History of the Doorman

Doormen are also known as “porters” or “doorkeepers.” They’ve  been used from as far back as 200 BCE. In The United States, they are most often found in larger cities like Washington DC, Los Angeles, and New York City. 

It’s often said, “A good doorman sees everything and says nothing.” These men and women hold open doors for everyone coming and going; they bear witness to whatever happens in and around their buildings, and yet live by a motto of keeping mum about all of it. 

Pros of Living in a Doorman Building

By always having a staff member on-site, the safety of a doorman building increases. Would-be criminals see someone guarding the entrance and walk away. The doorman is also able to screen visitors entering the building. This means residents won’t have unwanted company arriving at their doorstep uninvited.

Other potential pros include:

• Doormen help residents and their guests by carrying luggage and groceries.
• Concierge Services: An all-inclusive style building may have a concierge who acts as a service coordinator. Some days they might perform the duties of a doorman. Other days they may be making dinner reservations or arranging for limo services.

• Socialization: A doorman’s smile and friendly, “Hello,” can start you off on a happy note.
• Community Events: Much like a concierge, a doorman will be able to keep residents apprised of what’s going on in the building and nearby in the neighborhood too.

Cons of Living in a Doorman Building

While there are many benefits to living in a building with a doorman there are also a few drawbacks. The most obvious is likely to be the cost. These buildings tend to be considered luxury-level and charge residents a higher rent to off-set the cost of having someone attend the building’s entrance. 

Other potential drawbacks may include:

• Sometimes a doorman will block family members or friends from entering the building.
• Limited Privacy: Doormen can be the ultimate “busy-bodies.” They overhear many conversations, and you can bet they know all about exactly what’s going on in unit 2-C…
• This job has a high turnover rate, you won’t always know who that person is or what background checks they’ve gone through in order to get the job. 
• Inconsistent Service: Since no single person works 24 hours a day, a building may only have a doorman on duty during the busiest hours. On the other hand, they may have more than one doorman who rotates. While some may be fantastic, others may not be as competent. 

Another problem that can occur in doorman buildings is an increase in noise. This can be especially noticeable if your unit is on the ground floor. In buildings that aren’t manned, people tend to come and go quietly. However, in a doorman building, someone’s always striking up a conversation with whoever is standing vigil.

Factors To Consider

When deciding if you want to live in or manage a building with a doorman there are many factors for you to take into account. 

• Location: Doorman buildings tend to only be available in larger cities.
• Building Amenities: Even in a building offering these services, they might not be provided 24 hours a day. The building might be better served by reallocating those financial resources and providing other services and amenities.
• Building size: Doorman buildings tend to be larger, and not everybody likes living in such a highly populated place. Those types of apartment buildings may also be more challenging to manage.
• Type of Staff: What duties do the doormen perform and what other staff members are available? Some apartment complexes might be better served by offering housekeeping services in lieu of someone at the entrance. 
• Building Policies and Rules: Some of these buildings with doormen are older and the atmosphere might be stuffy, They could have some older outdated rules or policies in place. If that’s the case, younger residents might not be as happy, and property managers might have a harder time with so many rules to enforce.  

Building Security Options Available

While doorman buildings are status symbols of luxury, they’re also expensive. Recently renters have found themselves having to live on tighter budgets. As the price of rent has increased, residents are now less likely to be willing to pay for services such as this.  

However, a building’s security and the ability to have packages delivered properly are still extremely important!

Thankfully there are alternatives to doorman buildings. Electronic security systems allow you to see who’s coming and going. Access can be granted or denied remotely using a mobile device. This technology also allows package deliveries to be easily tracked, and residents can be quickly notified when their orders’ have arrived.

MVI Systems can show you how a mobile security system can be installed to benefit your building. Contact us today!

The post Doorman Buildings – Pros & Cons for Residents appeared first on MVI Systems.

Challenges of Package Delivery in Apartments

Sadly, there are challenges in ensuring that a package reaches somebody living in an apartment building. Sometimes, it’s a simple matter of it being difficult for the postal delivery person to find the correct building or knowing where they’re actually supposed to leave the package. Many of us have had things delivered to us that were addressed to our neighbors, and many of us have been the neighbor in that situation.

