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How important is high speed internet to you?

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty LLC 200311024

To me, an Active Rain addict, I know it is really important. I'm sure to most of you it is also, but do you ask this question when you go to look at homes for yourself or your clients? I realize that I'm addicted, and every Friday night at 7:30 at the local meeting hall, I try to address the problem.

Me:   Hi, my name is Todd and I'm an Active Rain addict.

Everyone else: HI TODD!

 

 You see, I didn't really think of this as a real estate question until recently when I've had two offers, by two different people, that were on beautiful homes, be withdrawn when they asked the question about the availability of high speed internet and they were told that it isn't available there.

Here in Oregon, we have a lot of farm country, and once you get outside our urban growth boundary, high speed internet and cable television become scarce. So the only options you have are either dial-up or satellite and that is only high speed one way. If you have never had satellite internet you still need dial up to upload files and send information to the internet. Just in case you are wondering, or don't remember what it is like, imagine hitting send on your comments and it takes 5 minutes before it is done. That is satellite internet, downloads are lightning quick, but the upload speeds are real slow!

So ask yourself this, if you know internet is important to your clients, do you take the extra step to ask about high speed internet or do you wait for them? If you want clients for life, I suggest you ask for them!

 

 

 

 

Comments(21)

Jesse Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

It's like the breath of life.  :) We use a satellite connection when we're on the boat and it makes me crazy.  The download is slower than what I'm used to, but sending... it's like going back to a rotary phone.  Thankfully the computer isn't my main priority when we're on the boat, but I do use it.

 

Dec 08, 2007 06:49 PM
Gary Bland R (S) E-Pro, ABR
Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers - Wailea, HI
I have had high speed for so long it would send me into a rage not having it.  I started with dial up and was put away when the system came to town.
Dec 08, 2007 07:30 PM
Lorinda Ward
Keffer Realty - Norfolk, VA
Serving, Hampton Roads Virginia. Norfolk, Chesapeake, Va Beach
I am glad you posted this question, I can not live with out high speed Internet, we just have to find out how important it is to our clients, I had client who have a spouse who works at home and needs high speed.  Great question!
Dec 08, 2007 08:51 PM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

In today's business world, High speed Internet is critical. I email huge report files to my customers and I really need it.

Great post.

Dec 08, 2007 10:14 PM
Charlottesville Solutions
Charlottesville Solutions - Charlottesville, VA
It seems that one in about 20 people I work with do not care about high-speed access... Compare that to 10 years ago!
Dec 08, 2007 11:23 PM
Kay Perry
Kay Perry, Broker - College Station, TX
Hi Todd, It is extremely important in our city because with Texas A&M University here, it's a highly educated population.  I know I could not do without high speed.  The only places here without it would be in the country and people wanting in the country typically don't care for speed so Satellite is good.
Dec 09, 2007 01:04 AM
James Downing - Metro DC Houses Team REALTORS®, CRS, GRI, ABR,MRP, MilRes
Real Living | At Home - Washington, DC
When Looking to Buy or Sell - Make the Right Move

I dont have to worry much in the city; but last summer in the burbs of Maryland we ran into this issue.  My buyers FELL IN LOVE with a home - but when they found there was no high-speed internet (yet) - we moved on.  It is a MUST for me too!

Dec 09, 2007 01:54 AM
Wayne Miller
San Diego, CA

I haven't ran into this problem because I sell in an urban area, but I can see how this would be a problem.  What about those Internet cards, would that work?  I think it would make a great closing gift and the buyers problem has been solved. 

Just a random though. 

Dec 09, 2007 01:58 AM
Daniel J. Brudnok, REALTOR
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach, REALTORS - Exton - PA License #RS-225179-L / Delaware License #RS-0025038 - Downingtown, PA
SRES, e-PRO,ABR,GREEN,CSP

Todd,

Putting aside the age we live in that our family needs for casual use....there are so many of us who work out of the home and "dial up" just dosen't cut it.

Dec 09, 2007 01:59 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Erin - That is why it maybe important now to ask that question of our clients also!

Jesse or Kathy - This is why I've had two offers withdrawn, it is a little sad to see what the priorities of the day are thought vs what they were ten years ago.

Gary - I also started with AOL and Dial up in 1994 and I'm not sure how I survived either?

Lorinda - It just isn't something that we think about, but maybe we should?

Michael - Can you imagine trying to send a HOA book as a fax or on dial up, you would be on all week!

Charles - I'm surprised it was that high! But, you are right 10 years ago, this wouldn't even ever crossed my mind to have to start asking.

Kay - It is even start to change here, that the people who live in the country want the high speed internet. They would rather tele-commute now and still live the life style of the county. The problem is the internet companies haven't figured that out yet.

 James - It was a real let down wasn't it, I know it was on these two buyers for me!

Wayne - In a lot of the areas, even the cell service sucks and those really don't help.

