In a world where residents are consistently seeking out convenience and amenities, property managers are constantly trying to meet high expectations. Whether it’s providing a Resident Benefits Package or making applying, moving in, and paying rent more convenient, property managers are rising to the challenge.
In today’s rental market, residents expect fast, reliable internet as a necessity, not a luxury. Residents are working from home, streaming their favorite shows at night, and gaming online, and they need a dependable high-speed connection.
Unfortunately, consumers today aren’t the level of service that they want. In fact, customers using wired internet in the U.S. reported an overall satisfaction level of just 538 on a 1,000 point scale. The gap between customer expectations and what they’re receiving is only growing.
An internet program provides the opportunity for property managers to deliver a premium resident experience, while also giving investors a strategic edge to attract and retain quality residents.
So what are the benefits of offering high-speed internet as an amenity for your residents?
Delivering resident experience
At Second Nature, we’re all about the resident experience. It’s why we do what we do. It’s also why we recently introduced Group Rate Internet. Like all of our resident benefits, Group Rate Internet is designed to deliver a top-tier resident experience.
With Group Rate Internet, residents receive high connection speed at a significantly lower cost. Plus, our Group Rate Internet program eliminates resident frustration with unexpected price hikes, slow speeds, or contract confusion. We’ve eliminated all the outdated annoyances of the traditional internet subscriber experience.
Simple setup
When they move into a unit with Group Rate Internet, residents get a premium activation experience. Second Nature provides expert guidance to activate service, including a warm hand off to their internet service provider (ISP) when necessary so that they can easily schedule installation or receive equipment delivery. No more dealing with ISP runarounds or being put on hold or transferred over and over—just responsive, high-touch service that makes setup fast and easy.
Dedicated support
Once the resident is up and running, Second Nature provides continued support via a dedicated phone line. If residents have questions about their service or subscription, they call us directly, keeping your phone lines open to answer other resident inquiries.
If they have a technical support question that requires support from their ISP, Second Nature will initiate a warm handoff, making sure that a representative from the ISP is on the line before hanging up.
Cost savings
It’s not just resident experience, either. The second reason that internet makes so much sense as an amenity is the financial side. With Group Rate Internet, you can help your residents save money on their internet bill every month.
Today, residents pay an average of $80-$120 per month for gigabit-speed internet service. A separate study found that only 53% of wired internet customers in the U.S. said that their monthly bill was affordable. That means that nearly half of subscribers find their internet service costs to be too high.
Because Second Nature can harness the negotiating power of the more than one million units in our network, we can deliver savings directly to residents. With our group rates, residents can get high-speed service at a lower cost than they could get on their own.
Plus, because Second Nature maintains the contracts directly, residents won’t see sudden price hikes or changes to service levels. Plus, they have no setup, cancellation, or hidden fees. Equipment rental is covered, so the price they see at lease signing is the price they pay.
Competitive advantage
Today’s renters are tech-savvy and more connected than ever. In fact, many residents actively seek tech-forward homes. Properties offering built-in high-speed internet stand out in competitive markets. That means that you can fill vacancies faster, keep residents longer, and deliver better business results.
Increase applications
The 2024 NMHC and Grace Hill Renter Preferences Survey Report, which surveyed over 172,000 renters nationwide, found that 90% of residents said high-speed internet was a must-have. It was the third-most wanted amenity behind airconditioning and in-unit laundry.
That means that, by advertising gigabit-speed internet as an amenity in your rental homes, you’re appealing to a much wider potential resident base. Programs like Group Rate Internet can help you set yourself apart from the pack. You’ll get more applications and find a qualified applicant more quickly.
Retain residents
Property managers know that happy residents stay longer, and lease renewals are a key performance indicator for your business. When residents stay longer, property managers and investors save on listing and marketing, missed rent, and turnover maintenance costs.
Because fast, affordable internet drives rental satisfaction, it can directly influence whether a resident chooses to renew their lease. That means a direct impact on your bottom line, and work taken off of your leasing team.
Final thoughts
Whether you’re looking for new ways to delight your residents, opportunities to drive cost savings, or looking to find and retain better applicants, internet can be a great opportunity. By packaging high-speed internet with your rentals, you can help grow your business while providing a service that residents are eager to take advantage of.
Interested in learning more about how you can add Group Rate Internet to your rental portfolio? Book a demo today to speak with a member of our team.
January 2, 2025
