Guides · 2026-10-08 · 5 min
Buzzer or video intercom for a small building
Audio, video or phone-linked entry for a building with two to six units, and when old wiring can be reused.
Check the wiring first
In a two to six unit building, the cost of an entry system is often set by the cable between the street door and each apartment, not by the panel. Before choosing a model, find out what is already in the walls. Intact wiring can sometimes be reused, especially for an audio system, which keeps the job small. Cut, painted-over or water-damaged wiring may mean new runs.
Ask whoever quotes the job to test the existing lines first. A quote written without looking at the wiring is a guess.
Audio, video or phone-linked
A traditional buzzer or audio intercom lets a tenant hear who is at the door and press a button to release it. It is simple, familiar and usually the least expensive. Video adds a camera at the street door and a screen in each unit, so tenants see who they are letting in, which helps in buildings with frequent deliveries and visitors.
A phone-linked system rings a tenant on their mobile, so they can answer when they are away from the apartment. Whether it works well depends on the model, the building and the internet or phone connection it needs, so ask what happens when that connection drops.
What to ask before you decide
How many units does the panel support, and can more be added later? What happens to the door release if the power goes out? Is there a manual key override at the street door? Who repairs it when a part fails, and is the price written down before work starts?
For a small house with a few long-term tenants, audio is often enough. For a building with more turnover or many deliveries, video earns its cost. A good installer tells you what a system will not do as well as what it will.
From Bedford Locksmith, a mobile locksmith and intercom company based in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. Questions about your door or entry system? (844) 394-3495.