Even if the package is delivered to the correct address, there are still factors to contend with. Depending on the apartment building, there are rules for where to leave packages—at the door, on a table in the lobby, or in a designated mailbox. That doesn’t mean those rules will always be followed.

We also have to take into account the occasional delivery worker who simply leaves packages outside of the building altogether. Maybe they hide them behind a nearby bush or simply prop them against the door. When this happens, packages are at risk of being stolen or damaged by the elements should bad weather come knocking.

There are also difficulties to consider around scheduling. If someone needs to sign for a package but isn’t home, they could play delivery tag with the mailman for several days. Ideally, noted delivery windows should be followed, but they can be ignored.

The Solution

Thankfully, with the MVI KeyCom®, these problems are nonexistent or easily solvable. Thanks to the ability to set up secure locations for drop-off packages, residents need not worry about losing their deliveries.

Our Smart Video Door Platform has a state-of-the-art touchscreen that’s easy to use, for both residents and delivery workers.

When it comes to package delivery, our system and its key features provide residents with the ability:

• To know who’s right outside their door.
• To get an instant notification about any delivery into our Package Room Solution.
• To keep track of packages received, but not yet retrieved.
• To Communicate! Just by using the app on their phone, they can see and talk to the person dropping off their package.
• To see if a package has been delivered.
• To keep an eye on packages throughout the day.

With an MVI Video Security System in place, residents can be confident that their package will be safe!

Contact us today to learn more about our products and package room solutions!

The post How to Get Packages Delivered to Your Apartment appeared first on MVI Systems.

Resident satisfaction is what a flourishing multi-family property business is built on. Keeping your residents satisfied depends on knowing what they are looking for in a property so you can make every effort to deliver it.

The following three strategies are some of the most effective ways to boost multi-family resident satisfaction and retention.

Keep Amenities Updated

Large outdoor living spaces extend your tenants’ living space and provide comfortable places for entertaining or lounging. A rooftop deck (maybe even with an outdoor theatre or fire pit?) fits right in with the “moving outdoors” trend that young, single tenants and families are looking for, especially in urban areas. A 24-hour fitness center with virtual yoga, spin, and Zumba instructors is attractive to residents with flexible or unusual schedules. Conference rooms and office spaces, while more traditional amenities, are still attractive add-ons for existing and would-be residents.

Staying on top of trends like these and adding them to your multi-family property will help you stand out from the competition and deliver the type of unique and attractive living experience that can only increase resident satisfaction.

Invest in High-end Resident Safety and Security

According to the most recent Apartment Resident Preference Report, today’s residents are demanding that their homes have the best safety and security features on the market. They want products like MVI’s KeyCom® Smart Video Kiosk and Software Platform, a smart entry system designed specifically for multi-family building managers, residents, visitors, delivery staff, and maintenance workers. But the KeyCom® does much more than just get residents through the front door. Far more than a video intercom system, the KeyCom® kiosk allows:

• Residents to receive and retrieve video and voice calls, send and receive text messages, grant access to the building, and manage their accounts using a smartphone or MVI’s Web Portal. 
• Visitors to use the KeyCom® touchscreen to scroll through the building directory, select an apartment, and either video chat with the resident or leave a video voicemail when they are unavailable.
• Delivery staff can access the building via the KeyCom touchscreen and deliver packages to a secured package location. No more lost or undeliverable packages!
• Maintenance workers can be granted access to the building via the KeyCom® touchscreen at any time, without the need to constantly require the superintendent.
• Owners and property managers can use the Web Portal to update tenant records and send building-wide announcements. Management can request detailed reports on events and access that have occurred in the building at any time.

Bottom line? Your residents want apartments with increased security. Slightly more than 61% say they are likely to rent an apartment specifically because of its electronic-access features, including keyless entry doors, and 55% are likely to pay more for an apartment that uses a “smart entry system.”  In fact, installing a smart entry system like MVI’s KeyCom® could be one of the most effective things you can do to improve customer satisfaction at your multi-family property.

