Internet Connection in Real Estate
One of the deciding factors for some when considering a prospective purchase, and one factor that causes some to move or have buyer's remorse, is the speed of internet available in an area. While there are plenty of exceptions, generally speaking, the more rural the area, the lower the speed available for internet & the lower the speeds available for phone signals.
Check the typically available possibilities by address or zip code.
You can plug in an address & check for options & the speeds of those options at websites like All Connect. You can plug in a zip code at places like HighSpeedInternet.
Keep in mind in these scenarios that it's best to confirm with carriers before relying on the information on third-party websites.
If you'd still consider a location or are already in a location in an area without very fast options for typical internet hard-wired connections, look into alternatives.
Alternative Options Introduction: My Temporary Relatively Effective Solution at My Home With No Hard Wired Connection Available for 1-2 Months
When my wife & I first purchased the home that we’re living in now, we had difficulty getting the internet company with a hard-wired connection, Spectrum, to us. Eventually, they came after a month or 2 of hiatus, but in the meantime, we needed an alternative solution for both my wife & I. We both work from home primarily & internet speed is critical to our work. It’s critical enough for my wife to use a Macbook Pro primarily and me to use a Lenovo P-17 that I purchased for about $2k.
Since we were in an area with 5G coverage under my phone provider, & since I had a top-of-the-line Samsung Galaxy S-21 Ultra 5G (and it was in 2021, so the phone wasn’t old) my speed was sufficient enough for my work for me to not drive the 30 minutes 1 way for me to get to our Newport News office. My wife needs to use a lot of video in her work as a social media manager and didn’t have sufficient speed with her phone, so we needed a faster solution for her in the meantime of getting a hard-wired connection. After confirming 5-G coverage in my area, I purchased a Mifi Jetpack, which was significantly faster than my wife’s phone and had plenty of speed for us. https://www.verizon.com/internet-devices/
What to do if Not Getting Sufficient Speed
No matter what your current phone plan, if you’re not getting sufficient speed with an updated phone, check the map, and if another carrier has better coverage, consider a MIFI or similar connection for your internet. If the area has 5G coverage, go for it.
If considering a purchase in an area using MIFI, I recommend testing it out prior. If you’d like me to use a MIFI for you to try out with a speed test &/or going through your typical tasks at the location of the home on one of my listings or if you are a buyer working with me & not in the area to test it out yourself, let me know.
Where to Check for Wireless Coverage w/ Top 3 Carriers
Signal Boosters For Phones & Reception-Based Internet Plans
While internal signal boosters sometimes do practically nothing, external signal boosters can have a substantial positive impact on phone reception at times as long as they are placed right and as long as they don't have too many things (i.e. trees) blocking the signal.
In the event that you’re in an area where reception isn’t optimal, I recommend a cell phone signal booster installed, like this well-rated option, the Hiboost Cell Phone Singal Booster for Home & Office. In addition, if you are regularly driving in areas of low signal, you may want to purchase something similar for your vehicle with an external antenna.
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