Comparison · DMV Commercial Property Managers
Considering an alternative to Kastle Systems?
Property managers across the DMV are evaluating their options for commercial security infrastructure. Here is a clear, factual comparison of the two main approaches: managed security as a service, and owner-operated infrastructure installed by a licensed contractor.
Calls answered 7am-8pm EST · Emergency calls answered 24/7
Two different approaches to commercial security
Most commercial and multifamily properties in the DMV operate under one of two security models. Both can secure a building. They are structurally different in who owns what, who controls what, and what the long-term cost looks like.
Managed security as a service is the model offered by Kastle Systems and similar providers. The provider owns the hardware, the platform, the monitoring, and the relationship with the building. Property managers pay a monthly subscription. The provider handles everything end-to-end.
Owner-operated infrastructure is the model offered by licensed low-voltage contractors. The property owns the hardware. The platforms are modern and replaceable, typically built around ButterflyMX for video intercom and one of several access control platforms (Brivo, Openpath, ButterflyMX Access, or others) chosen to fit the property. The contractor installs, documents, and warranties the work. The property runs the system going forward, with optional service contracts for support.
We are an authorized ButterflyMX installer and a Coram AI partner. Most of our multifamily and commercial projects in the DMV are built on these platforms, with additional integrations as the property requires.
Both models work. The question is which fits the property, the budget structure, and the long-term operational preferences of the management company.
Side-by-side comparison
| Consideration | Managed Security as a Service | Owner-Operated Infrastructure |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware ownership | Provider owns hardware | Property owns hardware |
| Cost structure | Recurring monthly fee per door, per credential, per service tier | One-time install cost. Optional service contract. Cloud platform fees if applicable. |
| Contract length | Multi-year service agreements, typical | Per-project or open-ended service relationship |
| Platform | Provider's proprietary, single-vendor platform | Modern platforms led by ButterflyMX (intercom) and your choice of access control system. Property owns the hardware. |
| Switching costs | Hardware, credentials, and software all proprietary. Switching means replacing the full system. | Standard hardware. Switching contractors does not require replacing the system. |
| Monitoring | Provider's centralized operations center | Property's own staff or a separate monitoring contract of choice |
| Service response | Defined by service level agreement | Defined by service contract or per-incident agreement |
| Long-term cost trajectory | Continues monthly indefinitely. Costs typically rise over contract renewals. | Front-loaded in install. Ongoing costs limited to service and platform fees. |
| Best suited for | Properties without internal facilities or IT capacity who want a single vendor handling everything | Properties with facilities or IT staff capacity, or property management companies that want to control infrastructure across portfolios |
Common reasons property managers consider switching
When property managers reach out about evaluating Kastle alternatives, several patterns come up consistently. None of these are universal complaints. They are reasons people start looking.
Cost growth over time
Subscription pricing tends to compound. A property that starts at one cost level often finds the renewal terms have changed, or the per-door, per-credential pricing structure has expanded as the building grew. Over a 10-year ownership horizon, the cumulative subscription cost can exceed what an owner-operated install would have cost two or three times over.
Vendor lock-in concerns
When the access control hardware, intercom panels, credentials, and platform are all from a single proprietary provider, leaving that provider means replacing the entire system. Property managers planning long-term capital expenditure occasionally want to avoid this dependency, especially when the building is being prepared for sale or refinancing.
Service ticket response patterns
Like any large managed service, response time on service tickets varies. Some property managers report excellent service. Others report tickets sitting open for days or weeks. Public reviews on platforms like G2 reflect this mixed experience.
Wanting more direct control
Some property management companies, especially those managing multiple properties, prefer to standardize their security infrastructure across their portfolio rather than be tied to one vendor's per-property pricing. Owning the infrastructure gives them that flexibility.
Modernization without replacement
Newer cloud platforms (ButterflyMX for intercoms, Brivo and Openpath for access control, Coram AI for camera analytics) offer features and price points that some property managers want without re-signing a multi-year managed service contract.
How a transition typically works
Switching from a managed security service to owner-operated infrastructure is more straightforward than property managers often expect, but it does require planning.
Step 1: Audit the existing system
Document every door, camera, controller, intercom, and credential currently in use. Identify which hardware is provider-owned (will need to be replaced) and which is property-owned or generic (may be reusable).
Step 2: Review the existing contract
Most managed security contracts have specific language about termination notice, hardware return, and end-of-service dates. The contract terms determine the earliest practical switch date.
Step 3: Design the replacement system
We walk the property and design a system that meets the building's needs. Typical components for a multifamily property include ButterflyMX for the entry intercom and visitor management, an access control platform for unit doors and common areas (ButterflyMX Access, Brivo, Openpath, or others depending on property requirements), IP cameras with cloud or on-prem NVR, and optionally Coram AI for video analytics.
Step 4: Phased installation in occupied buildings
In an occupied building, the new system gets installed in parallel with the existing one. Doors are switched one at a time. Residents and staff never lose access during the transition. We did this with a 200-unit Arlington condominium: full intercom and access control replacement in 6 weeks, zero residents displaced.
Step 5: Decommission the old system
Once the new system is fully operational and tested, the old hardware is removed, returned to the provider per contract terms, and the service is cancelled.
What it costs to switch
Costs vary significantly based on building size, current state of infrastructure, and chosen platforms. Some honest ranges based on the projects we have done:
- Small commercial (under 50 doors): typically $30K-$80K for full access control + intercom replacement
- Mid-size multifamily (100-300 units): typically $75K-$200K depending on scope (intercom, common areas, parking, unit doors)
- Large multifamily (300+ units): $150K-$400K+ depending on scope and complexity
Compared against a typical Kastle subscription cost of $5K-$15K monthly for a mid-size multifamily property, the breakeven point on a transition is often 2-4 years. Properties planning to hold longer than that almost always see better long-term economics with owner-operated infrastructure.
When Kastle is actually the right choice
Honest assessment: managed security as a service is the right fit for some properties.
- Properties with no internal facilities, IT, or operations capacity to coordinate with a contractor
- Property management companies that explicitly prefer single-vendor accountability over infrastructure ownership
- Buildings on a short ownership horizon (1-2 years) where transition costs do not amortize
- Properties that highly value the centralized 24/7 monitoring component and do not want to contract that separately
If any of these describe your property, staying with Kastle (or going to Kastle for a new install) probably makes sense.
Why property managers work with us
Innovative Developments is a licensed low-voltage contractor serving commercial and multifamily properties across Maryland, Virginia, DC, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. We are an authorized installer for ButterflyMX and a partner for Coram AI. We carry $5M general liability insurance. Every install includes a 3-year manufacturer hardware warranty and a 1-year installation warranty. We specialize in occupied-building installations where residents cannot lose access during the project.
We send a written scope and pricing within 2 business days of the site walk. No obligation. You keep the report whether or not you hire us.
Want a Real Comparison?
Free site walk and written scope. No obligation.
We will walk your property, evaluate your existing system, and send you a written replacement scope and pricing within 2 business days. You decide whether to act on it. No pressure, no pitch.