if she actually took care of her lawn that her dog wouldn't want to roll in mine. All he's doing is rolling in the fertilizer chemicals. Additionally, I told the mom the incursions are happening because her daughter is allowing the dog to be off the leash. I explained to her that I've seen kids younger than her daughter see my sign and pull their dog off the lawn. I just laughed about it and wouldn't approach any kids regarding the matter. Her daughter was doing it daily. For my final point, I told her if something happens to your daughter on my property, you're going to try and sue. Let's say the daughter breaks her ankle on an unlevel part of the lawn that I haven't filled in with soil to level yet.

#3. What's the big deal? If I spray Roundup on a specific weed or spray herbicide that's only friendly to my cool season lawn. Your dog could walk through the chemicals and harm my lawn or kill a neighbor's lawn that's a warm season lawn. There are warm season and cool season lawn herbicides. Warm season herbicides shouldn't touch cool season lawns and vice versa. 

#4. After talking to 4 dog owners about trespassing on personal property, lawn chemicals, or showing them video evidence of their disrespect. I typically never see them on my street again. Except for one older gentlemen who I never spoke with. He just walks his huge poodle along the curb after I posted his pictures on the Nextdoor app. You can see his dog in my screenshot. Public shaming actually works in our community, as it should everywhere.

FYI: The black dog in my screenshot is being walked on a leash by it's owner across the street from my house. The dog's owner is actually walking 2 dogs. The other dog was trailing behind on a leash. 

Edited 4 minutes ago by Snoopy59

[Boomer6]

9 minutes ago, Snoopy59 said:

#1. I live in a HOA and you'll rarely see a dog running loose. You're more likely to see a coyote roaming than a personal pet.

#2. I have a custom made sign that's bright yellow and made of reflective aluminum. My sign essentially says, "CAUTION and to please keep dogs off the lawn due to the LEGAL, but hazardous herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers" I use on my lawn. There is a symbol on my sign of a man walking a dog with a bright red circle with a diagonal line through both figures.

#3. If your pets are urinating and pooping on lawns, the HOA will fine those individuals. We have more than enough parks, trails, and FREE poop bag stations throughout our community for it to NEVER occur. 

#4. After one dog urines in a spot to "scent mark." Other dogs will try to mark that same spots. Pet urine has a lot of nitrogen in it which will burn the grass and turn it yellow.

#5. Before I had to put my dog down, I kept her on the curb side and away from lawns. When we get to the main street that is a 5 minute walk. She can do whatever she wants because there aren't any homes along the route. The HOA has the poop stations along the route because it's meant for exercising and walking pets.

My cameras can create virtual boundaries and will notify me when someone crosses the property lines. What do I say to violators with pets? 

#1. I show them the video evidence because my cameras will track repeat offenders. The cameras will make motion events of the owner and pet.

#2. The sidewalk is public property. My lawn is private property. After you or your pet step onto my lawn, you're crossing onto my property. My insurance doesn't cover you or your dog being on my property WITHOUT my permission. 

I had a lady push back against her daughter and dog being allowed on my lawn. I told her that I would have her (the mom) trespassed. Especially after trying to address the issue twice before. I also told the mom if she actually took care of her lawn that her dog wouldn't want to roll in mine. All he's doing is rolling in the fertilizer chemicals. For my final point, I told the mom the incursions are happening because her daughter is allowing the dog to be off the leash. I explained to her that I've seen kids younger than her daughter see my sign and pull their dog off the lawn. I just laughed about it and wouldn't approach any kids regarding the matter. Her daughter was doing it daily. 

#3. What's the big deal? If I spray Roundup on a specific weed or spray herbicide that's only friendly to my cool season lawn. Your dog could walk through the chemicals and harm my lawn or kill a neighbor's lawn that's a warm season lawn. There are warm season and cool season lawn herbicides.

#4. After talking to 4 dog walkers  about trespassing on personal property, lawn chemicals, or showing them video evidence of their disrespect. I typically never see them on my street again. Except for one older gentlemen who I never spoke with. He just walks his huge poodle along the curb after I posted his pictures on the Nextdoor app. You can see his dog in my screenshot. Public shaming actually works in our community, as it should everywhere.

FYI: the black dog is my screenshot is being walked on a leash by it's owner across the street from my house. The dog owner is actually walking 2 dogs. The other dog was trailing behind on a leash. 

Any chance you're related to LordRatner...? 🤔

[uhhello]

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