CONNECTIVITY

Panelists will stress that Wi-Fi decisions should center on creating the best possible resident experience. Residents want connectivity in their homes from the moment they move-in, not a week or two down the road when the cable company has availability to set it up.

“We’re shifting as an industry because residents are now connecting all kinds of devices to their Wi-Fi,” says Gayle. “They’re connecting everything from their Roomba to their TVs, to their speakers, to their thermostats, to whatever. They want those things set up on day one and have a same connectivity and speed throughout the community not just in their unit.”

But different Wi-Fi solutions — bulk, managed or retail — include varying set-up processes and renter benefits.

• Retail Wi-Fi enables residents to individually select and change providers and service levels, though the price point is typically higher and requires a modem and cable connec-