Well-Wired Home Most Important Amenity For Younger Americans.

Despite a struggling economy, home ownership in America is at an historic high, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Interest rates, currently at a 41-year low, are helping keep housing affordable for new buyers in 2003, and that’s good news for the millions of consumers searching for their dream homes this spring. When thinking about a move to a new house or apartment, American generations are divided on the notion of “home sweet home.”

According to a national consumer survey conducted for the SBC family of companies, 42 percent of younger Americans, aged 18-24, said a well-wired home with plenty of telephone jacks and electrical outlets was the most important amenity when choosing a home; one in 10 younger Americans selected high-speed Internet access availability as their top feature, when offered a choice that also included walk-in closets, a fireplace, and a gourmet kitchen. By contrast, 27 percent of older Americans, aged 55-64, selected either a well- wired home or walk-in closets as their most desirable trait. A gourmet kitchen, chosen by 25 percent of poll respondents, and a fireplace, picked by 12 percent, ranked above broadband availability for this older generation. Moving ranks as the third most stressful life event,* and considering the exhaustive preparation and coordination required to make a seamless transition, it’s no surprise Americans of all ages bear big worries when planning a move.

“Besides packing, setting up telephone service for a new home and staying in touch with family, friends and employers during a move are top concerns for Americans, indicating that communication is truly our lifeline,” said Jeff Urbanek, executive director, SBC consumer marketing. When asked what they worry about most, Americans provided the following answers:

In spite of the plethora of communication technologies available today, a surprising nine percent of Americans say they completely lose touch and become unreachable during a move.

Once arriving in their new location, Americans long to quickly reconnect with the world, and the telephone is the top means to do so.

More than half of the 43 million moves each year take place between May and Labor Day, according to the U.S. Census. When tasked with arranging a move, Americans vary on their moving styles: 36 percent of Americans surveyed describe themselves as organizers and planners, while 11 percent admit they tend to be procrastinators. Eight percent say they delegate all the work to others. No matter how you describe yourself, here are tips this moving season for every type of mover:

* Remain Reachable. To minimize worries about staying in touch with friends, family and employers during a move, consider using a wireless phone, voice mail or services such as Call Forwarding. A long distance calling card can also be handy for important calls from the road.

* Ensure Connections will be Ready. When setting up communications services for your new home, inquire if you can keep your same phone number. If not, ask if your communications provider can re-direct your phone calls with a pre-recorded message, known as Intercept Number Referral Service.

* Consider Your Communications Options. Prior to your move, find out what local communications providers serve your area and what services they offer. When shopping for providers, inquire about the latest packages available, which may include offerings such as local and long distance service** (where available), satellite TV programming, DSL or dial-up Internet access, and wireless service for a substantial savings, through a single point of contact.

* Surf the Web to Plan your Move. An Internet connection can be an essential moving planning tool, helping you find great resources to organize your relocation. A high-speed DSL Internet connection can quicken the planning process, from searching for a home and finding a mover, to researching crime statistics in your new neighborhood.

* Order Online to Save Time. Visit utility provider Web sites to see which service orders can be placed online for time savings and convenience. For example, consumers can place new SBC residential phone service orders through the company’s eNew Connects tool, available day and night, seven days a week.

*source: Monstermoving.com
**As of 4/23/03, SBC Long Distance available in California, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri. SNET America long distance service available in Connecticut.