Video Doorman - an innovation in apartment building security comes to New England

Boston, MA Most apartment buildings do not have a doorman because of the cost. But most residents and owners want the doorman services that provide 24/7 security, especially late at night, and the convenience of receiving deliveries. Video Doorman security systems solves this problem. Larry Dolin, the CEO of American Remote Video Inc. and the creator of Video Doorman said, “It’s a revolutionary interactive system that provides 24/7 building security, escort support services for tenants, plus a way tenants can receive packages when they are not at home. And it does it at less than 5% of the cost of an actual doorman ... about $1.50 an hour. As important, it delivers added value to the building, whether it is a rental or condo.”

Larry Dolin, American Remote Video Inc.

The revolutionary new Video Doorman security system offers tenants in non-doorman condos, co-ops and rentals a way to receive their package deliveries safely when they are not at home. Whether it’s UPS, FedEx or deliveries from local retailers or dry cleaning,Video Doorman functions just like an actual doorman to allow the delivery person into the building and escort them to the secure package room. Video Doorman uses state-of-the-art surveillance equipment and procedures to provide optimal security. Access control, Central Station monitoring, recording and secure package storage are all rolled into one system.

How it works: When a courier presses the button on the Video Intercom Panel installed on the outside entry of a building, a trained Central Station operator views the courier, obtains tenant delivery information, and allows entry via the remote system.

All activity is recorded... both audio and video. A series of cameras within the building, supplied with speakers and microphones, monitors the delivery’s progress through the building while  “escorting” the courier to a secured package room. The tenant is then notified via email or text. And this same system can respond to emergencies when a tenant presses a hold up button or calls for help from an elevator.

Access Control: The system starts with an exterior Video Doorman entrance panel equipped with a backlit high-resolution camera, a built-in speaker/microphone with noise reduction, and a VDM Proximity card reader. A reader is also installed on package room door, with software hosted and managed at Central Station.

Central Station Monitoring: The signal travels over a high speed internet connection to Video Doorman’s 24-hour UL certified Central Station. Operators are trained to handle video monitoring calls and all systems are backed up. In effect the system is “alive”. Unlike traditional systems, which are primarily used after an incident, this system reacts to programmed signals with live trained operators.

Entry/Tracking: High resolution IP cameras and speaker/microphones allow Central Station operators to interact and monitor the courier to the package room and out of the building. The tenant is then notified of the delivery. No other system available today provides  this key ingredient.  Video Doorman never loses track of a delivery person.

Secure Alarmed Package Room: American installs a magnetic lock, door closer, alarm, camera with speaker/microphone and a card reader in the package room, all connected to the Central Station for remote release/monitoring. The camera with speaker microphone records entry and stops any internal theft.

24/7 Recording: Video Doorman uses the most advanced, professional digital recording system. It provides 24/7 real time, high-resolution video recording,and on-call 2-way remote audio/video access control. 24/7 Vital Signs Monitoring instantly reports any system malfunction.

Door Ajar Notification: When door is left open, American is notified, and lets the building management know to close it. As important, American sends a clip to the manager of the person who left it open.

Video Doorman Safe Lobby for Affordable Housing: Recently, Video Doorman created a security system called “Safe Lobby” to improve the safety for building entrances. Most real estate property managers and police departments agree that 95% of apartment building crime begins at the front door. Now Video Doorman Safe Lobby is the first proactive security system to prevent entrance loitering and monitor lobbies for safety. The Video Doorman Safe Lobby System provides a residential apartment building with remote security and surveillance 24/7, just like an actual guard but for 85¢ per hour. It limits access only to tenants; it makes sure the front door is closed; and it prohibits loitering 24/7. Access control, monitoring and recording are all rolled into one system!

The system integrates a card reader and front door contact with cameras, speakers and microphones in the lobby, front steps and the elevator if desired. The high quality Network Video Recorder with Video Analytics is linked via high-speed IT line to Central Station, allowing Safe Lobby to literally be the security guard of your building lobby for about  85¢  per  hour.

Eight key benefits are offered with Video Doorman Safe Lobby: • Card Access Door Control & Management • Central Station Monitoring • Entry/Surveillance • Video Analytics to prevent loitering • 24/7 Video Recording • Door Ajar Notification • Latchkey Kid Notification • Emergency Hold Up Alarm

Why it Makes Sense for Building Owners and Managers The most easily identified way to ease renters’ concerns over safety and security is the installation of an interactive video surveillance system, such as Safe Lobby by Video Doorman. By installing a Video Doorman Safe Lobby security system, managers and owners experience benefits such as:

Reduce liability/lower insurance rates. Many insurance companies  recognize the benefits of security alarms and video surveillance protection by rewarding owners with price breaks.

Decrease in unwanted access and loitering. From domestic disputes to criminal activity, security access systems and alarm systems give that added advantage of approved traffic flow. When residents are able to allow approved traffic and disallow troubling visitors, they feel more in control of their safety and security.

Higher occupancy and retention. In recent years, it is hard to find anyone who has not moved at least once. By increasing the sense of security with video surveillance and alarm systems, turnover will be less. Providing a safe place to live and raise their children will give returns of higher overall occupancy and improved retention.

Higher rent. As a selling feature for increasing rent or higher rent, security is top on the list of concerns among renters because many potential leasers equate safety with a doorman in New York City.

Since the number one disadvantage for most property managers and building owners is the cost, Video Doorman Safe Lobby is perfect. At about $.85 per hour, Safe Lobby by Video Doorman offers an affordable integrated security system with live operators and video surveillance services to monitor the safety of the building entry and lobby.

Larry Dolin founded American Security Systems Inc. in New York City in 1980. He decided there was a need and opportunity for a new kind of alarm/security company that combined the highest quality products with the best customer service possible. Over the years the business grew from burglar alarms to include fire alarms, CCTV, access control and video intercom. As important, he saw a need to provide multiple family buildings with high quality, state-of-the-art security systems. Video Doorman and Video Doorman Safe Lobby are the latest additions and grew so rapidly, a separate company was formed, American Remote Video, where Larry now spends most of his time introducing these systems to other markets. Boston is the first.