I treat my home as a sanctuary — a place to feel safe and relaxed. Still, the doorbell can shatter that calm. Even when there’s a perfectly benign reason—a delivery, a family member who forgot their keys, or a friendly neighbor stopping by—hearing the bell makes me uneasy. We’ve had moments when a neighbor came to tell us our dogs, Jack and Lily, had slipped out and were roaming the nearby lake. Those are the good reasons the bell rings, but they still startle me.
Because our front windows and covered porch make it impossible to see who’s at the door without being seen, I usually avoid looking out when the bell rings. I won’t answer unless I’m expecting someone; the thought of being visible to a stranger is unnerving. That leaves two options: risk going to the door or wait and hope the person leaves. When someone is persistent, that waiting can be stressful.
Recently I started using a small device that changed how secure and comfortable I feel at home. Skybell is a video doorbell that connects to an app on your smartphone. When someone presses the doorbell, my phone chimes via the Skybell app so I can see who’s outside without them seeing me. The two-way audio lets me speak with whoever is at the door—giving instructions about a package, saying we’re not home, or answering a neighbor even if I’m away.
Skybell also offers live video whenever I want to check the porch. I can use the live view from the app to see and hear what’s happening, even when I’m not at home. It includes a motion detector that notifies me if someone approaches the porch without pressing the bell, which is especially useful for unexpected visitors or deliveries. I can also set the doorbell to silent if I don’t want the chime to unsettle the dogs—this feature alone has helped maintain peace in the house.
Below are a few images of my son at the door so you can see Skybell in action and how clear the view is from the app.
Skybell connects to your existing mechanical doorbell chime and installs in minutes. Our setup was simple, and the package included a small adapter that helps angle the camera so the entire porch is visible—handy when the mounting point isn’t directly centered.
I’m very happy with our Skybell. It gives me peace of mind by letting me screen visitors, monitor deliveries, and check on the porch at any time. The convenience of live video and two-way audio makes everyday life easier and safer.
This post was created as part of the Skybell blog program with One2One Network. I was compensated to review the Skybell doorbell and only share sponsored products I genuinely use and appreciate.