Buying a wireless apartment intercom system involves more than comparing features and marketing claims. Property owners and managers need to meet the challenges of daily building operations, and product features don’t usually answer the most important question for buyers:
Does this intercom system satisfy my building’s operational requirements now and in the future?
Based on Swiftlane’s experience supporting thousands of multifamily apartment properties, we’ve identified 14 critical questions to ask intercom vendors before buying a wireless intercom system.
These metrics focus on the operational realities of apartment buildings and how they evolve over time with changes in tenant demographics and new technologies.
Key Takeaways
- Asking the right questions helps property owners and managers determine whether an apartment intercom system is the right operational fit for their buildings.
- Operational fit is more essential than long feature lists. Buyers prioritize intercoms that support efficient daily property management, remain reliable and scalable over time, and ensure accessible resident experiences.
- Evaluating intercom vendors and products should rely on real-world operational questions to determine an intercom system that meets current and future building operations.
Table of Contents: Quick Navigation
- What is a Wireless Apartment Intercom System?
- 14 Questions to Ask Wireless Apartment Intercom System Vendors
- Choosing an Apartment Intercom System
- How Swiftlane Fits as A Modern Wireless Apartment Intercom System Option
What is a Wireless Apartment Intercom System?
A wireless apartment intercom system is a intercom that typically uses Wifi or cellular to connect, allowing residents to speak with visitors at building entrances. Its wireless design enables access management through mobile applications and web dashboards. In many buildings, “wireless” refers to eliminating in-unit substations and legacy intercom wiring, not eliminating all wiring at the door.
How It Works
- A visitor approaches the intercom device by the building entry door and browses through the resident directory.
- The visitor initiates a call to a resident, who then receives it.
- While speaking through the intercom, the resident verifies the visitor’s identity and unlocks the building door.
Wireless vs. Wired Intercoms: When Each Makes Sense
“Wireless vs. wired” can get confusing because people use those terms to mean different things.
In many apartment buildings, “wireless” refers to the resident experience: calls go to a resident’s phone instead of relying on in-unit substations or legacy intercom wiring throughout the building. That’s different from older systems that depend on dedicated building wiring or phone-entry hardware to reach residents.
Separately, the entry device still needs power and a way to get online. Depending on the site, that connection may be Ethernet (often PoE), Wi-Fi, and/or cellular (LTE). If you can run Ethernet to the door, PoE is usually the most consistent setup. If running cable is difficult or you’re working across multiple entry points, Wi-Fi or LTE can be a better fit.
Either way, the right choice comes down to what you already have in place at the door (power, Ethernet availability, Wi-Fi/LTE signal) and what you want to happen during outages— whether the system has battery/UPS coverage, whether it can fail over to LTE, and how door locks behave if power or internet goes down.
Key Features Buyers Prioritize
After 10 hours of deep research into customer insights and patterns, we’ve observed that buyers seek intercoms that directly improve daily building operations, ensure long-term reliability, and foster positive resident experiences.
Common sought-after considerations include:
- Centralized access management (i.e., mobile applications, remote web dashboards)
- Remote access control
- Access logs and security reports
- Ease of use for residents
- Tenant and visitor data protection
- Minimal physical infrastructure
- Quick installation times
- Ongoing support and maintenance
Costs + Installation: What to Expect
Pricing varies by building, but based on Swiftlane’s day-to-day deployments and conversations with hundreds of installers, most properties should expect typical per-entry hardware costs in the $1,500–$3,500 range, with installation commonly landing around $1,500–$6,000 per access point depending on site conditions.
Those numbers can move meaningfully in either direction based on the realities of the building, not just the intercom model, so it’s best to plan around total cost of ownership and the drivers below.
Total ownership prices vary based on the following cost drivers:
- Intercom type
- Required components and connectivity
- Number of access points
- Professional labor
- Software subscription fees
- Ongoing support and maintenance
14 Questions to Ask Wireless Apartment Intercom System Vendors
Connectivity, Reliability, and Accessibility
1. What connections does the intercom require?
Knowing whether your chosen intercom requires Wi-Fi or PoE connectivity is important in understanding what you can expect from your intercom system.
As previously mentioned, wireless intercoms on Wi-Fi or cellular networks are flexible, scalable systems. You can deploy them quickly and easily, especially across multiple apartment buildings on a large residential site.
2. What backup plans are available during power or internet losses?
This question is essential because it ties into emergencies that involve power cuts or internet outages. Ask the vendor what backup plans are supported and how they would affect the use of the intercom system.
Does the intercom have battery backups? Are there cellular connections to replace Wi-Fi or PoE? Is there offline access functionality?
Apartment intercoms with door release should also support either fail-secure or fail-safe functions. Fail-secure locks doors to protect valuable building assets, while fail-safe unlocks doors to allow quick exits from the building.
3. How do residents engage with the intercom system?
Wireless apartment intercom systems use various credentials to grant building access. Ask about the kinds of credentials available (mobile app, QR codes, facial recognition, keycards & key fobs).
Resident credentials affect the ease of onboarding and tenant removal. A large set of different credentials also helps residents use the access tools that are comfortable to them.
For example, younger residents can open building doors with mobile credentials, while older residents can leverage hands-free face recognition.