Stay on Top of Maintenance and Repairs

A survey of 10,000 multi-family property residents by J Turner Research revealed that the top three complaints they had involved maintenance and repairs. There’s never a good time for an HVAC system to break or a water heater to go on the blink, so forward-thinking owner/operators of multi-family properties know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Turner’s study showed a 20% increase in resident satisfaction properties where preventative maintenance was done on major systems and appliances

Providing sought-after amenities, offering a leading-edge smart entry system, and developing a culture of service in your multi-family property are the keys to building resident satisfaction and long-term value. 

The post Multi-family Properties: 3 Strategies for Boosting Resident Satisfaction appeared first on MVI Systems.

Fraud by the Numbers

Tenant fraud has always existed. When con artists have a will, they’ll find a way. The pandemic, eviction moratoriums, and mountains of sophisticated scam techniques have pushed the issue to the forefront for property managers and landlords. In numbers posted by the National Apartment Association, between March 2020 and August 2020, fraud jumped close to 30 percent. High-risk applications spiked 15.2 percent compared to 10.3 percent just a year earlier. Those numbers tell the story of present times as well: we are in a season of multi-family tenant fraud. 

Types of Fraud

Property managers may recognize some of these scammer strategies:

• An applicant poses as someone else, providing false information when the real person has a history of poor credit.
• Creating a false identity.
• A potential resident’s identity is authentic, yet some details have been tweaked. 
• A tenant makes a little cash on the side by offering their location as a temporary rental, which breaks their lease agreement. 

So, how do you combat this? 

Make a Plan

Know your renters are who they say they are. It goes beyond business concerns. There is an ethical obligation for the security and safety of everyone in the building. So, what plans should you put into place?

• Invest in tech that helps screen applications seamlessly and thoroughly.
• Make full, legal names mandatory on all applications.
• Scrutinize all credit ratings and fraud alerts.
• Check and double-check references and information.

Sneaky Subletters

Multi-family properties should have smart, simplified security 24/7. Tenants who break the rules of their lease by subletting their space to others can go unnoticed by management, who already have a lot on their plates. Controlling a building’s activities with an intuitive web platform, including a state-of-the-art video intercom system, is the perfect solution.

MVI Systems’ KeyComⓇ is designed to keep residents safe and features cutting-edge facial recognition and artificial intelligence software. Our products ensure that your residents are indeed your residents with enhanced features, like:

• Interactive touchscreen technology
• Building activity monitoring
• Security and convenience at your fingertips
• State-of-the-art digital video entry
• Automatic building access via smartphone

Landlords and property managers can monitor and facilitate their buildings’ access for residents and visitors with MVI Systems’ unsurpassed technology. The demand for intercom systems to be high-end and maintain functionality fuels MVI’s innovative designers and engineers. From effortless communication to enhanced security, our complete line of products allows control of all building activities. Protect your residents from the ones trying to take advantage by manipulating their tenant identity information. 

Let MVI Shape Your Tenant Security 

MVI, an award-winning video-access control solution for commercial and multi-family properties, streamlines video access control solutions and innovative technologies to provide the highest level of security for buildings. MVI works with several hardware and software manufacturers to increase safety, improve the tenant experience, and give control back to building owners and property managers.Is it time to upgrade your apartment building’s video intercom system? Request a free, no-obligation demo and see why residents and managers love MVI technology.

The post Eliminating Tenant Fraud appeared first on MVI Systems.

1. Decreased Liability

By having an automated system provide access control to your buildings, you decrease your liability if an incident does occur. You also increase the chances that a bad actor will be caught by law enforcement when your system allows recorded surveillance records from your entrances.

2. Reduced Theft and Vandalism

Video intercom systems deter theft and vandalism by making it more difficult for criminals to break in or damage the property undetected. Having these systems installed will most likely result in a would-be burglar moving on to a different, unprotected location.

3. Decreased Need for Security Personnel

Buildings without a controlled access system often find themselves paying for security services. Having an updated system monitoring parking lots and entrances means a lesser reliance on security personnel, which will ultimately save the property owners and managers money.

4. Perceived Safety

A building that feels safe is a welcoming space for tenants and building occupants, and nothing provides that sense of security like an access control system. Tenants will actively search for properties that provide updated security features, choosing them over properties that don’t. They’re often willing to pay more to lease these properties.

