Should I include high speed internet in the rent?

[Charles Terrizzi]

This would be in order to avoid the build up of ten thousand different cables, dishes, etc over the course of ownership. (from different providers coming in)

[Matthew Paul]

No , it could be abused 

[Charles Terrizzi]

if it's included in the rent, how could they abuse it?

[Account Closed]

Yes its a great incentive, and is it really high speed, are you paying for high speed ? or is it standard wif? regardless adding cable and internet would be a great incentive for the teneant espeacilly if you have competition and rent is not too much of a difference from your competitors or similar rentals in the market. 

[Account Closed]

and to add to that, if the numbers work and you casflow is still positive go for it. If not and your close to breaking even, let  them get thier own service. hope this helps. 

Steven 

[Max T.]

what if your tenants do something illegal - pirating copyrighted material or hacking? its a nice idea but I'm not sure it is worth the risk.

[Charles Terrizzi]

Originally posted by @Max T.:

what if your tenants do something illegal - pirating copyrighted material or hacking? its a nice idea but I'm not sure it is worth the risk.

 That is a good point, not sure I want anyone downloading all the things one can download and having my name attached to the account....best argument against.

[Jeff B.]

Could be an added source of income, just like laundry.

Owner installed service and wired access to each unit - - for a fee.

[Jonathan G.]

I would say no.  Internet periodically goes down and companies require your direct input .  Often we are on hold greater than 20 min for trivial issues.  Why invite that hassle into your day on someone else's behalf. Dishes and wires can be removed but your time is never recoverable .  Let your tenants handle their own utilities / services.  

[Lee L.]

I say no. I don't want the hassle of dealing with their internet when it goes down. I tell them that Time Warner Cable has a deal for $15 a month.

[Matt R.]

You might consider installing empty conduit, with pull boxes as needed, from the place where the wires come up to the building to the individual unit(s).  That way, if a tenant switches providers, all the new provider has to do is run new cable through the conduit, rather than attacking the property with 2" hole saws.  :)  You may need to be there in person to show the 18-year-old kid how to pull a wire through the conduit, though.

Dish and DirecTV have an "antenna mount" that is basically an angle-iron frame about three feet square with a post in the middle for the dish.  You lay the frame down, somewhere where the dish can see the sky to the south, and then put cinder blocks on the frame to keep it there.  This can live on a flat roof, or on the ground next to the building.  This avoids having lots of holes in your roof.