A late 2019 study of renter preferences by the National Multi-Family Housing Council showed a whopping 91.7% of residents feel high-speed, reliable internet was either important or very important when looking for a new place. While most property owners and managers may agree that top-notch internet is a top amenity, Johnson says, “It’s up to the HOAs and multi-family property owners to know what they’re looking for when choosing an internet provider and then work with that company to make sure they provide the fastest service possible.”
COULD A PROPERTY’S WIFI SLOW THINGS DOWN? Optimal internet speeds can be affected by several things, and one “wild card” owners shouldn’t overlook is their WiFi solution. But maintaining control over the WiFi speeds in a multi-family property or a single-family home development can be easier said than done in Johnson’s view. That, he says, requires customized solutions created by qualified engineers and professional equipment. Sluggish WiFi can result from network equipment issues, how many people connect, walls and structural materials, or the property’s layout. A neighbor’s WiFi might even cause interference and make for a slower experience.
CLOSER = BETTER CONNECTIVITY With fiber internet performance, proximity matters. “The closer you can get fiber to someone, the better,” Johnson says. “This helps reduce latency, making internet speeds much faster and giving residents a much better overall online experience.” The most efficient way to make sure the fiber gets that close is to lay out a community’s internet goals during construction. Then, fiber-optic lines can be built in and connected to each home or apartment. This strategy also plays to fiber internet’s role as an investment in a property’s future. As Johnson puts it, “technology is always changing, but with fiber, building owners and internet providers are in a position to easily install new tools that can upgrade a building’s internet capabilities.”
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