A laundry community laundry room is a competitive feature in a multi-unit housing complex. Your residents will appreciate the convenience of having reliable laundry machines in the building. Plus, the laundry machines will create a new revenue stream. As you plan and implement your community laundry facility, you should try to run a cost-effective operation to maximize profits.
Saving money while running a community laundry room requires effort at every stage of the process, from before you acquire your equipment to the end of its life cycle. Securing the best deals and maintaining peak efficiency will maximize the value you receive from your laundry machines.
These nine money-saving laundry tips can help you minimize losses and boost your revenue generation.
Washers and dryers accumulate dirt, hard water deposits, mold, excess detergent and other materials over time. You should clean your laundry machines regularly to prevent inefficiency and potential breakdowns.
Clear floor spaces allow residents and staff to move through the laundry room with ease. Clutter opens the possibility of mishaps and damage while making the area seem dirty, which can cause you to lose revenue.
Here are some examples of organizational strategies you could use:
Laundry equipment stays healthier for longer with proper use. Posting instructional signs near the machines will preserve your equipment and investment.
Key information to include on these signs include:
Correct use also extends to any consumables you provide for your residents, such as detergent, softener and dryer sheets.
Noticing a small issue can prevent it from worsening. Conduct monthly inspections to get ahead of potential repair and replacement needs.
If you or your staff lack experience working with laundry machines, it’s best to call on a professional to inspect and maintain them for you. An expert knows what to look out for, and they can resolve the issue faster and more effectively than someone reading off a manual.
Additionally, stick with maintenance technicians who are associated with the company you bought your machines from, as they’re often specially trained on specific machines and brands.
Your residents are the ones who use the laundry machines the most. Open and advertise lines of communication such as a phone number, email address or application where residents can report issues.
Make sure you place legible signage throughout your laundry room to ensure all residents can understand how to contact the proper groups. It can also help to put a sign or two outside the room to improve visibility.
Laundry equipment loses efficiency as it ages. Replace your laundry machines every few years so that the equipment in your room runs at peak efficiency. The manufacturer may provide a recommended life cycle.
It’s also smart to select machines with energy-efficient ratings from trustworthy organizations like Energy Star. Because these machines use less energy to run each load, they can significantly lower your utility bills over time.
You may be wondering where you can buy a cheap washing machine — or several — but leasing may be a better fit for budget-conscious building owners.
You can control initial expenses and expedite the time to profit by leasing laundry equipment. With a lease, you’ll pay a monthly fee without the significant upfront cost of purchasing washers and dryers.
You’ll also save time and money by leasing from a provider who offers comprehensive support for those machines. For example, a provider who performs regular preventive maintenance for you means you don’t have to spend the time doing it yourself. Plus, you can reduce the risk of costly repairs by having an expert check your equipment regularly.
Purchasing your equipment can be beneficial if the deal is right. Your business can get the most value by purchasing laundry machines in bulk at a wholesale rate.
You can often work with a machine leasing provider to design a large-scale solution that meets your building’s unique requirements. They can help you find the equipment you need for your entire laundry room, and they may offer a special rate for buying a specific number of machines at once.
Accepting cash and collecting coins can be far less convenient than installing more modern options. Card-operated machines are useful tools for ensuring you receive the most value for every cycle your residents run.
You can also install digital laundry machines that connect to an app for streamlined, simple payment and operation.
Caldwell & Gregory laundry equipment can help you run a cost-effective community laundry room. We offer energy-efficient machines from trusted brands like Maytag and Speed Queen that run efficiently and reliably during their life cycle, keeping the cost of maintenance, utilities and consumable resources at manageable levels.
We also prioritize your needs to help you drive revenue — when you work with us, there are no hidden fees or unexplained contracts. You can trust that we will deliver the commercial laundry equipment, and services to that equipment when we say we will, at the agreed-upon costs.
Contact us today to learn more about how to save money with us and get a quote for your multi-housing laundry room equipment!