7/30/09

Should we Keep This?


I need help from my readers!

We purchased our home 4 years ago and it still has the original intercom system throughout the house (1978). However, we never use it!

We thought it was fun and exciting at first, and my husband would turn classical music on in the mornings to wake up the kids!  But the novelty wore off.

I'd love to hear from you, your opinion regarding whether we should upgrade the master panel or just take it out?

Taking it out means eventually having to remove the speakers in each room. Thanks for your help and tips!

(I wonder what Marni would do? Winner to her House Always Wins book is ... Kim from What's Up Bird?)

45 comments:

The Nester said...

If you don't really use it--take it out.

When I was a kid, I would have killed for a house with one of those rich people speaker things!

Shell in your Pocket said...

Don't use..take it out!

It does look fun though...I am surprised your kids aren't all over that!
sandy toe

carrie said...

I would upgrade, since you already have the speakers and wiring there, how cool is it that you can play music throughout the house!

Anonymous said...

I agree.If you don't use it take it out.But I would LOVE music throughout my home. Can you make using it a new habit??

Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

Maybe if it were upgraded you would use it more. If you think you would then I would upgrade it because that is just cool. But if not then rip that sucker out!
Hugs.
Kim

linda t said...

Replace the panel with a panel that enables you to plug in your iPod and play music throughout your home... Christmas music, classical... music for the teens when they have a gathering.
You won't have the hassle of removing the speakers... but you can update the system with the latest in technology and make it work for your family,
My husband actually did something similar to our home. We've really enjoyed it.

Grace said...

What purpose does it serve now? What purpose would it serve if you upgraded it? How would the two differ? Just some questions to hopefully help you think it through...

mary beth said...

I lilke Linda T's idea...we had one in the house we raised the kids in and it was great for getting my screeching voice up to the third floor. We built another house and put one in but it was a big waste because most of the kids were grown. We are building again and I am not putting one in, but I am having Hubby wire for speakers in a couple of rooms so that we can have music at parties and out on the porch...so Linda's idea would give you that and the wiring is already there. Enjoy!

julia said...

I would upgrade, it would cut down on the screeming to the kids to take the trash out, turn the music down, come and eat and on and on......

Pinky said...

We have almost the exact same intercom system, we built this house in 1983! We do use it even though our kids are grown and gone. Not as much as we used to though. I would upgrade if I were you so you can have music when you want it. Let us know your decision!

Natalie Meester said...

keep it! my friend had one as a child and we loved playing with it!

I bought some intercoms at radio shack when I had my hysterectomy last year because I needed a way to "yell" for my hubby or kids if I needed anything while laying in bed for weeks.

We live in a 3 story home and we constantly are using ours to tell the kids to get to bed, get us something, or tell them someone is on the phone for them, etc.

Wish I had the real deal like you though!

Natalie Meester said...

keep me posted if you upgrade and where you got one!

The Blushing Hostess said...

depends on the life one leads, some households fidn them useful...

Kathy C. said...

If you think you would use it if it were upgraded, then I would def. upgrade. However, if it's just gonna be an eyesore forever and never get used, take it out, fix the speaker holes and let it go! :)

Karina said...

We have something similar (from early 80's). It even has a tuner to play music from cassette tapes (although the player has long since been removed). It took me a while to figure out how it works...it's an intercom system too - and we love it.

I checked into upgrading as well, but of course they all said we would have to completely re-wire and have new speakers,so not really any cost savings. Now I like that it's "vintage". I was able to paint over the speaksers that had turned yellow with age, and I think the unit looks great (ours is in the kitchen).

I vote to keep it, and use it.

slip4 said...

We have one of those too. It died right after we purchased the house (note the "after"). So now we have to decide what to do too. What will you do with the speaker holes in each room?

Mandy said...

We have a large house and I would LOVE to have speakers so I wouldn't have to run up and down to flights of stairs!!! Or worse yell! However, if you don't use it anymore get rid of it. If you do it could use a little upgrade. :-) Good Luck!

Maren said...

I would not upgrade if you are not going to use it. However, having the wires and spaces for an intercom system adds value to the house. I would not pull it all out either. We have a system in each room that is dated. We have either left the intercom in, or as we have painted and updated each room, we pulled the unit, left the space and wires, and hung a picture in front.

No Longer 25 said...

Wow I've never seen anything like this before, how cool. So is it like a typical 80s American thing or something. Does it have a microphone?

How much fun would that be no yelling up the stairs that it's dinner time or time to get up! Also fun for tricking guests and kids at Halloween, unless they know about it - haha evil sense of humour I would totally make ghost noises! This would be so much fun for kids to play with.

I want one but think it sounds expensive to install a whole new one. I think the novelty would wear off too like it has in your house.

Anonymous said...

We have a cordless phone system with intercom and we use it every night when I call everyone to dinner. Also I think yours would be good for safety, if heaven forbid, there was a fire or something.

Bonnie said...

We had one of those systems in our house when I was a teen. You'd think they'd get used more - the kids would love it, etc. The truth is, they feel like a major invasion of privacy. We played with ours a bit and then the boxes just became ugly eyesores. If you use it, upgrade. If you don't, take it out or cover the boxes with something purty.

