Technology features boost the appeal of rental properties so landlords need to make sure their properties are up to date.
Tenants these days are often just as concerned about technology services like satellite TV connections, Internet accessibility and cell phone reception as they are about rent and the security of the property they are viewing.
Consequently, it is becoming increasingly important for landlords and their agents to advertise these features if their properties have them, says Gerhard Kotzé, MD of the RealNet estate agency group.
“In a recent survey by Apartments.com to establish which amenities tenants consider most desirable, 61% listed a pre-installed satellite TV connection and 53% listed high-speed Internet access. By comparison, only 36% listed air conditioning and only 22% listed parking,” he notes.
“It’s also important to realise that most tenants these days will be more concerned about getting good cell phone reception than having a landline. This can pose a challenge for landlords whose buildings have bad reception or are in a particular service provider's ‘dead zone’, because tenants who can't get a signal are not likely to stay.”
In another recent survey, by the US National Multi-Housing Council, it was found that 69% of tenants would like to live in a block or complex that has free wifi – and it is very likely that a similar percentage in SA would agree, because of the high costs of data in this country, says Kotzé.
“And if they can’t have that, most would certainly like a really high-speed DSL or fibre Internet connection to enable them to make the best use of their smart phones, tablets, laptops and gaming PCs, or to stream series and movies on their smart-TVs.
“In short, the tech-appeal of a rental property is rapidly becoming just as important as the curb appeal, and landlords who want to attract more tenants - or retain existing tenants – need to ensure that their properties are sufficiently wired.”