WHERE THE HIDDEN COSTS ADD UP
Outdated access drains a property two ways: through direct costs that show up on invoices, and through staff time that doesn't, but adds up just as much.
Direct Financial Costs
Many legacy telephone entry systems still run on dedicated analog phone lines, contributing to what are often called commercial intercom landline costs. The FCC has been accelerating the shift away from this infrastructure. They are streamlining the process carriers use to retire copper lines under its 2026 Network and Services Modernization Order, part of a broader trend commonly called the "copper sunset."
Tenant turnover adds its own recurring costs. Every move-out that requires rekeying a lock or reissuing a fob or key card is a cost tied directly to occupancy. Then there are technician visits. A single service call for a directory upgrade or wiring issue rarely stays isolated to the technician's invoice. It also pulls in staff coordination time and disrupts residents waiting on access.
The Operational Drain
Staff time is the less visible half. Letting a plumber or inspector in often means a physical trip just to open the door. Multiplied across several properties, it becomes a meaningful chunk of a week. Manual access management compounds it further. Updating directories, issuing credentials, and resolving lockouts all draw on staff hours that could go toward higher-value work.
EVERY MOVE-OUT THAT REQUIRES REKEYING A LOCK OR REISSUING A FOB OR KEY CARD IS A COST TIED DIRECTLY TO OCCUPANCY.
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