Quality high-tech services are important to tenants.According to a survey by the National Multi Housing Council (NHMC), renters are increasingly looking at the availability of technology services when renting an apartment. The Council’s “Apartment Renter Technology Survey” of 1,000 renters found that, “In the future, apartment properties may be ‘branded’ as much for the quality of their Internet services as they are today for their curb appeal, according to David Carwell, NHMC’s vice president of capital markets and technology.
Some interesting characteristics of apartment renters emerged from the survey. Only 58 percent of apartment homes had a landline telephone and only 38 percent consider the landline to be their primary telephone.
Eighty-eight percent of renters had a cell telephone, compared to 74 percent of all households. If the mobile phone signal is difficult to get, a renter may reconsider renewing the lease, or may pass on a negative report to their friends.
While the survey reported that 94 percent of those questioned said that they were not in their current rental due to technology choices offered, they went on to say that high-speed Internet, good cell phone reception and a choice of service providers could be important elements in their next housing decision.
Perhaps reflecting the penetration of technology into our everyday lives, lower-income renters were just as likely to want technology features and services as those who rented luxury apartments.
Seventy-eight percent of those responding have computers in their apartments and 85 percent of those subscribe to high-speed Internet service such as cable, DSL, or wireless.
Wireless hot spots were a big draw, with 69 percent of apartment residents desiring to live in a complex that offers a wireless hot spot. Rentals that were located near to hot spots that could give renters a signal were popular with survey respondents.
The survey revealed that not only were renters more transitory than homeowners, they are also independent. Only 15 percent were willing to bundle their video, Internet and telephone service with one provider. This is a challenge for companies like Hawaii Telecom and others, who have initiated marketing campaigns to move consumers in this direction.
Premiere Mortgage has offices in Maui and Kaua‘i and provides a wide range of services to the real estate community. Tricia Morris may be reached on Maui in Kihei at 874-8800, Wailea at 891-8900, West Maui at 665-8800, and on Kaua‘i at (808) 822-2300 or toll-free at (800) 813-7711.