Replacing an Old Apartment Intercom
If your callbox depends on a landline or in-unit panels, residents and drivers already feel it. Luxer Access replaces it with a video intercom residents answer on their phone: they see who is at the door, talk, and unlock it from anywhere. It works at any apartment building, with or without Luxer One® package lockers.
Talk to us about replacing your intercom
Tell us about your property and entrances and we'll come back within 24 hours with a scoped Luxer Access plan.
Signs it's time to replace your intercom
The buzzer can't reach residents
Older callboxes ring an in-unit panel or a landline, and fewer residents have a landline at all.
Guests and drivers wait at a locked door
If nobody is home or at the panel, visitors and carriers wait, call the office, or leave.
The directory is always out of date
Someone updates names by hand after every move-in and move-out, and it still falls behind.
Too many vendors at the front door
The intercom, the door access, and the package system each come from a different company with a different support line.
Old intercom vs. Luxer Access
| Topic | Old callbox or buzzer | Luxer Access |
|---|---|---|
| Answering the door | In-unit panel or landline | Resident app on their phone, from anywhere |
| Seeing the visitor | Audio only on many older systems | Video, including night vision |
| Entry at the door | Key, fob, or a code that gets shared | Facial recognition, QR code, PIN, card, or fob |
| Resident directory | Updated by hand | Synced with your property management software |
| Deliveries | Drivers call the office or wait | Carrier and delivery access to the delivery area |
| Support | Separate vendors for panel, locks, and software | One point of accountability, 24/7 support |
What changes with Luxer Access
- Video intercom answered from the resident app, with no in-unit panel needed
- Facial recognition, QR code, PIN, card, and fob entry at the intercom, plus phone and Apple Wallet or Google Wallet credentials for residents
- Visitor passes and temporary PINs that residents send to guests and expire on their own
- Carrier and delivery access, so drivers reach the delivery area without staff
- Directory and access synced with Yardi, RealPage, Entrata, and other PMS platforms
- A full audit trail of every call, door release, and access event
- Hardware backed by ASSA ABLOY
Ready to see a Luxer One® configuration for your property?
Get a tailored quote in under 24 hours — backed by our written Price Protection Guarantee.
Do you have to replace everything at once?
No. Luxer Access is modular, so many properties start with the intercom at the front door and add readers, amenity doors, parking, or unit locks over time. Existing door hardware can often be integrated, depending on the current wiring and locks, and every property gets an assessment first. Luxer Access also helps move resident data over from the old system during the switch.
A new intercom is also a good moment to check who can still get in. Run the quick access self-check.
Works at any building, with or without Luxer One®
Luxer Access works at any apartment community or building, new or existing. You don't need Luxer One® package lockers to use it. Already have Luxer One? Adding Luxer Access puts door access, package pickup and parking on one system with one support team.
Any building
New construction or retrofit, one entrance or the whole property.
Already on Luxer One?
Add access control without adding another vendor or another support line.
Fewer things to juggle
The resident touchpoints your team handles most, doors, packages and parking, run on one system.
Replacing an apartment intercom: FAQs
Can we replace an intercom that uses phone lines?
Yes. Luxer Access routes intercom calls to residents' smartphones through the resident app, so no landline or in-unit panel is required. Residents see who is at the door, talk to them, and unlock it from wherever they are.
Do residents need special hardware in their unit?
No. Residents answer the door on their phone. The same app handles building access, guest passes, and package pickup.
How do guests and delivery drivers get in?
Residents can send a visitor pass or a temporary PIN that expires on its own, or see the visitor on video and unlock the door from their phone. Carrier and delivery access lets drivers reach the delivery area without waiting on staff.
Do we have to replace the whole access system at once?
No. Luxer Access is modular. You can start with the intercom at the front door and add readers, common-area doors, parking, or unit locks later.
Can we keep our existing door hardware?
Often, yes. Existing hardware can be integrated in many cases, but it depends on the current wiring, locks, and other systems, so every property gets an assessment first.
Can residents be moved over from our old system?
Yes. Luxer Access provides implementation support and can help migrate resident data during the switchover, so the change is as smooth as possible for residents.
What happens to the doors if the power goes out?
Battery backup keeps access running and doors fail secure, meaning they stay locked. Residents with existing credentials can still get in. Camera and video features are unavailable until power returns.
Do I need Luxer One lockers to use Luxer Access?
No. Luxer Access works on its own at any apartment community or building, new or existing. If you add Luxer One® package lockers later, the two connect natively and share one support team.
Who installs and supports it?
Luxer Access handles order intake, property setup, shipping, installation, go-live, and training, and supports the system 24/7. We scope your entrances and quote the system as a National Luxer One® Premier Partner.
Buy Luxer Access from a National Luxer One® Premier Partner
We scope your entrances, quote the system, and keep one point of contact from first walk-through to go-live. Comparing intercom options? See how Luxer Access stacks up.