For property managers, the laundry room might seem like a minor amenity. But overlooking it could be costing you more than you think. Outdated laundry facilities can increase operational expenses, lower tenant retention, and even diminish property value. Modern laundry room design is more than just general aesthetics; it’s about optimizing efficiency, sustainability, and resident satisfaction. In this blog post, we will break down three common issues regarding room design and maintenance and provide helpful solutions to apply to your properties.

1. Higher Maintenance and Energy Costs

Outdated equipment often means frequent breakdowns and ongoing repairs. Not only is this frustrating for residents, but the cumulative costs add up quickly. According to a study from the National Apartment Association, preventive maintenance can drastically reduce costs for more destructive maintenance in the future. If you decide not to plan ahead, you’re potentially losing out on thousands of dollars. 

If your machines are outdated or energy-inefficient, this could also prove detrimental to your bottom line, as your electricity costs could be much higher than they should be. On our blog, we detail that energy-saving machinery can help your properties in the long run via energy costs. Changing machines can reduce your energy usage by up to 20 percent.

2. Lower Resident Satisfaction and Retention

Today’s renters expect modern amenities. Laundry facilities that are cramped, dimly lit, or lack digital payment options can quickly sour a resident’s impression. In competitive rental markets, poor laundry experiences are enough to send tenants packing, especially younger renters who value convenience and technology. According to a study by NMHC/Kingsley Associates, renters highly value up-to-date machines for their laundry, whether in-unit or out. A poorly designed or outdated laundry room could mean missed lease renewals.

We have an article that can assist you with laundry room design ideas. This will help you identify aspects of your laundry space that make your residents unhappy. This will also assist you in understanding amenities that might be worth investing in for your laundry spaces. Things like color scheme, counter space, and other general design features can make a space feel more welcoming and comfortable.

3. Inefficient Layouts and Wasted Space

A neglected laundry room design often features inefficient layouts that waste square footage and create resident bottlenecks. This isn’t just a problem for your residents and their satisfaction, but it can also potentially lower your revenues, as fewer residents will be able to use the laundry room and run laundry cycles. 

Properly designed spaces allow for more washers and dryers, better traffic flow, and comfortable waiting or folding areas. Optimizing space not only enhances resident experience, but it can also improve throughput and reduce wait times. Planet Laundry recommends these changes in an article. We also suggest that you optimize your space, specifically for the market value of your property, as well as streamlining future maintenance services. 

Optimizing Your Laundry Room Design

Here are three major measures that you can use to optimize your properties and improve your bottom line. These solutions are easy to implement and are an investment in the future of your properties.

1. Reduce Utility Costs with Energy-Efficient Machines

Newer machines are designed to minimize water and energy use. Speed Queen® machines range from ones that are more efficient and utilitarian to those that are better suited for saving energy and electricity costs. Automatic Laundry can offer assistance in choosing a machine that works best for you and your residents. 

2. Boost Resident Experience with Smart Features

Modern laundry systems offer mobile app integration, text notifications, contactless payments, and machine availability tracking. These features reduce frustrations and eliminate the need for quarters or laundry cards. Smart features like these help residents complete their laundry quicker, plan out their schedules more efficiently, and provide many easy payment options to make laundry day simpler. Automatic Laundry provides LaundryConnect™ technology that helps with machine tracking, as well as improving your maintenance tracking. 

3. Optimize Your Layout

We’ve covered how an improperly laid-out room will hinder your residents, but we’ll also share the tools to help you fix it. A well-optimized layout takes all of these issues into account. Start by analyzing how residents move through the space—where they enter, wait, fold, and leave. Adding benches, folding tables, clear signage, and even visual cues on walls and floors can improve usability dramatically. Simple changes like widening aisles, increasing machine spacing, or reconfiguring entrances can go a long way in creating a more pleasant and functional environment. An article on Planet Laundry details more ways you can plan efficiently, using expert-backed advice.

Conclusion

An outdated laundry room is more than just an inconvenience—it’s a liability. From mounting maintenance costs to decreased tenant satisfaction, ignoring your laundry facility could be draining your profits. But with modern laundry room design, smart technology, and efficient machines, you can turn a problem area into a property asset. Contact Automatic Laundry today to schedule a consultation and see how you can transform your laundry rooms into high-performing amenities your residents will appreciate.