How do you help your neighbors with recommending and installing cameras?

[Arjun]

How do you help your neighbors with recommending and installing cameras?
I have done it all, but not sure if I went overboard - from installing Blue Iris to isolating cameras on a separate VLAN, configuring VPN, and so on. However, it comes to a point as you can only do so much; especially when they ask you to come over to troubleshoot, reconfigure, or change the camera. What would you all do at this point?

 

[wittaj]

Tell them to hire someone or you will be doing it for free as long as they live there.

 

[Riclyo]

I’ve had so many people tell me they love reolink I just stop making suggestions at this point.

 

[Chokolinho]

I’ve had so many people tell me they love reolink I just stop making suggestions at this point.

My neighbor has a Tapo PTZ with Wi-Fi.

 

[Simas123456]

Keep reiterating that you are doing it for free (or cost of materials) and tell them how much you would normally charge a customer.
Tell them there is zero warranty (except maybe parts only) and you have to make a living, so you can't prioritize fixing it for free when it has an issue years down the road.

Most people, even non business owning people, understand at least somewhat that time is money. If they don't, you just explain it to them.

"I don't usually touch something like this for less than $3000!" tells people what a gift they are getting.

Now if your neighbor is an entitled brat, then it is standard business prices on the high side of the spectrum because you have to deal with more stress and drama. Stress is work. Charge for it. I don't have any dramatic customers because I already charge higher prices to filter the penny pinchers and charge even more for drama. On the other side of thr coin, I'll sometimes discount the stree free customers. They are flexible and low stress. I charge people for what it costs me, whether in time, stress, materials, brain power, etc.