Repsol YPF

Choosing between a concierge and an entry phone is a thing of the past. Now the debate that takes place in residents’ association meetings focuses on replacing the old entry phone with a modern video entry phone or the latest systems which offer no end of features and services. New models can be connected to the inhabitant’s television or computer so that they can see who is at the door, and if they decide to let them in, they can do so with a remote control. We are in the age of digital technology, and this discipline has burst into all spheres of society, rendering resources that previously revolutionised the market obsolete. 

New buildings usually include video entry phones from various ranges depending on the kind of building. Luxury properties include home automation systems, which enable residents to view all of the movements which occur at the gate via recordings, whilst medium-range buildings have video entry. 

However, within the same concept, there is a wide range in terms of quality, price and features. In general, it is not advisable to go for the cheapest model, which will offer low-resolution images, with poorly balanced sharpness, contrast and brightness, which may prevent the correct identification of the person who has rung the bell. The best thing to do before buying a video entry phone is to check the image quality. It is essential to be able to see the appearance and features of the person knocking at the door perfectly. Otherwise, this appliance becomes less useful and loses its purpose. 

A species at risk of extinction

The market reinterprets the roles and functions of years gone by which have been replaced by new technologies, placing them in a new range. This is what has happened to the concierge. Whilst thirty years ago most buildings had a concierge, this is currently only the situation in buildings where the owners have a high purchasing power. The arguments in favour of this figure are clear: the security and trust offered by a person looking after a building are not comparable to the service of the most modern phone entry system. The argument against is related to the problem property owners experience in meeting the cost, as they have to pay his salary and provide him with a home. 

However, money is not the only reason why this figure is on the decline. The truth is that few young people of the twenty-first century aspire to the position of concierge as a job with a future, and the average age of those currently performing this function is above fifty years.

Some residents’ associations that still have a concierge but find it hard to meet the cost, are considering the possibility of replacing him with an electronic device that is more in line with modern times. In order to implement this change, three fifths of all of the owners must agree with the decision. 

Other alternatives 

The concierge is not only responsible for security and supervising and monitoring who enters the building, but also cleans the communal areas and carries out basic maintenance work. Some luxury buildings that have done away with this figure, but do not wish to lose the advantages of having someone to look after the building, opt to hire a caretaker. A caretaker performs similar functions to a traditional concierge, excluding cleaning and maintenance which are usually contracted out to specialist companies. 

The main difference between the caretaker and the concierge is that the former is a person unconnected to the property, who does not live there once his working day is over. The relationship between a caretaker and the residents is not as close as that which exists with a traditional concierge, who often carries out individual tasks, due to the familiarity acquired through living in the property.  

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