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 […]

By Anne Gieseke

In today’s world, life is about convenience and automation.  Internet connectivity is key, and many telecom providers are making it easier than ever to setup services the moment a resident steps into their new home.

These “internet-ready” programs are designed to have all the wireless equipment pre-installed in the apartment to transmit a small internet connection – so residents can simply connect to the service provider’s portal through their mobile phone (or by calling) and be activated within minutes.  There is no longer any need for the resident to wait for equipment to be mailed to them, to pick up anything from a local retail store, or to wait for that dreaded 3-hour installation appointment. Plus, there is the added benefit of not having to return any equipment when they move out.

Along with offering convenience to new residents, this program also lessens questions for the leasing office and fewer service provider visits or delays in setting up new services.  When the resident moves out, the equipment remains installed and is reset for the next resident moving in.

Not only does this save time, but there are also benefits to Management/Owner by:

• Offering a convenient amenity to advertise at your community

[…]

By Eric Brueck, Kathy Wolff and Vincent Luke Allen

Managed Wi-Fi deployed property wide is creating $15-25 per unit per month in new revenue for property owners. The community-wide network infrastructure it rests on also supports many smart building installations that create a high level of resident convenience and still more potential revenue.

In response to this new macro trend in the multifamily industry, RealtyCom’s New Construction Department has developed a team devoted to assisting our clients with design and implementation of property wide managed Wi-Fi services and the IoT devices that enable a technology enriched resident experience.  Our investment in providing these advanced services and technologies is in response to our client inquiries and interest in understanding the cost benefit analysis when considering such systems in their future developments.  The capital costs associated with deploying building wide Wi-Fi can be substantial as is the technology integration challenges with other low voltage designed systems such as AV, Access Control, Property Surveillance, Environmental Controls and the Owner’s network.  We’re excited 2021 brings this new team and new suite of services to RealtyCom clients to consider as they embark upon current and future multifamily development projects across the country.

RealtyCom’s new team focused on these […]