Picking a cable service for home is not that tough of a task if you do it step by step. Looking thoroughly into details of the plans so you won’t get surprised by the things later like your promotional discount expiring, contractual agreements, or your provider offering bundle after another bundle.
Research all the options available
Even though cable providers are widely available across the US and chances are that you can find at least one cable service provider in your area, it’s still better to start with searching according to availability.
Search for cable companies near me and put the zip code of your location in the website’s search bar. You’ll get several cable providers that are actively available in our area. Once you know your options, dig a little more. Ask friends and family, or your neighbors what service providers they have and how is their experience with them so far.
Ask them questions that could let you know more about the service. Like how often does the service go out? How quickly does the provider get the issue resolved? How has their experience with customer service been?
Pick your must-haves (channel lineup)
Often cable service plans come with a wide channel lineup out of which an average person usually watches 20 or 30 channels maximum. Rest are only a bunch of channels they are paying for but not getting any help from.
So you should pick your must-haves before getting a service. List down all the channels that you want to include in your channel lineup. Then look for providers that have similar channels as your wish included in their plans.
For instance, if you’re a sports lover you must seek out cable service providers that offer a nice range of sports channels. This way you do not have to pay the extra money per month for channels as they’ll already be included in your package.
Consider bundling options
If the cable service provider you’re opting for offers a bundle option, which usually most the providers do now, then you should seriously consider it. Bundling your cable TV with internet services from the same provider can save you up a lot of money.
Apart from money bundling options are easy and convenient to pay bills for as both the services are coming from the same provider. Even in case of any technical or networking issue, you’ve one-stop customer service to call for all your problems and get help.
Before getting a bundle option consider what internet speeds do you want, what are the add ons, and are there any layers of complexity attached to bundling packages offered by your provider or not.
Look for the cheapest cable plans
Cable service plans can be expensive. With all the hidden charges they come from you might get a shock once your promotional discount ends and you face a price hike. So always start with comparing different cable plans and pick the one that goes well with your budget.
Look for deals and promo rates. Cable companies often offer sweet discounts to their new customers as a welcoming gesture. But the promo rates do expire after a few months so keep a track of time so you don’t get a surprise when your bill comes with extra charges on it.
Read the provider reviews
Reading reviews before signing up for a cable provider can tell you about their strengths and weaknesses. Reviews will also tell how efficient their customer support service is. Important factors to pay attention to while reading reviews can be prices, installation, and equipment details.
We suggest looking into the reviews because they can tell you about people’s actual experiences with the cable service provider. Once you are done reading them you’ll have an idea of what to expect from a service and how well it will live up to your standards.
Negotiate prices with your provider
Negotiating price with your service provider can be considered as an option as not all services offer rigid plans. You can talk to the provider and haggle a little about prices and plans. Cut down on cable costs and extra services that are included in the plan and are of no use for you.
Tell your provider that you won’t mind going for another service if you get your desired plans from here. This might give them a bit and get them ready to negotiate on a good deal with you.
Wrapping it up
You cannot just choose a cable provider for your home without looking into the details of plans and prices. Always do your research first. Don’t rush to sign up for any other service someone recommends you without knowing the features of it and considering your budget.
Look for contractual agreements and avoid them as they are a big red flag. You don’t want to get stuck with a service for a long time even if you change your mind about it. On top of it, you won’t even want to pay extra for early termination fees. So look deeply and make a sensible choice.
