All Forum Posts by: Cassandra Vickers

@Andrew Dincola

I include utilities in rent and charge 1.5x for couples.

@Nathan Gesner

This link is 2 dryers stacked. Not a washer and dryer stacked. Fortunately, I don’t need 2 dryers, so this won’t work for me.

@Mario Morales

It’s a 2-family property. I live in one unit and the other has the 5 tenants. There’s no place to have a common laundry, so my only option is in unit. How many people are using your washer to make $150/month?!

@Nathan Gesner

These ones are not able to accept payment. Once you get into that category, prices jump. See this example: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Crossover-Commercial-Laundry-7-cu-ft-Grey-Stacked-Gas-Dryer-Coin-Operated-GAS-DRYER-DRYER-STACK/313658700?g_store=&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&&mtc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D29A-029_008_LAUNDRY-NA-Multi-NA-SMART-4038230-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-MajorAppl_Laundry&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-CM-CML-GGL-D29A-029_008_LAUNDRY-NA-Multi-NA-SMART-4038230-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-MajorAppl_Laundry-71700000097614791-58700007930902542-92700074322199699&gbraid=0AAAAADq61UdLy_jU6QH9Bc6s1bE46FnYz&gbraid=0AAAAADq61UdLy_jU6QH9Bc6s1bE46FnYz&gclid=CjwKCAjwge2iBhBBEiwAfXDBR8IfPS68xBLQlh99-vr3yhau6KXsov56S1jx-eN4XvPdNbtBX96KahoCt5sQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

@Bjorn Ahlblad

I’ll take a look. It looks similar to PayRange and ShinePay (attachments you can use to make a machine payable), but they require the use of “payment ready machines” which are in the higher price range described ($4500-5500).

@Nathan Brown

I’m worried that what I estimate will be wrong bc the tenants will put one article of clothing and be wasteful. I see this with my heating and cooling bill already.

I’ve been researching options to add laundry to my unit (there is none now, but I’m doing a kitchen renovation and adding it). I was hoping for it to be paid laundry (since I pay utilities), after reading some horrors on other forum posts. It’s one unit, 4b, 2 bath, shared kitchen and living spaces, with a total of 5 tenants. I need 1 stackable washer and dryer, but have been finding that leasing companies find this to be too small. They have offered the option for me to purchase the machine outright, but all options for units that can accept payment are totaling $4500-$5500. It’s a bit more expensive than I was thinking it would be. Now I’m uncertain if I should offer it for free and spend $2000 on a regular washer/dryer instead, although I would prefer having a paid laundry option so I’m not stuck with a high utility bills. Are there other options I’m missing?

Also seeking insight on this!

Quote from @Charles Carillo:

@Cassandra Vickers

I would speak to your contractors to get some sort of timeframe (increase it slightly) and then speak to the tenants. See what their thoughts are on living there without the use of the whole kitchen for X weeks. Some tenants will be fine waiting for a new kitchen while others might not want to wait through a renovation. If they agree to stay, I would make sure that contractors are staying on schedule. You don't want a 4-week renovation to turn into 8 weeks. 

Thanks for the insight Carlos, I’m planning to try this. I’m meeting with the contractor today to nail down timing and planning 1.5x the timeline he gives me 😜

Quote from @Jill F.:

No Way. Don't do it until you turn the unit over. Your contractor will get paint spatters on their grandma's priceless heirloom table or they'll all get the stomach flu from eating out and it will be your fault.  Then the remodel will take twice as long or cost twice as much or the contractors mother will die and he'll be out of town settling her estate for 3 months... There are just too many ways for this to south and make you miserable and cost you money for a tiny little bit of upside for you. If they really want a renovated kitchen, let them move to an extended stay when their lease is up and move back in with a new lease (at the renovated price) when the remodel is completed.

I have managed 27 full kitchen remodels in the last 6 years. There are a lot of moving parts.

Thanks for the heads up. There are definitely no heirlooms near the kitchen. We’ll be moving everything away from the kitchen as well, so I’m not worried about damaging anything belonging to them. Finding an extended stay in Boston is a tall order, so I don’t believe this is feasible for my area unfortunately.