By Kelly Larsen

Wi-Fi is truly the unsung hero holding the modern household together. From streaming TV and working from home, to powering your smart thermostat or Roomba – Wi-Fi is a must-have. Under a traditional choice model where the owner may or may not have a marketing agreement in place with the telecom provider, each resident is purchasing their own wireless modem or renting it from the provider themselves. However, there are three other categories of owner-sponsored Wi-Fi that help your properties and residents stay connected:

• Internet Ready – a no-cost option, this is a Wi-Fi router setup in the apartment for convenience when a new resident moves in, so they can connect and sign up for services in minutes without a technician appointment or picking up equipment.
• In Unit Modem-Based Wi-Fi – traditionally referred to as bulk Internet, with this option there is no construction, in-unit access or capital expense to owner. The owner can either include this service in the rent or pass on a reduced Internet rate to residents, in exchange for buying service for the entire property. There are various ways residents can obtain equipment and their Wi-Fi network is limited to their home only.
• Property […]
  

By Laura Quirarte

In just a few short years, we have seen Cable TV become more and more obsolete as people decide to “cut the cord” and move to streaming options, that can be more affordable and personalized. Across all the assets RealtyCom manages we currently see an average of 35% of residents subscribing to a traditional Cable TV product, with the rest choosing streaming or over-the-top content options.

Consequently, RealtyCom has been proactive in speaking with many asset managers and operators who are specifically providing a Bulk (owner paid) Cable service, to help them develop a plan to eliminate or augment that service to Internet so residents continue to feel they are getting a good value from the owner.

While not everyone has decided to remove Cable service immediately, here are some practical things to consider when contemplating this decision:

Community Demographics. Collegiate housing and Urban communities are more comfortable not having a traditional Cable product as most residents are comfortable with only streaming content. Conversely, many Active Adult or Senior communities prefer to keep these services in place, as their residents may still value Cable TV. Before you make changes, consider a resident survey to learn how residents might receive this news […]

By Kathryn O’Leary

Much has been written (including by RealtyCom) about why property owners are implementing new property-wide Wi-Fi solutions. This 3-minute piece focuses on public area Wi-Fi coverage and key factors to success as you consider providing internet in common spaces.

Installation and service of public facing Wi-Fi for common areas in multi-family properties are an attractive amenity as they allow residents and their guests access to robust internet for their mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and other devices. However, they have special considerations often overlooked during the design and construction phases:

1. The group designing and installing may not provide the ongoing “managed service” expected after installation. As third-party providers may not be willing to operate a system they have not installed, this can lead to unexpected costs and/or delays and less than optimal service.

2. The number and location of the Wireless Access Points needs to be determined using predictive heatmapping to mitigate the risk of poor signal quality from underinvestment or be overengineered and more costly than necessary.

3. The internet circuit supporting the service must have adequate capacity to support the likely users and the Wireless Access Points should all be wired in accordance with an LV design that will connect […]