Door Bell Intercom
Perhaps you have had the occasion to go up to someone's door and instead of just ringing the doorbell, you actually was able to talk to the person inside through an intercom system. It can be a little off putting because you are standing on that person's doorstep and talking to the door and you cannot see the person. But it also can be pretty efficient for the visitor and for the homeowner as well. There is some real value to these kinds of doorbell systems that make going to that extra expense worth considering.
The most obvious advantage of this kind of intercom system is security. Some of the more elaborate intercoms that tie in with the doorbell actually activate a camera over the door as well. In that way, when you inside the home hear the door chimes, you can go to an intercom station and both see and hear who is at the door. If you have any qualms about who it is out there, you have complete control over the situation. You can dispatch them or if the situation warrants it, alert the police and never be at risk yourself.
This kind of security can be a great comfort for a husband who travels who does not want strangers coming to call on his family. As a dad, you might consider this type of front door communications system to give your wife and children control over who comes through that front door. It is an ideal additional step of security that ties in with your alarm system and any other steps you do to keep your family safe. While intercoms tied in with the doorbell are expensive, there really is no substitute for security.
Intercom systems can also make how you handle routine calls at the front door much easier as well. A good example is when that random salesperson comes to call. In normal situations, when that doorbell rings, you feel obliged to answer it. If that salesman can see you inside the home and you are avoiding him, that could become an uncomfortable situation. The same can be said for religious groups who want you to come to the door or any unsolicited visitor. By greeting them on your intercom, you can find out what they have to offer and the purpose of their call and you can send them away without ever making eye contact with them. That saves you a lot of inconvenience and bother having to use your sales resistance right in your own home.
It might take some getting used to by your friends and family that you have that intercom system on the front porch. It will also be a source of some humor that they are talking to you in remote like that. But what they might really be thinking is how much they wish they had that kind of security system on their front porch as well.