4 Tips for Successfully Upgrading Your Multi-Housing Laundry Room

When was the last time you took a good, hard look at the shared laundry room in the rental property you own/manage? If it’s been a while, it might be time to take a peek. Many of the communal laundry areas in apartment complexes and condos are less than desirable. They’re often dirty, run-down, and treated like an after-thought rather than a key part of the building and an extension of your tenants’ rental units. If that sounds like your property, it may be time for an upgrade...

1. Add more washers and dryers. 

Patience is a virtue, but there’s really nothing more frustrating to tenants than always having to wait for access to a washer or dryer due to high demand. Those wait times are only exacerbated when the laundry equipment needs maintenance or tenants have to wait for their neighbors to empty their clothes from the dryer.   

To reduce wait times and provide a more seamless laundry experience to your residents, considering adding more washers and dryers to the shared laundry area in your residential building. Stacked washer and dryer units can be a great option when space is limited. 

2. Invest in technology and efficiency: card payment systems and more 

Laundry equipment has come a long way. Advanced technology improves convenience and saves both you and your residents money. 

For example, technology is available that allow your tenants to integrate with their smartphone to make payments, submit requests and receive alerts that minimize wait times and other inconveniences.

Since most people don't have cash/coins on hand anymore, Spyderwash and other card payment systems we offer are another great option. They allow residents to conveniently pay with a credit/debit card and minimize coin collection for you. 

While you’re upgrading the space, consider other laundry room technology that residents would appreciate as well. Security cameras to improve laundry room safety, WiFi in the laundry room and other common areas of the building, and energy-efficient lighting are all great options. As COVID-19 remains a concern, consider installing air purifiers and other cleaning and sanitation technology. 

Overall, technology can help improve satisfaction, thus reducing complaints and tenant turnover. Plus, it can be a huge selling point when trying to market vacant units and makes maintaining your laundry room even easier.

3. Make the laundry room feel like home. 

Never forget that the laundry area in your apartment complex is an extension of your tenant’s personal living space. With that in mind, go above and beyond to make it an inviting, usable space. 

First, consider adding some features that you might find in a typical home laundry room, such as a utility sink, folding tables, and maybe even a drying rack. These come in handy since space for hand-washing and folding is often limited in small units. Along the same lines, consider the overall flow of the space and rearrange to reduce congestion and improve movement during peak times. 

After that, consider the aesthetics of the space. A fresh coat of paint, some artwork, florals and greenery, and even some furniture can help make the community area more attractive to both existing and potential renters. 

4. Work with a trusted equipment distributor. 

Last, but certainly not least, find a trusted commercial laundry equipment distributor before moving ahead with any type of upgrade to your multi-housing laundry room. These laundry experts help ensure success no matter what type of facility or equipment update you might be considering. From picking the right equipment to designing a functional layout, financing, and ongoing maintenance, a good distributor is by your side every step of the way. 

Martin-Ray Laundry Systems has been finding laundry solutions for apartments, condos, and other multi-housing facilities throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, west Texas, and western Nebraska since the 1980s. If you’re looking for a great distributor to help upgrade your shared laundry area, we’d love to help.