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 […]

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

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