Illinois-based LiftMaster has expanded its line of smart video intercoms to make access for small multifamily buildings and single-family homes with gates more secure and convenient.

Powered by MyQ technology, the intercoms provide a smart amenity for any size building, empowering property owners and residents to open doors and manage guest access remotely and enhancing the security of the building with video features.

Parks Associates’ research of multifamily property owners shows a third of residents are willing to pay an additional 15% per month in rent for smart amenities.

“There is a growing expectation for technology and also a growing opportunity to invest in technology,” said Elizabeth Parks, president of Parks Associates. “It’s a challenging market right now and investments in technology can fill a gap with staffing, increase value for residents and also, operationally, improve property security, and can lower property insurance costs”

Small property owners and managers juggle multiple responsibilities. The average individual investor landlord has three properties and 45% manage their own properties making it a challenge to maintain visibility on their properties’ status and security while ensuring residents have seamless entry. Through the use of MyQ Community software, the smart video intercom can help property and building owners streamline the management of building entrances and residents.

“Over the past two years, LiftMaster has introduced smart video access systems scalable to meet the unique needs of gated communities, large and mid-sized buildings,” said Jenny Lytle, general manager at LiftMaster. “With our latest offering we are now able to provide small building owners the same security and convenience. When used with our cloud-based platform our newest smart video intercom offers small building owners the option to remotely manage and control entrances across multiple buildings from a single dashboard while providing residents with the high-end amenities they desire.”

Through the MyQ Community cloud-based platform, property managers have access to round-the-clock monitoring capabilities and real-time activity alerts allowing them to manage and control entrances across several buildings within a portfolio from one dashboard. HD video live streaming and recorded video clips of access events ensure property managers can easily monitor who is entering the building throughout the day and provide clear traceability around property damage, vandalism and other nuisances at the entrance.

Residents benefit from the more secure, convenient and seamless access provided by the intercom. Through the MyQ Community app, residents have access to one-way video calling and two-way video voice communication to identify guests before granting access, recurring or one-time virtual guest passes, and a press-to-unlock feature that lets residents easily unlock authorised entrances with their smartphone.

The MyQ Community app also works with Siri voice control, a feature compatible with all LiftMaster smart video intercoms, allowing residents to access the front door handsfree.

In addition to being easy for property owners and residents to use, the intercom is also said to be simple to install, offering an easy retrofit for buildings with an old, wired intercom. The system requires only an internet connection, electronic lock door strike system and power to run, and eliminates the need for in-unit hardware entirely by empowering residents to open doors with their smartphones.