Laundry Machine Rentals

[Anna Andreyeva]

I am looking for recommendations from small property owners (I have a 4-plex) on what to do about laundry washer/dryer. I am currently leasing from WASH Laundry and they collect for me and send a check. In general, I was content with them. However, we have had some break-ins/theft from the laundry room and getting WASH to help (upgrade machines to mobile app, etc.) is proving to be difficult (and their customer service for a small client like me is crappy)

So, 1) If you rent your machines - can you recommend the company? 2) If you own your own, what type? Do you maintain them or do you hire a service? (if so, which one and how much do they charge?) Do you do coins or a mobile app for payments (if app, which and how much do they take?) 

Any other tips or suggestions are welcome! 

Thank you in advance!

[Joseph Firmin]

I am intersted in this as well... following. I second the question on mobile-enabled or wifi connected machines. Has anyone done the analysis on buy/rent for machines that they can share? 

[Chuy Gonzalez]

I have WASH. I always wonder how i can tell if they aren't shortchanging me on the rent. they put the mobile app machinesin a few months ago...I am not sure if the extra water usage justifies the tiny ammount of $$$ i get from WASH. I keep toying with the idea of just getting rid of them.

[Ray R.]

WASH is huge, but getting out of contracts is a nightmare from what I have read. And unless you are signing a new contract, getting upgrades is not something they are likely to do. All rental places are very bottom line orientated. Owning your own machine may be an option. Wash has been doing a roll up in the industry, buying a lot of smaller players along with their contracts.

For your laundry room, if you have not already, I would add video cameras, motion sensor light switch, possible a pin lock on the door that tenants can enter, and lots of warning video signs to deter break ins.

Credit Card / Wifi all have a cost, vs. coin operated. Their are percentages charged, plus the cost of Internet, not to mention security. Pro's and Cons.

[Mal Vin]

How many machines are you leasing now? Is it feasible to buy and manage your own machines?

[Patrick M.]

I can speak to owning. We bought our 1st set of speed queens a couple years ago. As for service- I have not dealt with that yet, they have been running like tops... they are the Sherman tank of laundry units in my book. We just bought a 2nd set and the salesman tried to put us on to whirlpool, no thanks.

We have seen a steady increase in use, even more during the pandemic. It is a wonderful offset to the high water rates in town. We have a nice clean laundry room behind a locked door and I am not at all concerned with theft.

I must say that I could never fully subscribe to the whole cost/profit idea. I think of them more as water heaters. When we took out the in-unit stackables upon renovation (and I saw the filth and lint that could have easily burned down the building) we wanted to provide an alternative. 

So have I made my money back on them- In my mind, yes. The laundry room is marketable for renting and the cash is gravy. Because of a variety of measures we have taken, we are using less water now then when I took over the building.

I just had the nerve to install a bill changer that I got on craigslist... Keep you posted on that one!

[Leslie G Bradley]

@PatrickM Can you share where you sourced your SpeedQueens from? 

I am also searching options for a locked laundry room solution that is keyless for a 34 unit building. Anyone have success with a particular door handle that is keyless to a common area (needs to be non-wifi)?

[Ray R.]

I just installed Kaba Simplex Locks on 2 of our laundry rooms. A bit of headache and pricey to get installed, but they are really nice! No key required.

Speed queen is bullet proof, but you can buy the same guts with a different name at a lower price. I suggest get a deeper tub...  Alliance Laundry is the parent company, and they sell several brand names under them.

Steve Ryan of So Cal Laundry was who provided our washer and dryers.