smart doorbells for duplex?

Question

Hi all,I moved into a duplex recently (tenants in one unit and I'm in the other). One existing issue has been with the doorbells, where the bottom one rings the top unit and top doorbell rings the bottom unit, as well as one of the doorbells not being lit up. I had an electrician over today to hopefully fix it so that so they're no longer reversed, but it has something to do with the wiring - long story short I'm considering getting more high-tech doorbells like Ring to replace them. I've never had doorbells like that before so I'm unsure how exactly it would work for a multi-family. For example, assuming it's possible for tenants to log into some Ring mobile app to see who rings their doorbell from a smartphone, what would I need to do the ensure if/whenever they eventually move out and new tenants are there, that the former tenants no longer have access to that specific doorbell? This section on "Controlling Ring Devices With Users and Roles" makes it seem like I can have an Owner role while giving tenants a Shared User role. But suppose I require their doorbell to be on their unit's WiFi connection - would it still be possible to set up those roles before it is WiFi connected? Because within 1-2 years I want to move somewhere else & convert my current unit into another rental.The electrician gave two options when suggesting Ring - to have them either wired or wireless. I'm assuming the wired option will be a more expensive installation due to drilling being required (as the existing doorbell wires are messed up / reversed to begin with). Are there notable benefits to going with the wired option, besides not having to recharge the internal battery every X number of weeks or months? That to me isn't a downside as I would just get an extra battery pack (like this one Ring offers: https://shop.ring.com/products/quick-release-battery-pack?variant=56549464587).

Pat Needham · Answer

@Joseph Ryan that sounds like a reasonable request from your tenant, I'd probably let him install it. The only thing I'd mention is for him to make sure the original doorbell still works upon move-out (in case he's putting the Ring in the same spot as the original one).

Pat Needham · Answer

Neither of them expressed any privacy concerns but I did consider that as a possibility. I used to live in an old 30 or 40 unit building which had a few security cameras inside and outside the main entrance & in common areas like the basement laundry room. So if they expressed any concerns I would have explained that situation. And if that still wasn't reasonable I guess I would have went with a non-video doorbell.

My main goal is the convenience. Ultimately I want to add a smart lock as well & indoor security camera facing the door that gets activated / starts recording when a specific combo is entered (one that would only be used for USPS/Fedex/UPS deliveries - to mimic the functionalities of Amazon Key for in house deliveries (so a delivery person can drop off a package in the common area hallway and there would be a recording between the time he/she opened and closed the door). Of course that's more of a privacy concern than a video doorbell so I would have to thoroughly plan out safety precautions & demonstrate its effectiveness before even proposing it as a possibility.

Pat Needham · Answer

Account Closed thanks for the prompt response, and sorry I forgot to better describe the home setup. It's a shared front entrance door with 2nd floor unit's door up the stairs. The unfortunate inconvenience is that since the bottom doorbell is lit up, visitors or delivery people for the 1st floor unit assume that is their doorbell (when it's actually mine). Just like I'm getting false positive doorbell chimes now, I wouldn't want the opposite to happen where 1st floor tenants think someone knocking on the front door is for them if that's not the case.

Although I do like that (contrarian?) viewpoint for not having any doorbell, my preference is still to have a working doorbell for both units. Also found out during some research that the Ring chime can be set to snoozed / off, up to 12 hours.

Account Closed · Answer

If you disconnect the doorbell, the light will turn off, by the way.

Account Closed · Answer

You don't need a doorbell at all.  In fact, I disconnect mine, because it's loud and then my dog barks loudly resulting in an instant adrenaline headache.  Let people knock.  Plus, they'll have your phone number and can call or text and say, hey I'm here or whatever.  You just really don't need doorbells at all.  Not worth the expense.

Joseph Ryan · Answer

I just had a tenant ask me if he could install a battery-powered ring doorbell to his unit (on his own dime). He has a family with 2 kids and wants the ring bell for security. Not sure how to respond. My 4 plex, in McAllen, is 2 duplexes facing each other with a walkway down the middle so the ring doorbell would be facing another tenant's front door. I have a ring doorbell at my house and I love it. Thoughts?

Tim Kaminski · Answer

@Pat Needham Did any of them express any concerns for privacy? I would feel strange as a tenant knowing my landlord can watch me come home every day.

Pat Needham · Answer

Sorry I forgot to mention that part. So I added them as shared users and yes I was originally getting the notifications when their doorbell rang. Although I was able to change the settings in my app so I don't get those notifications anymore while they still do.

Whenever they decide to move out, I would just remove them from having access as shared users.

Tim Kaminski · Answer

@Pat Needham So how does it work when tenants leave at the end of your lease?

Do you get notified everytime someone rings your tenants doorbell?

Pat Needham · Answer

I ended up getting a pair of the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Pros, both are connected to my unit's WiFi currently. And I coincidentally just ordered a spare pack since one doesn't properly receive power from the wired connection and was running low after a couple months. The odd story behind that is my unit's Ring doorbell used to utilize the wired connection power just fine but the mechanical chime no longer in use was continuously creating this loud buzzing sound. So I tried following the steps in this YouTube video but ended up just keeping off one of the screws holding a wire there because when attempting to tighten it with the resistor attached to it, there were some sparks flying which I didn't want any part of. Successfully made the buzzing sound disappear but at the expense of the doorbell no longer receiving wired power!

smart doorbells for duplex?

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