Domakihub How to Install a Video Doorbell — Step-by-Step Guide
Replace your old buzzer with a smart video doorbell in under an hour, no electrician needed.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
A video doorbell lets you see and speak with whoever is at your door from anywhere in the world — a genuine upgrade for homes, holiday rentals, and hotels across Greece where package deliveries and guest arrivals often go unattended. The video above walks through the physical installation so you can see exactly how it looks in practice; this guide breaks down every stage into clear, ordered steps you can follow on your own. Whether your property already has existing doorbell wiring or you are starting from scratch with a battery-powered model, the process is straightforward with the right preparation.
Wired vs. Battery-Powered: Which Should You Choose?
Most Greek apartment buildings and older villas already have two low-voltage doorbell wires running to the front door. A wired video doorbell taps into those wires for continuous power, meaning you never swap batteries and the unit is always online. If your property has existing chime wiring (typically 8–24 V AC), a wired model is the most reliable long-term choice.
Battery-powered models need no wiring at all — ideal for rental properties without bell wiring, gates far from a power source, or landlords who want a tool-light installation. The trade-off is that batteries typically last two to six months depending on motion traffic, so factor in top-up visits for remotely managed rentals.
What You Need Before You Start
Gather your tools before climbing a ladder: a flathead and Phillips screwdriver, a drill with a small masonry bit (most Greek door frames are plaster or concrete), a spirit level, wall anchors, and the mounting template that ships with the doorbell. You will also need your Wi-Fi password and the manufacturer's app installed on your phone — the app guides the pairing sequence and lets you test the live view before you put the cover plate on.
Check your router's Wi-Fi band. Most video doorbells connect only on 2.4 GHz, not 5 GHz, so confirm that band is active on your router. If your front door is more than 15 metres from the router, consider a Wi-Fi extender or mesh node placed near the entrance to avoid dropped video.
How to Install a Video Doorbell
- 1
Turn off the power and remove the old doorbell button
Go to your electrical panel and switch off the circuit labelled 'doorbell' or 'chime'. If the panel is unlabelled, use a non-contact voltage tester at the existing doorbell button to confirm no power is present before touching any wires. Unscrew the old button from the wall and gently pull it away; you will see two low-voltage wires (typically white/black or both white) attached to screw terminals. Photograph them before disconnecting so you remember which wire went where.
- 2
Mount the bracket and secure the wires
Hold the new mounting bracket against the wall using the included paper template and mark your drill holes with a pencil. Drill into the surface, tap in the supplied wall anchors, and screw the bracket firmly — use the spirit level to keep it straight. Feed the two doorbell wires through the central slot or notch in the bracket, then connect each wire to a screw terminal on the back of the doorbell unit (polarity does not matter for low-voltage AC doorbells). For battery-powered models, skip this step and simply attach the bracket to the wall.
- 3
Attach the doorbell to the bracket and restore power
Snap or slide the doorbell unit onto the bracket according to the manufacturer's instructions — most designs click into a rail and then lock with the included security screw to deter removal. Once the unit is physically secured, return to the electrical panel and switch the doorbell circuit back on. For a battery-powered model, insert the charged battery pack before attaching the unit.
- 4
Set up the app and connect to Wi-Fi
Open the manufacturer's app on your phone, create an account or log in, and follow the in-app setup flow to add a new device. The app will ask you to scan a QR code on the doorbell or its packaging, then guide you through connecting to your home Wi-Fi network. Once connected, the doorbell's LED indicator should change to a steady colour confirming a successful link. Run a live-view test from the app to verify the camera angle covers the full path to your front door.
- 5
Adjust the motion zones and notification settings
In the app, open the motion settings and draw a detection zone that covers your porch or entrance area without extending into the street — this prevents constant alerts from passing pedestrians or traffic, a common issue in busy Greek neighbourhoods. Set the sensitivity level to medium as a starting point, then fine-tune it over a day or two based on real alerts. Enable push notifications and, if the model supports it, configure a brief 'away' schedule for your rental so guests receive a welcome notification when motion is first detected on arrival.
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FAQ
- Do I need an electrician to install a video doorbell in Greece?
- For battery-powered models, no electrician is required — you are only drilling into a wall and mounting a bracket. For wired models, the doorbell circuit runs at low voltage (8–24 V AC), which is safe to handle yourself after switching off the circuit at the panel. You would only need a licensed electrician if there is no existing doorbell wiring and you want to add it from scratch, or if your chime transformer needs to be upgraded to meet the doorbell's power requirements.
- Will a video doorbell work if my internet goes down?
- When your internet connection drops, the doorbell loses live-view and remote notification capabilities because both depend on cloud connectivity. Most models store a small buffer or will sound the existing indoor chime as usual, but you will not receive phone alerts or be able to see who is at the door remotely. For holiday rentals in areas with unreliable connectivity, a battery-powered doorbell with local microSD storage (if supported) provides a useful fallback.
- Can I install a video doorbell at a rented apartment?
- Yes, with your landlord's permission. Battery-powered models are the most tenant-friendly option: the bracket attaches with small screws that leave only minor marks, and the unit can be removed entirely when you leave. Wired installations require disconnecting the existing chime wiring and are slightly more involved to reverse, so discuss this with your landlord beforehand. In Greece, most standard tenancy contracts do not explicitly prohibit small security upgrades provided no structural changes are made.