As with most things in life, the quality of the answers you get depends on the quality of the questions you ask!

1. Have an expert create a formal scope of work, after establishing the OC’s needs.
Imagine if I asked 3 people to quote on buying me a car. I might be thinking about a Holden Sedan, but they quote me on a Ferrari, a Toyota 4WD and a stretch Hummer. How do I compare these quotes against each other? Especially if I know nothing about cars? Worse still, no one quoted me on the Holden Sedan that I had in my mind.

If someone had sat with me and asked a pile of questions and then documented my needs, I would have had 3 quotes on a Blue 2020 Holden Commodore with a 6cyl diesel that I could have compared.

2. Be specific in what you want to achieve.
Intercoms can be complex. It is a main door station or stations and individual handsets/screens for the lots plus some riser modules. They can be audio only or video. Some Committees decide to pay for audio-only and leave it to individual lot owners if they want to pay to upgrade their lot to video.

If an existing system needs replacing it is important to investigate if the new handsets/monitors will cover any holes or different coloured painted walls left from the old system. If the new front door station is a different size to the old one… what happens then?

What happens if lot owners make it difficult for the installers to gain access to fit their handset, what is reasonable?

There are intercom systems that don’t require individual tenant stations. They just work through an app that residents can download on their devices.

3. Indicate the following:

1. 1. Do you need to integrate with existing or future access control or CCTV systems?
   2. Is your existing system functional, this may indicate if the cables are ok.
   3. Would you like audio only, 3.5” or 7” video stations for the units, or a mix?
   4. Do you want apartment intercoms to contact mobile phones if you are out?
   5. Should the front door station be surface or flush mounted?
   6. Would you like the system to be maintained and buy an extended warranty?