Bells And Whistles

By Author: Doorman 24 is an affordable remote doorman service offering security to buildings throughout the Uni
Total Articles: 6

I then decided to check out nearby luxury apartments on Bedford Avenue. My friend, a longtime resident of one massive doorman building, said she loves having doormen (and sometimes, women) behind the front desk greeting her.

Because her building is built on a much larger scale (taking up the entire block across from McCarren Park), more structure is necessary. To that end, the mail room looks not unlike a grown-up college mail hub, with individual mailboxes illuminated by purple lights and a separate, more organized package room.

Admittedly though, this organization comes at a price. While Thomas pays around $3,300 a month for a one-bedroom with balcony, the amenities stop after the remote doorman, rooftop access, meeting room, and mail room. For a similar one-bedroom at my friend's building, expect to pay at least $3,900 – though, there are plenty of amenities like a swimming pool, wine tasting room, and pet spa (yes, really).

The question is, is it worth the extra $600 a month for that doorman?

Other systems, like the Virtual Doorman, the first to come to New York, has more buildings around the city than any other system, but many co-op users have complained in the past about the high cost of equipment, which varies on the building and its size. There's also Cyberdoorman, a startup based in the Bronx that advertises their services for as low as $20 a day.

It's important to mention that my own experiences in a single remote doorman building isn't indicative of every single building like it in New York.