Real Estate Business Review: Specials Magazine

Across the city’s skyline—tucked behind the polished facades of cooperatives, sleek condominiums, apartment buildings, and even private residences in quiet suburbs—a quiet revolution in residential living is underway. You won’t always see it. There’s no uniformed greeter at the door, no front-desk clipboard. But behind every secure delivery, every buzzed-in guest, and every after-hours access request, there’s a system at work. At the center of this shift is Virtual Doorman, a 21st-century solution redefining security and service for properties that want the perks of a full-time staff without the staggering costs. For more than two decades, Virtual Doorman has been transforming how buildings of all types—co-ops, condos, rentals, and single-family homes—manage access, protect residents, and deliver round-the-clock peace of mind. “Our mission is to build upon our position as the originator and market leader in the remote/electronic doorman industry and always provide revolutionary and technologically advanced solutions to our customers,” says Colin Foster, founder and chief innovation officer of Virtual Doorman. For Foster, a real estate veteran with an eye for opportunity and a deep understanding of the operational pain points faced by building owners, Virtual Doorman began as a practical solution to a growing problem. “It started with a simple question,” Foster recalls. “How do you deliver all the essential services of a doorman— security, delivery handling, guest access—for buildings that can’t afford a full-time staff?” That question sparked the beginning of a company that now supports thousands of residential buildings across the U.S., using smart technology, real-time human operators, and a growing suite of AI-powered tools to manage access, improve safety, and streamline the lives of residents. The Cost of Tradition To understand the value Virtual Doorman provides, you first need to understand the steep realities of traditional staffing. A 24/7 doorman presence isn’t just about hiring one employee—it’s five to six full-time salaries, benefits, scheduling logistics, and often, union contracts. In most major cities, it adds up to hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. “People are often shocked by the math,” says Matthew Barnes, executive vice president and the next-generation leader driving Virtual Doorman’s future. “Most buildings simply can’t sustain that cost. And even those that can—they’re starting to ask, ‘Why should we?’”