My Apartment Never Had a Doorbell. Here Are 3 Reasons I Stuck One On.

Summary:
Six years of renting, never a doorbell. A note on the door, my phone by the entry, 'text me when you're here.'

Then I found one that peels and sticks to the door frame. Here's why it stays.

  1. Two hands peeling the adhesive backing off a small black doorbell button and pressing it onto a white door frame.

    It sticks on. No wiring, ever.

    A sticky pad and two screws in the box. Button on the frame, chime in any outlet, one press to pair. Fifteen minutes, no electrician.

  2. A woman cooking at the stove with the range hood on, glancing at a black chime plugged into the wall beside her, its ring of color lit.

    The chime goes where you are.

    Plug it in the kitchen, the bedroom, wherever you actually are. Loud through walls, and a ring of color lights up so you see it too.

  3. A black wireless doorbell button with a small green light, mounted on a wet brick wall beside a dark front door in the rain.

    It moves out when you do.

    No Wi-Fi, no app, no subscription. Peel it off the frame, pack it with your plates, stick it on the next door. Still yours.