From a Ragtag Vision to a Fully Connected Community, Multifamily Internet Powered by SupraNet
Overview
Ragtag Ventures, a Madison-based property development company, builds multifamily properties that combine creativity, quality and enduring value. In Ragtag Ventures’ asset class, residents expect the Internet to be included. It’s no longer seen as a premium amenity, but a basic utility.
The Multifamily Internet Challenge
When Ragtag Ventures opened The Juniper (169 luxury units in Fitchburg, WI) the challenge was to go beyond offering basic Internet service. They want to make every experience as effortless as possible for tenants.
Ragtag wanted an Internet solution that:
- Removed setup hassles (moving is stressful enough)
- Delivered fast and reliable performance (we work and play on the Internet all day, most days)
- Treated their residents like neighbors (SupraNet employees work and live in the Madison area too)
Chase Zimmerman, Co-Founder & Associate of Ragtag Ventures, puts it this way:
“We wanted the easiest experience possible for residents. Instead of each tenant having to go through the hassle of setting up service, we offer a robust package that’s ready to go.”
The SupraNet Solution
Fiber Internet and Easy Connections to Every Unit
With a bulk model from SupraNet, each unit in the Juniper has a fiber Internet connection and a built-in media panel. We provide instructions to the property management teams to give to their new tenants. All the tenants need to do is purchase a router, find the media panel in the apartment (we’ve provided where they are located in the instructions) and connect their router. We also provide instructions on how to connect other Ethernet Jacks located throughout the apartment. It’s that easy.
“Most of the time, there aren’t even questions. Residents plug in their router, choose a speed, and they’re good to go,” said Chase.
Call and a Human Answers
If there ever is a problem, our customer service operations are above and beyond big ISPs. When you or a tenant calls, they do not start with a frustrating phone tree. A human answers the phone and they troubleshoot the problem with the tenant, immediately.
The Bonus: Profit
When you choose bulk Internet service, you and your tenant benefit from bulk pricing. They will be paying significantly less than what they would if they were purchasing Internet on their own
even if you charge a little bit more than what we charge you.
You can also make upgrades an option. We work with you to set the right price and provide the communications support to get to the profit you hope to make.
Here’s an example we used to show how you can earn over $100K for your NOI in 5 years with our bulk model.
These are example prices.
Let’s say you have a 150 Unit building. You charge each tenant $12 more for the Internet than your cost.
You will earn over 20K in one year and $108,000 in 5 years.
From our experience, 30% of tenants will want upgrades. In this example, we used $12 for the upgrade. In real life, Upgrades will be priced based on our flexible contracts and what the profit you want to make.
With 30% of tenants selecting an upgrade option that you charge $12 more than the cost of the upgrade, you profit over $150,000!
The best part is, you don’t do anything except light communication with our local staff. It’s truly passive income. Any and all technical issues come directly to SupraNet and we trouble shoot with your tenants directly.
Now that we’ve convinced you that bulk is the way to go, let’s take a look at what sets SupraNet apart from other ISPs.
Why SupraNet is Better for Bulk
You’re one of several multifamily projects, not one of several thousands
SurpaNet and Ragtag Founder Ned Hoyt, have worked together on multiple development projects. So, choosing SupraNet for The Juniper was easy. After trying to negotiate bulk models with other, larger ISPs for earlier projects, they felt they just were not big enough to have real negotiation power that resulted in a number that would work for them. Because they were sort of a small fish in an ocean of 5.2 million apartment communities across the country, the big guys could just walk away.
Like SupraNet, Ragtag is locally owned and values strong community ties. Because SupraNet is smaller, all of our clients mean a lot to us, and our hard work shows it.
“There was no hesitation. We like supporting local companies. I’ve heard of people worrying that smaller companies wouldn’t have the infrastructure or workforce to support a large project. We’ve never felt like SupraNet didn’t have enough hands to do the work. Honestly, you’re probably chasing us more [for answers, updates, etc.] than the other way around.” -Chase Zimmerman
You get responsive, transparent communication with SupraNet
One of SupraNet’s five core values is transparency. With SupraNet, we connect quickly. You can call Brad if you have a question, or email our team of local technicians. We acknowledge your questions and are not afraid to say “I don’t know, but we’re working on it.” For Chase, that’s not a bad thing.
“I think my favorite part is that they always acknowledge emails, even if the answer isn’t ready. As a developer, uncertainty is the worst. Just knowing that someone at SupraNet is working on it makes all the difference.”
Large internet providers often failed to provide fast responses or personalized support, making them feel distant in contrast.
We are the only local bulk option with our own fiber network
We own, operate and monitor our fiber network. Other local providers purchase bandwidth from other service providers (including us sometimes). It’s up to that provider if they want to keep that “renter” connected. They can raise the price or cut them off, making you scramble for another provider.
The construction phase is easy for you and your team
Rolling out the bulk internet solution at The Juniper was smooth from design through construction. SupraNet collaborated closely with Ragtag’s construction and technical teams to ensure the infrastructure was thoughtfully designed and built to withstand evolving technological advancements, supporting Ragtag’s vision of creating enduring value for their properties. “From the construction side, it was pretty easy. SupraNet was always on top of it,” recalls Zimmeran.
Earn even more on speed upgrades
When you offer speed upgrades, we work with you on terms that help you earn more revenue for your business. Because we are small, nimble, and innovative, we can work with you to find the model that fits your goals. We can advise on upgrade charges based on our competitive analyses and support you with branded communications you can print or send out digitally to your residents.
“Around 30% [of Ragtag’s tenants] choose to upgrade—many subsidized by their employers.”
- For Ragtag, their upgrading process looks like this:
- Tenant notifies the property management company of what speed they want.
- Property management company notifies Ragtag and SupraNet.
- Ragtag adds the upgrade charge to the rent and SupraNet bills Ragtag
It’s that easy for you to make extra money with our service.
SupraNet: Where Connectivity Meets Community
With SupraNet’s bulk Internet Ragtag Ventures delivers more than connectivity to their community. They deliver convenience and peace-of-mind. Tenants enjoy instant, reliable service at a lower cost, while Ragtag earns consistent revenue and a committed partner who shows up. For both companies, it’s a win-win partnership rooted in local support, responsive communication, and a shared commitment to going above and beyond.
If you’re interested in SupraNet multifamily Internet, email Vince, our Technical Sales Director.