Judy said...

I think I would up-grade it. Since the wiring is already there. How nice to be able to have music floating through the house.

Chele said...

I vote to take it out! Why spend money on a new system if you don't use it anyway!

Jill said...

I'd definitely upgrade it.

Abbey said...

I agree with Chele. Unless you are determined to start a new music routine, take it out. Spending money on something you don't use doesn't make sense. UNLESS you think upgrading it might be a selling point if you every see moving in your future. That would also save the removal/repair costs of the speakers...

the BLAH BLAH BLAHger said...

Oh my goodness, my parents put one of those in when they built the house in '81. It was such a hoot...until the novelty wore off, as well. As they've been remodeling various rooms in the house, that sucker came down. We had a moment of silence for it, then said RIP and crossed ourselves. No one has missed it. ; )

Linda said...

If it's possible to upgrade the system, I'd keep it. We toured a $9 million home in Maui that had a system that you plugged your iPod right into. I'd love to be able to play my iPod music througout the house. Let us know what you decide!

Suzann said...

It's a popular feature in most homes. Wish I had one so I wouldn't either run through the house or yell at the top of my lungs. I'd keep it, perhaps upgrade the main unit to something more up to date, but I'd definitely keep it.

Christy said...

If you think you might sell in the next 5 years or so I'd upgrade. It's an awesome selling point and will give you home that little edge over the competition. If you're going to be there forever and don't use it, then rip it out. Even then, if it's not too expensive to upgrade, I still think I'd keep it since it's already wired and the holes are there for the speakers, etc. Almost seems like more of a pain to rip it all out.

Astrid in Bristling Acres said...

I remember our parents put one in our home - in the early 80s. It never worked right! I do wonder if it could be wired for an ipod...now wouldn't that be awesome?? Otherwise I'd take it out and have a good laugh about it.

Unknown said...

Oh I love the iPod idea. How great would that be. If you don't use it... take it out.

Cynthia

Gina said...

Although my kids would probably disagree (I could see that getting way overused at our house!) I'd say if you don't use it-lose it!

Why have something sitting around that you don't use? But on the other hand, it could be upgraded-right?

Robin said...

We also have one of those. I love to use it at Christmas. It is nice for listening to music on our screened in porch too. I would love to upgrade ours.

I say keep it and upgrade.
Blessings,
Robin

Christa said...

We upgraded ours when we moved in. It accepts CD's We love it. It even has a way to hook up your ipod to it. I use it all the time. We have one speaker on our patio outside and when we have company out there we play music from it. It is nice it goes throughout the house. I love it when I clean the house because I listen to talk radio and do not miss anything going from room to room. We don't really use the intercom as much though. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!!

Laura Ann said...

I would suggest upgrading it, as another blogger pointed out, you already have the speakers in place. Upgrade to a model that allows you go connect Mp3 players, etc. and tha way its a modern feature that makes for great re-sale value to your home. Also, this would be a great time to add speakers to other areas of your home where they may not already be. Wonderful feature for large gatherings in your home. Good Luck!

kathi said...

I would just leave it there. It's practically vintage now! What a selling point if you ever leave your house! :)

Lynne in NC said...

Ooooh... girlfriend!
Upgrade it, 'cuz you've already got speakers wired in all the rooms.
In our area the new homes have intercom systems or speakers wired into rooms for the "whole house music experience".

Of course, Nester says to take it out, so....
love ya!

Donnetta said...

I was going to say, "You know the old saying, if you haven't used it for a year get rid of it."

But then I started reading the ideas here and am thinking maybe that phrase doesn't apply to all things! :-)

Be sure to let us know what you decide...

Anonymous said...

My husband would use it to make random farting noises throughout the house, LOL. If yours isn't as gross, then maybe keep it? But, if there's any chance of spontaneous flatulation...kick that baby to the curb. ;o)

Girl with the Curlz said...

If you are not using it I would take it out.

Anonymous said...

Get rid of it..it dates your house and if something goes wrong its a pain to repair. We covered all the speakers in our 1970 house, but still have three outdoors that would take new siding to deal with. We have a great texure guy that matched the drywall perfectly...can't even tell and oh...so much nicer. The ones outside...I have hung decor of somekind to cover them.

An Adventurer in the World said...

I don't know WHAT you should do!

We had that in our growing up home, built 1973.

Mom was never able to use it to call us because we didn't like her radio station and so turned the volume off in our rooms.

So when she wanted to 'intercom' us, nobody had their speaker on, and she ended up standing at the bottom of the stairs and calling us anyway : )

Eventually she hung a beautiful painting over the kitchen central panel.

The others really date the rooms, but nobody even sees them anymore.

deb meyers

Kim said...

My grandparents had one in their house when I was a kid and I was always intrigued with it. I think upgrading it would be nice. :) I'm so happy I won the book!

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

take it out :-)

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

oh...that is, unless you can have it wired up to something more modern??? check with someone on it before you rip it out!