Ring Video Doorbell Pro and the Smart-Home Setup at Del Mar

Lennar lists a Ring Video Doorbell Pro as standard in Del Mar's Horizon townhomes, along with a Schlage smart deadbolt and a smart thermostat. Ring's Pro doorbell is a wired video doorbell that shows you who is at the door on your phone and lets you talk to them. At Del Mar, where the Horizon homes have no garage, the front door is where guests and packages arrive, so the doorbell matters more than it might elsewhere.

What the Ring Video Doorbell Pro Is

Ring is a home security brand. Its Pro doorbells are wired to your home's power instead of running on a battery.

One naming note first. Ring's current model in this line is called the Wired Doorbell Pro. Ring's support page says ""Video Doorbell Pro 2 changed its name to Wired Doorbell Pro."" Lennar's feature list says ""Ring Video Doorbell Pro"" and does not say which generation is installed. Ask the sales team for the exact model in your home.

Here is what Ring lists for its current Wired Doorbell Pro:

If your home has an older generation, some of these features may differ.

What You Can Do Without a Subscription

This is the question most new owners ask. Ring's answer, from its product page: ""Without a subscription, you can view real-time video for Ring doorbells and security cameras and answer doorbell notifications as they happen,"" but your videos and photos are not saved.

In plain words:

• No subscription: you can see and talk to whoever is at the door, live.

• With a Ring Protect subscription: Ring says motion videos ""will be saved to your Ring account for up to 180 days."" You can go back and watch what happened while you were out.

Ring's plans and prices change, so check Ring's own site before you decide. Some features, such as Quick Replies recordings, also need a subscription. Ring says a ""compatible Ring subscription"" is ""required to access and review the Quick Replies recordings.""

Why the Doorbell Matters More at Del Mar

Two things about Del Mar make the front door the busy spot:

1. No garage. Lennar describes the Horizon homes as ""distinct two-story townhome designs without garages."" Without a garage, your front door is where deliveries usually end up.

2. A gated entry. Lennar lists a ""vehicle access-controlled entry."" Ask the sales team how delivery drivers and guests get through the gate. That tells you how packages will reach your door.

With a video doorbell, you can see a delivery arrive and talk to the driver from your phone, even when you are away.

The Rest of the Del Mar Smart-Home List

Lennar groups these items under ""Connectivity"" for all three Horizon plans:

Ring Video Doorbell Pro. Covered above.

Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt. Schlage says the Encode has ""built-in WiFi"" and pairs ""with the Schlage Home app to lock and unlock remotely, grant access to trusted friends and family with customized access codes, and view lock history."" So you can let a family member in without handing out a key.

A smart thermostat. Lennar's list names two models: a ""Honeywell Home T6 Pro-smart thermostat"" and an ""ElitePRO™ S900 Smart Thermostat in Black."" Ask which model is installed in your unit. For the Honeywell Home T6 Pro, the maker says you can ""connect to the app to view and change temperature settings, program a 7-day schedule,"" and that it ""integrates with smart home Apple Home and Amazon Alexa.""

A centralized media panel. Lennar lists this too. Ask what it connects to and where it is in your plan.

For a plain guide to smart-home gear in general, read our explainer on what makes a home a smart home.

How the Doorbell Fits With the Rest of the Home

Lennar also lists ""impact resistant windows and sliding glass doors"" as standard at Del Mar. The doorbell does not replace locks or windows. It adds a set of eyes at the front door. Our guide to impact windows and how they differ from shutters explains more.

For the full standard features list, the warranty and the buying steps, read our guide to Del Mar's stucco exteriors, standard features and warranty. You can see the townhomes and their front entries on the Del Mar photos and location page.

Setting It Up After You Close

When you move in, set up the devices in your own name before anything else:

1. Ask for the device list at your orientation. Lennar lists a ""Personalized New Home Orientation."" Ask which apps each device uses.

2. Create your own accounts. Make sure the doorbell, lock and thermostat are linked to your accounts, not a builder or sales account.

3. Change any default codes on the lock.

4. Set your motion zones on the doorbell so it watches your door, not the whole street.

5. Decide on a subscription once you see how much you use the doorbell.

Keep the model numbers and any paperwork you receive. Ask the builder who to call if a smart device stops working, and whether it is handled under the home warranty or by the device maker.

Being a Good Neighbor With a Video Doorbell

Townhomes sit close together, so your doorbell camera may see more than your own door. A few simple habits help:

• Aim your motion alerts at your own entry, not the walkway in front of your neighbor's door.

• Turn down alerts for passing cars if your front door faces a street.

• Talk to your neighbors if you plan to share a clip of something that happened on the shared walk.

These are courtesy steps, not rules.

Lennar's Connectivity List, Word for Word

Here is exactly how Lennar lists these items for the Azure, Magenta and Sunglow plans:

A Short Smart-Home Glossary

• Hardwired: the device runs on your home's wiring, so there is no battery to charge.

• App: the phone program you use to see and control a device.

• Subscription: a monthly or yearly plan that adds features, such as saved video.

• Motion zone: the part of the camera's view where you want motion alerts.

• Access code: a number you give someone so they can unlock a keypad lock.

Questions to Ask the Sales Team

• Which generation of the Ring Pro doorbell is installed?

• Which thermostat model is installed?

• How do delivery drivers get through the gate?

• Where is the media panel, and what does it connect to?

• Who do I call if a smart device stops working?

For more on what comes in the home, read about the stain-resistant carpet Lennar lists at Del Mar.

Common Questions

Want to see the smart-home setup in a Del Mar model? Call 561-704-0091 or schedule a time to see Del Mar.

Related reading: Stucco and standard features at Del Mar · Stain-resistant carpet at Del Mar · What a smart home is