Buying a Home? How TV, Cell Phone and Internet Service Can Make or Break Your Purchase

For some buyers, t.v., cell and internet service will never be an issue. Living in a large city or a well-established sub-division close to a major employer...these folks have a cell tower on every corner so their calls are never dropped, have a choice of cable providers and expect (and can get) reliable super-speedy internet service.

But for many buyers, those are things that can't be assumed. Dropped cell calls, or no service at all; non-existent cable tv or high-speed internet cable or DSL internet service for many folks considering a more rural lifestyle location are par for the course. For buyers moving from an urban, connected area to an area that is removed from some of the electronic tools we've come to rely on (or require if, for example, you work from home), failing to explore the local shortfalls can be a disaster.

So how do you find out if the house you're considering is going to work out? After all, you can't typically spend the day at someone's house, on the phone, watching tv and going online.

Cell Phones: This can be a challenge. Smaller, more rural areas often have local or regional cell-service providers that do a better job than some of the national providers. So if your current cell service provider is a nation-wide provider, turn your phone on at the property and count bars. Check the coverage over a 15 minute time frame, since satellites are in constant rotation and service can be o.k. one minute and nonexistent the next.

If you're not getting good coverage (check out this link for a truly local view), ask your Realtor what service they use. As on-the-road travelers, hopefully covering the area you've hired them to help you look, they should have a good idea about who has decent coverage, where calls are dropped, etc. You can also ask the current owners if they are living in the house, or ask neighbors, too. People love to help, and it's a great way to check out the neighbors at the same time.

Television: In some areas, absence of cable means even the local channels don't come in well. For television choices in more populated areas, cable TV is a no-brainer for those who want it. For rural customers, it often means satellite TV. Satellite is notorious for inconsistency with even mildly inclement weather causing outages. Lots of folks are jumping on the internet-for-tv bandwagon, but for rural buyers, that doesn't do much good. If you must have satellite tv, then you probably need satellite internet service, too.

Internet Service: For work-from-home folks, gamers, or anyone who needs a lot bandwidth and speed for big uploads and downloads, DSL is ideal. But rural customers often don't have that option. Satellite is it. And it's slow. Paying extra for a better 'package' isn't about speed, but about volume of up-and-downloads. And the same thing that is true about satellite tv is true about satellite internet. Inconsistent service due to weather is a common problem. Each transmission goes from the home, to the satellite, then back up and back down again...about an 88,000 mile round-trip. Any honest satellite technician will tell you: satellite should be a last resort.

If you're buying in a rural area, you must check out these services first, especially if you'll be working from home, have a hobby or employment that requires phone and internet (reliable and speedy) connectivity. Once you make a purchase, there isn't anything you can do about poor, slow or nonexistent coverage!