While it is no secret that residents are attracted to apartment complexes that offer in-unit laundry, it is also true that in-unit washer and dryers are more expensive to install and operate.  While in-unit machines are great for washing clothes, residents want and need access to washers and dryers that can handle the cleaning of blankets, comforters, and other oversized items.  Given the time, expense, and space considerations of in-unit laundries, renovating your community laundry room may be a more cost effective and desirable option - for you and your tenants.

The major objection to community laundry rooms is the perception that they're cramped, dirty, noisy, and generally unfriendly places where residents don't want to spend their time or money doing laundry.  Generally speaking, that perception is not far from the truth.  But today property owners are finding that by updating their community laundry room to provide an open, clean, convenient, affordable, and livable space, their residents are as happy or happier than those with in-unit laundries.  An independent nationwide study concluded that when residents are given the option of a modern laundry room, most would not pay more rent to live in an apartment unit with laundry connections, or even a unit with a washer and dryer provided.  The modern community laundry room is designed to feel like an extension of the living area, where residents feel comfortable waiting for their washloads to finish with wi-fi access, granite folding counters, sofas, chairs, tables, and flat screen televisions.

When properly designed, equipped, and managed; community laundry rooms actually benefit both the owner and residents: 

• Owner
  • Decrease utility and energy costs
    • Save on wiring, plumbing, water damage, and overall utility and maintenance costs
  • Enhance the profitability of your multi-housing investment
    
    • Not only do community laundry rooms save money, but they also can generate additional income through vending and other services
    • Save on wiring, plumbing, water damage, and overall utility and maintenance costs
  • Reduce maintenance headaches
    • With WSD's Ultimate Laundry Solution, management can focus on the property and its residents, not the laundry
  • Improve resident satisfaction
    
    • Lower turnover and vacancy rates from happier tenants
    • Contribute to a "green" planet
• Residents
  • Decrease utility and energy costs
    • Save on the cost of utilities, as well as the washer & dryer if only hook-ups are supplied
  • Reduce the time spent doing laundry
    • Save time by having the ability to do more than one load at a time and better extracting machines (faster dry time)
  • Enhance resident sense of community
    
    • More socially involved with their neighbors in a comfortable, relaxed setting
    • Contribute to a "green" planet
  • Improve resident satisfaction
    • More space within their unit as washer/dryer space can be utilized for living and/or storage
    • Ability to relax and socialize in a clean, convenient, livable community laundry area

Additionally, a modern community laundry room can make everyone feel good about helping to protect our environment.  The US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development estimates that apartment complexes can reduce water consumption by up to 330% and reduce energy usage by up to 200%:

• Water
  • Residents with in-unit washer and dryers do many more, smaller and less- efficient loads
  • On average, an apartment with an in-unit washer wastes approximately 8,500 gallons per year on laundry - that adds up to over one million gallons of water per year for the typical apartment complex
• Energy
  • Laundry hot water consumes the most energy and in-unit washing machines generally use an electric water heater while most community facilities usegas water heaters - gas is more efficient than electric
  • The same is true with dryers - 96% of in-unit dryers are electric, compared to only 36% of community facility dryers

So, just about any way you look at it - financially, socially, environmentally, or overall resident satisfaction - community laundry rooms are the sensible answer.  The WSD team of laundry experts can help redesign and requip your laundry room today.

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