Dan - That is exactly what these two wanted to do, they wanted to escape and head to the country and work from home.

Dec 09, 2007 02:18 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Todd, as we move forward in time high speed Internet is almost available everywhere if you are in a metro area. If you get fairly far out in a rural environment it may be spotty, so that's where I would definitely check. I don't know how anyone gets anything accomplished at dial-up speeds anymore. It is way too slow.
Dec 09, 2007 03:30 AM
DDR Realty
DDR Realty - Newburgh, NY
Orange County NY
High speed access is very important to mostly everyone today. Especially those in business. It helps to save time. And time is money.
Dec 09, 2007 08:30 AM
K. Davis
Davis Enterprises - Sarasota, FL

Thanks for posting, because I don't think many agents consider these items as amenities yet.

I'm a real estate agent in the heart of the DC Metro area "Dulles Technology Corridor". Living amongst the nations most tech savvy and influential IT professionals and Homeland Security officials, we take pride in our local tech services.

I can't IMAGINE putting a client in a property and not investigating services--or taking a listing and not having tech ammenity or limitation disclosures in my packet.

The electronic rush coming in the next 20 years will be amazing. As IT friendly baby boomers move into retirement (or warmer climates) and young gamers rise as the new urban professionals, neither group will settle for anything less than high tech. As an Internet friend and Global Community Service-Based Realtor, I fully intend to be as helpful as I can for them.

 

Cyber-Cheers!

Kae Davis

www.cbmove.com/Kae.Davis ~ http://www.everythingashburn.com

Dec 09, 2007 01:14 PM
Fran Gaspari
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Todd,

I thought DSL was available just about everywhere through local phone companies...not so??? Thanks,   Fran

Dec 09, 2007 01:40 PM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Todd- Oh my, I was just reading Kae's comment, I knew that teh DC contracts are like 25 to 30 pages long, I know from Patricia Kennedy. And ours are only 4 pages long, 6 with riders but I have never heard of the tech ammenity or limitation disclosures! I am so surprised when I look at my site stats how many people are still using dial up and still using old browsers. I could not ever deal with slower than high speed, even then it is too slow even with high speed! But here, that is rarely a concern in buying a home. I have never seen it in remarks and there is no MLS spot to add it in. 

I must say, funny, we had a client who moved here from Portland and they told me what a culture shock it was because coming from a techy place to see how backwards this culture here really can be. I have friends still who refuse to use email and they are not old people either! We have sellers who do not use the internet and who do not believe that buyers find houses that way. It is very different in different places. Katerina

Dec 09, 2007 04:08 PM
Roberta LaRocca
Simply Vegas Real Estate - Las Vegas, NV
REALTOR®, Broker, Salesperson, NV. Lic BS.507
Todd, I think this is a big issue with a lot of people.  I know my family could never live without high speed internet.  That is definitely something that should be researched for our clients.  Of course, that is not much of an issue here in Las Vegas.
Dec 09, 2007 04:17 PM
Tina Merritt
Nest Realty - Blacksburg, VA
Virginia Real Estate

Great thought to bring up - I was just visiting my parents in Long Island NY and high speed is only available via satellite or through a card b/c their village won't allow the lines to be run for cable.  It's not only a rural area issue!!!!

Dec 10, 2007 01:06 AM
Portland Oregon Real Estate | Alecia Barnes - Broker
Portland, OR
Todd- I made the mistake of trying to "save" money a couple years back, by trying to switch back to dial up. Let's just say that my husband, who is not computer or internet savvy, begged me to switch back! I never thought to ask this question, and I live in rural town oregon, usa. I'll add that to my list!
Dec 10, 2007 10:55 AM
David Dee
RMX REALTY - Alhambra, CA
Real Estate - San Gabriel Valley (L.A.) & N. Orang

Todd,

High speed through DSL is the way to go for me. I cannot imagine going back to dial up. That would drive me crazy as the loading time can be pretty frustrating.

Dave

Dec 10, 2007 05:34 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Gary - That is what I thought also, but I live in a very metro area and I don't even have DSL available to me. I have cable internet, but even that was a fight.

Derrick - So are you asking the question if it is available? You might be surprised by the answer.

Kae - I don't think we think of it either, but I am now starting to ask the question.

Fran - So did I, until I realized we didn't have it here and I can't get much closer to a high tech area with Intel and Nike being so close.

Katerina - I'm sorry you are backwards up there - lol...When I retire that is what I want, is to just escape, we are talking the outskirts of West Yellowstone or Northern Montana.

Roberta - I didn't think it would be an issue in Portland either, especially with free wireless in Downtown Portland, but parts of Portland still don't have internet.

Tina - Sad isn't it, I certainly wouldn't think of Long Island not having High Speed internet.

Alecia - It is amazed how quickly we get used to new technology isn't it!

Dave - Yes, Yes it is!

Dec 11, 2007 04:06 AM