5. Ease of Use Will Attract More Residents and Tenants

A security system is only as good as the platform that fuels it. The days of struggling for keys, replacing lost keys, and having to change locks after residents move out are long gone thanks to upgraded security technologies. For MVI clients and customers, access control is at the tip of their fingers…literally. MVI’s patented KeyComⓇ solutions offer touch-free building access through the technology that everyone has in their pockets already; their smart device.

To see how our solutions will enhance occupant safety, automate your access control, and increase your property value, book a free demo today.

The post How a Video Intercom System Increases Property Value appeared first on MVI Systems.

You’re Constantly Handing out Replacement Keys and Cards

Whether it’s tenant turnover or simply a matter of occupants losing their entry keys and cards, replacing these items can be costly and time-consuming. Aside from the physical replacement of lost or stolen keys, your building may need to rekey the doors entirely to ensure security.

Additionally, both new and vacating tenants create challenges to the security of an apartment building, from deleting or adding them to a database to ensuring they have returned all copies of the door keys or entry cards. Upgrading to a new video intercom system can streamline these processes for both property owners and tenants alike.

You’re Behind the Times

It doesn’t make sense to hang on to outdated technology when there are so many better options available. Today’s video intercom access systems use AI technology, apps, and smart devices for granting building entry. Upgrading your system allows tenants to control access, no matter where they are.

Additionally, limited permissions can be granted for delivery drivers or maintenance personnel to have access to the building.

You’re Looking to Save Money

Video intercom systems will decrease your reliance on front-desk security guards because they allow tenants to grant, limit, or block access to non-residents. These systems are excellent choices for gated communities, eliminating the need for 24/7 manned security booths in the building’s parking lots or access roads.

Your Area is Seeing an Increase in Crime

Crime is on the rise throughout the United States. If your building is in an area seeing this increase, you will need to upgrade your security systems for the safety and peace of mind of your tenants.

It’s been found that 86% of millennials will not only stay longer in buildings with upgraded access control technology, but they will also pay up to 20% more to live there.

Upgraded video intercom systems will feature event logs, real-time monitoring and recording of door activity, and increased control of the building by managers and owners. These reports are important to have in case of an emergency event within the building and can be given to law enforcement following criminal activity.

Your Old Video Intercom System is Failing

If you find yourself repeatedly repairing an old intercom system, it’s time to replace or upgrade it with new technology. Some signs that the old system is failing can include buzzing or distorted sound, fuzzy picture quality, or an increase in tenant issues and complaints with accessing the building or interacting with visitors.

See How MVI is Shaping Security for Apartment Buildings 

MVI, an award-winning video-access control solution for commercial and multi-family properties, streamlines video access control solutions and smart technologies to provide the highest level of security for buildings. With constant integrations designed to enhance existing video intercom systems, MVI can work with several hardware and software manufacturers to increase security, improve the tenant experience, and give control back to building owners and property managers.

Is it time to upgrade your apartment building’s video intercom system? Request a free, no-obligation demo and see why residents and managers alike love MVI technology.

The post When is it Time to Upgrade Your Apartment Building’s Video Intercom System? appeared first on MVI Systems.

Smart Doorbell Technologies Aren’t Enough

Smart doorbells are a good deterrent, but they can’t stop theft. A smart doorbell may detect the theft in progress and even record the porch pirate in the act, but the thieves will seldom be caught from this footage. Smart doorbells are a good way to prove that a package was stolen, but not very effective in eliminating the theft to start.

Vendor Lockers

Large companies like Amazon feature lockers throughout their delivery areas, ensuring that the packages are left in a safe place. For many customers, these are inconvenient, requiring a special trip to the location to pick up a package. You’ll find that smaller businesses who ship directly to your home or office can’t offer these lockers, putting these packages at risk for theft.

Scheduled Deliveries

Scheduling a delivery for a specific time you will be home is not practical. With increases in postal delivery times and the inconsistent nature of delivery services with even the big carriers, there’s no guarantee your packages will be delivered at the expected time.

Commercial and Multi-Family Properties Benefit from MVI’s KeyCom® Solutions

Property managers and building owners using MVI’s patented entry technologies are actively stopping package thefts every day. MVI system stops would-be porch pirates at the front door, denying them access to delivered packages via our KeyCom® solutions.

