The postman always rings once...

IF YOU told my younger self that one day I would be getting seriously excited about a doorbell, I might have chosen a different path in life. But ‘smart doorbells’ are – I have to admit – pretty exhilarating.

First, no postman is ever going to be able to deliver one of those infuriating red slips without actually ringing the bell. They’ll be caught on camera if they try.

Second, when my wife rings the doorbell to ask me to let her in, I can just say through the built-in speaker: ‘The keys are in your handbag, just find them yourself.’

Google’s Nest Hello records video of everyone who rings your bell or even goes near your front door.

As soon as that happens, the ‘event’ is recorded in the app (everyone in the family can download it). It’s visible for a few hours (if you don’t pay the subscription fee) or up to 30 days (if you do). Don’t buy one of these if you’re having an affair, would be my advice.

You can also tell couriers to drop things off in your recycle bin (there’s a push-button to talk in the app). It feels as if you’ve gained a crucial new weapon in the delivery wars.

The picture quality is sensational and it’s wired in like a high-quality security system. The unit also lights up when it detects motion, to scare off potential burglars.

The only problem is the price: it’s £229 for the main unit, and a further £100 to install – plus, if you want to keep recordings, that’s another £40 per year.

My last doorbell was a tenner.