Let’s imagine for a second that you’re currently renting or looking at apartment buildings for a place to live. The first apartment option has a shared laundry room for residents in the basement. It’s dark, damp, and dirty down there, and there are only a few machines that seem to always be full or out of order. The second apartment building also has a shared laundry area. However, this one has plenty of natural light, a comfortable seating area, and plenty of new, high-quality washers and dryers for residents to use. Tenants often meander in and out to check out the community bulletin board on the wall or grab something from the vending machine. Assuming that the apartments were comparable in other ways, which one would you rather live in? Obviously the apartment building with the nice, inviting laundry area, right? While these are two somewhat extreme ends of the spectrum, the point is that a shared laundry area for residents can be a valuable amenity in your building and a space that residents actually enjoy. Here are a few ideas to help you make your apartment building’s community laundry room more welcoming and community-focused.
Embrace laundry technology.
From email to social media to texting, technology has connected us like never before. We’re able to get in touch with people just down the street, or around the world in a matter of seconds. With that in mind, it stands to reason that technology can also help you connect with your residents and build your apartment community as well. For example, the Speed Queen app allows residents to quickly send you a service message if they’re having trouble with a machine, see if other residents are using the machines, and earn rewards — all of which helps keep you better connected to your residents and keeps those lines of communication open.
Make sure you have enough machines.
Having sufficient commercial washers and dryers is crucial to a successful multi-housing laundry room in an apartment or condominium. Constantly having to wait for machines can spur animosity between residents and overall dissatisfaction throughout your building. Angry, annoyed, and unsatisfied tenants are probably not going to be as apt to get to know their neighbors, embrace a community vibe, or re-sign a lease in your building.
Add seating.
You can’t expect community and socialization if you don’t provide the means for it. Providing seating in shared areas, like the apartment laundry room, is a basic way to encourage socialization. Seating prompts residents to stay and spend more time in the laundry area, where it is more likely they’ll meet, interact with, and get to know other residents. The more time they spend there, the more the shared laundry area will feel like an extension of their apartment and living space.
Make the space bright and inviting.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that residents probably won’t want to spend a lot of time in a room that’s dark, cold, and uninviting. With that in mind, brightening up the shared laundry area and making it homier and welcoming is a natural way to build that community feel. Consider windows and natural light, natural light lamps and live plants, a fresh coat of paint, and other fun design and decor items
Showcase the community.
What better way to build the community than to feature the people and news that’s important to your residents? Shared spaces in apartment buildings, such as the laundry room, are a great place for a bulletin board that features residents of the building, important local news and events, and other relevant community information. As residents wait for their clothes to finish, it’s the perfect opportunity to learn more about their neighbors and surrounding area. If residents are allowed to add pictures and notes to the board, it’s also a great way for landlords and property managers to get to know the tenants better as well.
Secure the room.
No one is going to want to spend time somewhere they don’t feel safe. Securing the entrance to your laundry area helps assure the space is only accessible to residents, giving everyone a little peace of mind. Security cameras can also help you better monitor the space and make sure that tenants are treating others and your equipment respectfully.
Hopefully, these tips will help you and your residents get more out of the laundry area and the building overall. With a little attention and TLC, a shared laundry room can be an incredibly valuable space in your apartment complex.
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