How vital is internet access?

Inspired in part by this post at the Center for Realtor Technology (archived: 2011) comes this week’s (probably month’s) poll – How Important is Internet Access in your next home?

99% of my clients deem internet access to be an absolute, non-negotiable necessity, on par with needing three bedrooms and two baths, or needing to be within 20 minutes of the UVA Hospital (archived: 2013) because that is what the residency requirements state (Match Day is approaching!) In the area surrounding Charlottesville and beyond the Urban Ring of Albemarle, one cannot safely assume that high speed internet access is ubiquitous – this is often very surprising to those relocating to the area.

One would think that the MLS would offer this as a field by which we could limit our searches, but alas, not yet. For now, if a home has cable, assuming (and then verifying) that it has broadband access is safe. Calling the local phone company (archived: 2008) to see about DSL is another step, but often they aren’t 100% certain as to where their service extends. I have not yet had a client use Wild Blue (no longer available) satellite service, so I cannot vouch for that service. So … how important is internet access to your home search?