4. How user-friendly is the intercom system for all residents?
Apartment residents are not all the same, and catering to unique needs impacts resident satisfaction and building occupancy. Property managers and owners should ask how an intercom system addresses accessibility to various residents.
For example, an apartment intercom should have a clear and legible interface for easy visual navigation. Two-way communication should also be stable and audible for high-quality calls.
Security, Privacy, and Compliance
5. Are access logs and reporting available?
If visitors can use the access control system, oversight is critical. Property managers and owners should be able to check visitor access and review unauthorized entry attempts.
Ask: Does the intercom support access logs? Does it support reporting that can regularly inform property teams about building entry?
With these oversight controls, property managers and owners can further ensure the safety and security of families in apartment buildings.
6. How are tenant and visitor data protected?
As wireless intercoms deal with large amounts of data, data privacy and protection should be one of the top security priorities.
Ask the vendor whether they are SOC 2-certified, the gold standard for data security and privacy in the technology industry.
By protecting data information, property managers and owners ensure not only physical building security but also data security and privacy.
Hardware + Retrofit/Scale
7. What infrastructure is required for entry points?
Wireless intercom systems require little infrastructure at entry points, so expectations can be set before installation. Ask about power and connectivity requirements, along with the use of existing wiring.
The hardware layout of the intercom infrastructure can also be planned to ensure a seamless installation that does not disrupt the building’s aesthetic.
8. How long does an installation or replacement take?
The installation period of a wireless apartment intercom system depends on the number of entry points and apartment units of the building. To minimize disruptions to daily traffic flow, ask the vendor about the installation process, phased transitions, or simultaneous operation of an existing intercom during the new system installation.
Retrofit installs take less time than new construction deployments, since old intercom wiring is reused for the new system. You can ask the vendor to assess your building’s conditions for retrofitting for shorter replacement periods.
9. How does the intercom system scale?
Scalability future-proofs intercom systems and your investment from building and resident changes. Wireless intercoms are generally easily scalable because of their design, yet vendor-specific specifications may introduce nuances to scaling.
Ensure the system is scalable, and ask the vendor how their wireless apartment intercoms scale over time. By knowing how these systems scale, you can comfortably plan for current and future apartment conditions.
Admin + Integrations
10. Can the new intercom fully replace what we have today?
If your building has a legacy intercom (like a telephone-entry callbox), upgrading may be either a full replacement or an overlay that keeps parts of the old system in place. Ask vendors what, if anything, they plan to keep— old controllers, wiring, door hardware, directories, or phone-entry components, and how those pieces will work with the new platform.
11. How is access management done on a day-to-day basis?
Access control is a key feature of wireless apartment intercom systems, an essential operation in property management. An intercom system that constantly calls for on-site intervention will only become a burden for managers and owners.
Ask the intercom vendor about access control and the software integrations and partnerships that can simplify and improve resident life. Can you remotely manage intercom devices across multiple apartment buildings? Can you control access from a single web-based or cloud-based dashboard?
12. Does the intercom system support unstaffed or partially staffed buildings?
Many apartments do not maintain full-time front desk staff, so remote access by property managers, owners, and even residents is a high priority. Residents must be able to allow visitors, maintenance workers, cleaning services, and deliveries entry to the building.
How access is allowed is also important: is temporary access within defined time windows supported by the intercom? Can visitors have temporary credentials?
Contact and Support
13. What are the inclusions for support and maintenance?
As tenants and apartment buildings are added or removed over time, the cost of expanding the intercom system is a significant factor. Ask the vendor how additional expenses are calculated—per-door, per-unit, or per-credential pricing. These expected costs may help future-proof your apartment intercom system.
14. How does the vendor provide support?
In the event of the mentioned outages or other intercom complications, how does the vendor provide support? Ask about their support services and how you can contact them. Vendors who offer easy access and round-the-clock service can minimize disruptions to residential living, keeping tenants happy and feeling safe.
Choosing an Apartment Intercom System
Buying a wireless apartment intercom system can sometimes come with an overwhelming amount of features and marketing information.
Property owners and managers may cut through the noise by asking questions regarding legacy intercom replacements, remote property management, resident accessibility, connectivity, reliability, and more.
By determining the best intercom fit, you can prevent buying mistakes and security risks in your apartment buildings.
How Swiftlane Fits as A Modern Wireless Apartment Intercom System Option
Swiftlane’s SwiftReader X is a wireless apartment intercom system that provides two-way video calling and centralized access management through a mobile application, all backed by available ongoing support.
Its design is made for quick deployments in small to large apartment buildings, regardless of the number of entry points. The SwiftReader X has been deployed in the following cases:
- Gateway Park Apartments – This 436-unit apartment community replaced its legacy fob and shared code system with a wireless intercom for its gates and common area entry points.
- The Wellshire – Seagate Properties provided a Class A building experience to its Wellshire residents by replacing its legacy callbox with a wireless intercom.
- The Schoolhouse Condos – A historic 29-unit residential building upgraded to a wireless intercom system from a legacy system.
Our tech teams are always online to answer any questions you may have, such as how the SwiftReader X fits into your building’s operational needs and future use. You can also reach out by dialing 833-607-9438.
If you wish to see a live demo, submit a request to our team.
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If you wish to see Swiftlane's cutting-edge wireless apartment intercom system in action, send in a request and our team will assist you.
