Offering incentives like “free” cable has long been one popular strategy property holders frequently impose to get higher rent. And for decades, tenants eagerly paid the extra cost. However, public demand for cable TV is rapidly changing, making some property holders wonder if it’s the right time to think about cutting the cord on their rental home’s cable TV.
Since 2012, over 10 million people have canceled their cable subscriptions in favor of new, lower-priced streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. For everyone, a lot of whom are renters, “free” cable simply doesn’t hold the appeal that it once did. Though for a few people, cable TV is still part of a relaxing evening. So, before you decide to drop your Los Lunas rental property’s cable TV, it is critical to examine all the pros and cons of doing it, as well as chat with your tenants about their wants and needs.
Including cable TV in your rental rate is right for a number of places and demographics. For example, if your potential renters include avid sports fans they will more probably want live television services and will often willingly pay a bit more rent to have it included.
Numerous tenants oppose to signing up for cable services that will lock them into long-term contracts because they may not know how long they will be living in the home. They may also hate the dilemma of contacting customer service every time something goes wrong. For these tenants, a rental home quick to provide cable TV brings a firm encouragement to pay a little more to avert any trouble.
Meanwhile, newer tenants may or may not find an offer of “free” cable to be worth the higher rent. Streaming services are becoming the go-to choice for many who find cable TV lacking in viewing options. While streaming services do cost money, countless young people will share a subscription or sign up selectively to save money. For this group, streaming services present the independence to decide when to sign up or cancel if they want to.
For Los Lunas property owners, there is benefit to include cable TV as part of the rent. For example, internet providers will often bundle both internet service and cable TV, lowering the cost of both. For certain areas and demographics, being able to provide internet service and cable TV may give property holders a competitive edge. The easiest way to check for sure if providing cable TV is right for your situation is to ask your tenants, either current or prospective. They can inform you what the trends and how tenants may answer to “free” cable TV.
If you’ve talked with your tenants and they decline the offer of cable TV, it may be feasible to temporarily discontinue your cable service while leaving the cables intact. Depending on the service provider, you may be able to suspend or even cancel service rather smoothly, saving you the problem of paying for it each month. You could then charge a slightly lower rent or if you opt to, pocket the savings.
Determining if keeping your cable TV service is the right move for your rental properties can take a long time, and for rental property holders, time is money. Real Property Management Albuquerque can assist you to evaluate cost savings aspects, communicate effectively with your tenants, and more. Contact us online or call us now at 505-831-8700 today.
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