Advice please: landline necessary now?

Question

I'm in the middle of an owner occupied flip DIY style as much as possible. It's my 1st so I'm trying to learn.

It's a Post war Cape  In a B class   Neighborhood.

My question is do I need to have land lines and phone jacks in this day and age? The last post I could find on the subject was from 2014 so I wondered if people's opinions had changed?

Mindy Jensen · Answer

My aunt has a pacemaker and needs to use the landline to call in and give her device reading every two weeks. (Apologies to the docs if I butchered that). Expensive to reinstall later, I'd keep them if they're already there.

Carlos Tavares · Answer

@Rebecca England

In this day and age they are still used and it’s a very inexpensive add on I would install them anyhow

Tim Delaney · Answer

If the wires are all there and functioning and you can mark where the jacks would be (photo of the room with an x) saved in a file then you may as well leave the wiring just in case a potential buyer wants them.

Internet wiring if it is there could be beneficial to place boosters and or allow people to wire in smart tv's or whatever fun devices they come out with in the next decade. You also need the one coming into the house for the primary modem/router at least.

John Corey · Answer

I doubt it is as crazy as you expect. The 4 wire is for data connection and can be used for voice

Unless the extra work of removing them is money you can afford to spend, what is the downside of leaving any that work? The people who run the electric are likely to have the tools to run a quick test. If you do remove them, you can leave the wires in the walls and patch over the socket opening. The lines have no power running through them when they are not connected.

Rebecca E. · Answer

@Tim Delaney

Thanks! I have the one coming into the house.  It's amusing and scary when you see what people do when they DIY stuff they really d ok not understand.  Know your limitations! Motto I live  by 🙂

Rebecca E. · Answer

@Tim Delaney

Thanks all! Reason I'm concerned is that the previous owner did all sorts of creative wiring of both phone lines and electrical.  I'm getting a professional to sort out the electrical (out of my class) but the phone lines?  We've got 2-4 jacks per room, some going back to the 4 prong phone jacks!? Crazy.  I just want to pull them.

Do I need wires for internet if I have a wireless router?

Tim Delaney · Answer

I wouldn't bother. Many people that still use "landlines" are actually using the cable phones provided by their internet/cable provider and are different than old school landline.

Mike Cumbie · Answer

I haven't had one since the 90's. I can also say that I haven't had a client that noticed it at the showing and it became a "topic of concern". So I would say if you are removing it that's fine. If it is an issue it can always be negotiated in the contract or they can add after closing but I wouldn't waste the time or expense on it myself.

Good Luck

Theresa Harris · Answer

Given the age of the home, everything is probably set up for a landline, so I'd keep it.  I know a lot of people who still rely on landlines.

Advice please: landline necessary now?

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