Grant and Deny Access to Your Building

KeyCom® technologies provide complete remote access to your building, stopping unwanted visitors that could be looking for the opportunity to steal delivered packages. Delivery personnel can contact the package recipient or the building manager to authorize building access.

Audit and Track Door Activity

MVI’s technologies continuously track all entrances and exits from the building, minimizing the chance for an unauthorized person to enter. If a theft should occur, there will be a record of the event to share with law enforcement.

Secured Package Locations

Building managers can benefit from designating a room or space within the building as a secured package location. Authorized delivery personnel will only have access to the secured package location, keeping your tenants much safer by preventing visitors from wandering through the building.

Affordable Solutions

Delivery personnel can have their own KeyCom® tabs to help streamline the delivery process. MVI features boxes of 25 sets, each with two tabs, for less than $50 per box. This is the perfect solution for frequent delivery services from companies such as FedEx, USPS, and UPS.

My Video Intercom Has the Solutions You Need for Your Properties

MVI uses state-of-the-art video-intercom technology to grant and deny access so residents and building managers can be sure that each visitor is exactly who they claim they are. Our video intercom technologies allow tenants and property managers to communicate easily with all maintenance and delivery personnel in real-time, as well as track their entrances and exits at the door.

Our KeyCom® solutions are the perfect way to streamline package delivery and eliminate package thefts forever. See the many ways MVI is keeping the “safe” in building safety with this downloadable and free no-obligation brochure.

The post Let MVI Technologies Permanently Eliminate Porch Pirates & Package Theft in Your Building appeared first on MVI Systems.

1. Control What Doors Can be Accessed, and When

A video access system allows complete control over who is accessing doors, and when. You can limit access to the laundry room or the pool facilities, for instance, to decrease loitering and increase safety overnight. You can keep tenants from accessing the building’s storage and supply rooms as well, helping to deter theft of assets.

2. Improved Efficiency

Access control and door surveillance is streamlined into one seamless application for both your tenants and your staff. That’s great news for you, and for your residents who no longer need to struggle with multiple keys, it’s even better news. The video access system is controlled by a single app on your residents’ phones.

3. Increased Crime Deterrent

Did you know that over 60% of burglaries are committed after a forcible entry? Burglaries aren’t just crimes of opportunity. A building without a security system is 300 times more likely to be broken into. 

In a residential setting, if a bad guy has a choice between a home that has a security system and flood lights and a dark home without any security system, they will most likely move on to the home that doesn’t have protections in place. Likewise, a criminal would prefer to break into an apartment complex without advanced security features such as a video access system.

4. No Tailgaters Allowed

You know Mrs. Smith from 11B, but you don’t know that person that followed her through the open door. It doesn’t seem that Mrs. Smith does, either…she’s just being polite. This unauthorized person is called a “tailgater,” and a video access system will help you keep them out.

5. Increased Access Control

Stop strangers and unauthorized personnel from entering your building while increasing protection for your property and your tenants. The video system allows your tenants to authorize their own visitors’ entry to the building by allowing them to see, and identify, the visitor.

With a video access system, you can block admission to ex-tenants who no longer occupy your building instantly, no rekeying or changing locks required.

6. Increased Perception of Safety

Video access systems increase your tenants’ feelings of safety and security. Your apartment complex will be more desirable to potential renters when they feel safe. Whether your building is in a high-crime area or not, added security is an important factor for people looking to move into a new apartment.

How important are smart technologies like video access systems? MVI has found that 86% of millennials will pay up to 20% extra to live in a “smart” building.

KeyCom® Solutions from MVI: Smart and Easy Video Access Systems for Apartments

MVI has improved video access systems with KeyCom®, our patented intercom system featuring touch free entry solutions for multi-family and apartment buildings, businesses, and residential homes.

We can make set up even easier for you and your residents with our resident onboarding packages, including a set of 2 MyKeys, MyKey Activation Cards, and user registration instructions for each tenant.

Schedule a free demo to see how KeyCom® can streamline your building’s entry systems, add another layer of security, and make your property more appealing to renters.

The post 6 Reasons to Install a Video Access System in Apartment Buildings appeared first on MVI Systems.