Win the Front Door First
Apartments are usually won or lost at the main entry. If the front door has a solid contact sensor and you have an arm-at-night routine that sticks, you are already ahead of most setups I see.
I would much rather see a renter nail that than buy six gadgets that never get configured right.
Use Adhesive Hardware on Purpose
Peel-and-stick sensors are not the budget option people settle for. For renters, they are usually the right answer.
They go up fast, come off cleaner, and make it easier to adjust after a week or two of real use (which is usually when you realize the patio slider mattered more than that random side window).
Put Cameras Where They Help
Inside the apartment, aim the camera toward the path someone would take after coming in. Usually that means the foyer, living room, or the route to the main hallway. You want context after an alert, not a permanent view of private rooms.
If a shared hallway is involved, be careful. Privacy complaints usually start with lazy camera placement, not with the camera itself.
A Good Apartment Setup Is Small
That setup is boring, and that is kind of the point. It beats a big box of unused accessories every time.
- One door sensor on the front entry
- One motion sensor covering the main path through the unit
- One camera for verification
- Optional extra sensor on a balcony or patio door
Think About Move-Out on Day One
Save the extra adhesive strips. Take photos of how you mounted things. Keep original screws in a bag if you swap anything out.
Future you will be very happy about that when it is time to move.