Moving Mayhem: WiFi is the top priority for Brits when moving house

• Nearly half of Brits (45%) prioritise getting their WiFi set up before anything else, beating tasks such as cleaning or even unpacking (6%). 

• Despite it being the most urgent item to arrange when moving, half of Brits (50%) admit they aren’t sure where to place their WiFi router to ensure the best coverage. 

• Connectivity expert, Gareth Lister, from Virgin Media O2 shares his top tips to help home movers get the best out of their broadband when setting up a new home.  

With thousands of people having rushed to move home in time for April’s stamp duty deadline (1st April), and April being a popular move-in month, new homeowners all over the country will be dealing with the extra baggage that comes with settling into a new property. According to Virgin Media O2’s latest research, nearly half of Brits (45%) prioritise getting their WiFi set up over anything else.   

In stark comparison, only 1% of Brits see buying furniture as a priority, with unpacking and redirecting mail also falling to the bottom of the moving to-do list for everybody but 3% and 4% of the population respectively.  

While home movers deem WiFi the top priority for their new home, even when it is connected, half of Brits (50%) face WiFi woes as they aren’t sure where to put their router to ensure their whole home is covered. A further 55% don’t know the difference between WiFi signal, WiFi strength and WiFi speed – all things which the Virgin Media Connect App can help to make clear, as well as testing and managing WiFi performance.   

The research also indicates that finding the best deal is a worry amongst Brits, as 7 in 10 (71%) find it confusing to know which package offers the best value for money with so many options available.   

To help ease the move-in experience for hundreds of thousands of Brits, Gareth Lister, Director of Connectivity at Virgin Media O2, has shared his top tips for ensuring a seamless WiFi set-up process and how to boost connectivity across the home.  

Prior to the big move: 

• The masterplan: If possible, start the process of arranging your broadband early, preferably a month before moving in. This allows ample time to research and compare the best deals, as well as ensuring the WiFi is set up for moving day. New customers joining Virgin Media can schedule installation up to 60 days before moving, ticking one important task off their list.  

• One touch is all it takes: One Touch Switch is designed to make it easier to check if your current provider is right for you, and to help you seamlessly make the switch if it’s not. Your new provider will handle the switching process, making it easy to quickly change broadband providers without unnecessary stress. 

• Money talks: If you are part of the 25% that rely on recommendations to choose a broadband provider, check to see if there’s a referral bonus you can get your hands on when switching. With Virgin Media, customers can get a handy £50 bill credit if they’re referred via a friend or family member. See here for further details.

Once you’re into your new home: 

• Switchin’ them positions for you: Work out the best place to position your WiFi Hub, avoiding it being tucked away in an enclosed space like a cupboard or under the stairs. Instead, place it up high and in a central location of your home to allow the signal to spread freely. Always ensure your Hub is standing upright with the front lights facing into the room; this orientation helps the signal project outwards around your home. 

• Kids: Check to see if your broadband supplier has built in parental controls. Virgin Media’s Essential Security works with the cloud and cybersecurity company, Akamai, to stop kids from accessing content they shouldn’t. The service at no extra cost allows you to set timers during certain hours of the day or choose specific website categories to block altogether – including topics like drugs, crime and any others you consider inappropriate for your children.  

• Brick by Boring Brick: Homes that were built before the 1930s often have solid brick walls which can make it difficult for WiFi connectivity to spread freely around the home. Check what broadband speed you’re getting via the Virgin Media Connect App, and if your speed is sluggish, WiFi Pods are a great way of helping to give the connection a helping hand. Virgin Media’s market leading WiFi guarantee also provides customers with access to up to three WiFi Pods to place around the home if required, which is free of charge for customers who also have an O2 SIM in their household. 

To unlock the best deals, consumers can use the postcode checker on the Virgin Media website to see which deals (broadband only, broadband & TV, or Volt bundles) are available in their area.