To begin, if you have a doorman, you do get 24-hour security, and we’re just not talking about a sleepy guy nodding off in the corner of your building’s lobby. The best doormen know exactly who is in the building at any time. Many doorman buildings are so safe that residents don’t even always feel the need to lock their doors when running out to pick up groceries or go to the gym. But doormen do a lot more than provide security.Doormen also carry out many convenient tasks on behalf of residents. For example, the doorman on staff always has access to your keys. If you lose your keys, they are there to ensure you can still access your unit, and they will also let your tween in if they arrive home early from school keyless. Likewise, if you’re out of town and your cousin comes to crash in your apartment, they can let in your carefully vetted guest. In addition, they are authorized to accept your packages 24/7 (that’s right, you’ll never lose an Amazon delivery again). Finally, they can give access to contractors, cleaners, and anyone else who might need to enter your apartment while you’re at work or out of town. This can be especially comforting to pied-a-terre owners.
The most important thing that doormen offer, however, is something that is much less visible—they manage effective relations. Let’s face it, New York City can be a nasty place to live. As a result, it is really nice to have someone greet you every morning, high-five your middle schooler when they come home from school, or recognize your mother and help her with her luggage when she comes to visit. Some doormen even dabble in helping tenants meet that special someone, like John Maldonado—the doorman who recently made a guest appearance in the Vows section of the New York Times after he successfully matched two residents.
In a city where nice people often appear to be in short supply, the care and courtesy of doormen is something that many New Yorkers consider priceless. But the fact that most doormen are nice is no coincidence. It really is part of their job. A recent posting for a doorman for a luxury building on the Upper West Side listed several practical skills—for example, tracking and logging the arrival of packages, opening doors, and maintaining the appearance of public areas, especially the lobby—but also listed a series of “soft skills.” This specific job posting emphasized that the right candidate will possess “excellent communication skills, have a memory for names and faces, and exhibit personal warmth toward others.”
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