With HOA dues, property taxes, and insurance costs increasing, many homeowners are looking for a way to reduce their monthly expenses anyway possible. One of the first things they consider is removing their phone.
Generally a phone service will have an initial setup cost, plus a fee around $25-$35 monthly. If you do install a phone, make sure you place a long distance block on it to protect yourself from additional phone charges.
Be sure to check with a variety of service providers for their rates and services, some may supply you with the ability “sleep” your service during the slower season or winter months with no reconnect fees. Feel free to contact me for a list of local utility companies.
Another thing to consider is the fact that almost everyone has a mobile phone. Cell phone coverage now reaches almost all areas along the Grand Strand, only a few of the larger concrete high-rise resorts cause some signal difficulty with certain mobile networks.
You should also consider the liability issues of not having a phone in your unit. I recommend you contact your insurance carrier and discuss your responsibilities as an owner in the event of an accident or emergency to your guest.
During the slow season retirees and snowbirds flock to the Grand Strand. Historically winter rental guests have preferred properties with phones.
I have covered most of facts you should consider when deciding on a phone in your unit. If you choose for your unit to not have a phone, I seriously doubt it will cause a significant decrease in your reservations. Let me conclude by saying that having internet access is far more important than a phone. Providing free wireless internet, in my opinion will increase your occupancy.
