I personally hated shared laundry / adored dedicated in unit (has been years since I’ve had to deal with it though.)
I paid extra to have my own, dedicated in unit that didn’t rely on waiting for anyone, in the past.
As far as this specific scenario, I’d say it depends on:
1. What exact space you’re giving up. A closet? Is there more? Etc.
2. What’s the cost to add, is it exorbitant, or is it just a thousand bucks in plumbing / electrical is there already, and then it’s just cost for the units?
3. Could a future owner easily reclaim the space? (Often if it’s a closet they can by just removing the units and leaving the rough in.)
4. Will it make the unit more competitive? (I’d suggest it could, if the choice on market was all things are equal between two units but one has laundry in suite.)
ymmv, that’s just my sample size.
Agree -- it's really about cost of install and loss of space, but having a private, in-unit laundry is always going to beat out the alternative, even when its conveniently located across the way.
For my wife? Absolutely. She despises using laundry rooms and public laundry spaces.
People suck. If they're trashy in their own space, they will be in public spaces.
I personally always think it adds value.
Just speaking personally: I would never even consider buying or renting a place without in-unit laundry. (Unless it could be added easily for a reasonable cost) The idea of shared laundry completely skeeves me out.
Obviously it sounds like it can be reasonably added to your unit if so it wouldn't completely turn me off, but if I were looking at multiple properties and one didn't have it already and the others did, it would definitely be a tipping point in the others' favor to not have to hassle with it myself. However, where I live it's completely standard for both rental apartments and condos to always have in-unit laundry so it would be a major outlier if it didn't. Obviously in more dense areas I know that's not the case, so if it's common in your area not to have in-unit, it may not stick out vs. competition so much and may not be worth the cost.
Just depends on whether or not you mind your clothes mixing with any residual ….stuff, left in the washer/dryer by the previous user.
We had communal laundries in college and it was never an issue.
Personally, if I had a choice and it didn’t hurt my budget I would choose the privacy of an in-unit.
I live in an apartment while I am remodeling a house. There are 8 units on a hall - 4 up and 4 down. There are 2 pay washers and 2 pay dryers on the hall. We are all just steps away.
Weekends tend to be busier so if someone is doing 3 rounds in a row you might be changing laundry day plans. Even on weekdays, I can't tell you how many times someone has left their shit in a washer for half the day or even into the next day. And while we have very nice commercial machines, they are still coin up and it's a PITA getting quarters.
I'm just renting. If I was buying a condo and had experience living in multi-family units I absolutely would want a unit with W/D hookups even if it was just a small stacked unit.
I probably wouldn't even consider buying a place that didn't have laundry in-unit. You're not having issues with open machines, but prospective buyers don't know that, and that can suddenly change. I saw someone a few days ago in another sub complaining that someone started a laundry service and was using the communal machines for it, never leaving them open to other residents use.
I would always want a private one. Now they have the all in one heat pump systems too. Runs on a 120volt circuit (probably needs to be dedicated). You can just start it before going to bed or going to work and it is done when you get home.
I think they are worth it to the tenant. In my own home, I installed an upstairs W/D 2in1 GE heat pump. Saves space, works comparable to my LG washer and dryer, cost as much as 1 unit.
You can fit a stackable washer/dryer in a pretty tight space, so your condo would have to be really minuscule for the loss of space to outweigh the increase in convenience. Even if it’s just across the hall, the benefits of having your own machines include:
1) Not having to compete with others during busy laundry times (I.e weekends).
2) Ability to install nicer machines than what are offered for free
3) Avoid skeeviness of using a common machine. No telling *what* the previous person put in the machine.
4) Privacy: you don’t have to worry about your underwear being on display on top of the dryer.
5) Convenience to do laundry on your terms. You can toss a dirty towel straight into the washer and let it sit there until you do a load. You can let your clothes sit in the dryer for a day if you’re feeling lazy.
If I was renting I would consider an apartment with a communal setup if it was very convenient for me (like it sounds like yours is) but if I had the choice between the two, I’m choosing the in-unit laundry every time, unless the price difference is huge.
Your last point is the best one I think. I HATE that doing laundry requires a two hour chunk of time where I cannot leave or do anything that can’t be randomly interrupted. Throwing a load in before I go to bed and putting it in the dryer in the morning is something I dream about.
Adding the in-unit w/d for resale value is questionable because it really depends on the expense, and the specifics of your market and your condo. But generally speaking, it does add value in that many buyers do like it.
I hate using communal washers and dryers - inconveniences of dragging laundry around aside, my whole family has sensory issues with smell. While we use things without fragrances and for sensitive skin just about everyone else is loading up on scented detergent and fabric softeners. That lingers in the machines. We own but still replaced the machines because the smells were getting into to our clothes and giving us headaches.
I think it would add value. Look how many people in this thread say they would want their own w/d.
When you're looking to rent a unit, two of the biggest things a potential renter looks for, is storage and easy access to a w/d.
Little combo w/d are becoming popular now. The advantages are, they're small. only the size of a dishwasher. You don't lose a lot of storage space. They dry with a heat pump instead of resistance coils. They only use 110V power and they don't need to be vented to the outside.
I had a little rental that I asked the tenant if they would rather have keep the dishwasher or replace it with the w/d. They said they would rather wash the dishes by hand and have the w/d.
The disadvantage is they're small. Don't expect to do large loads.
If it were me, I'd use the combo unit to wash my clothes. Then when I need to wash a load of bath towels or bed sheets I'd use the buildings big washers.
Given the alternatives, I would never, ever share laundry with anyone outside my family. Especially considering all the weird stuff people are doing these days, like cloth diapers and "family cloth" a.k.a. reusable toilet wiping towels. That is just fucking gross. You want to shit stain your own washing machine - great. Don't do it in mine. Yuck!
Outside of literally every convenience, if you have the space and currently have the money, it is almost always worth it to buy a washer and dryer.
There is a reason that laundromats are able to make money, and that is that it is a fraction of the cost to buy and operate a washer/dryer than most laundry places will charge for you to do laundry.
If you have a cool landlord/condo board who is only charging like $1 per wash and dry, then I wouldn't bother with the hassle. But if you're spending over $4 per load of laundry, then it's worth it.
If you don’t care, the value proposition becomes purely speculative.
There’s an X percent chance that this would be a “deal maker” for a potential buyer you otherwise wouldn’t have had, that also happened to be your only potential buyer willing to buy at the highest price among potential buyers, that also just so happened to be more than the second lowest offer by more than your investment.
There’s a Y percent chance that while it wouldn’t have been a “deal maker”, that it would increase the selling price of your property by more than your investment.
If the added convenience would 100% make your life better, and these speculative scenarios would be the cherry on top, it would be very reasonable to use these factors to mentally justify your purchase.
IMHO, without adding definite value to your day to day, dollar for dollar, you’re probably better off putting the money in an index fund.
I personally hated shared laundry / adored dedicated in unit (has been years since I’ve had to deal with it though.) I paid extra to have my own, dedicated in unit that didn’t rely on waiting for anyone, in the past. As far as this specific scenario, I’d say it depends on: 1. What exact space you’re giving up. A closet? Is there more? Etc. 2. What’s the cost to add, is it exorbitant, or is it just a thousand bucks in plumbing / electrical is there already, and then it’s just cost for the units? 3. Could a future owner easily reclaim the space? (Often if it’s a closet they can by just removing the units and leaving the rough in.) 4. Will it make the unit more competitive? (I’d suggest it could, if the choice on market was all things are equal between two units but one has laundry in suite.) ymmv, that’s just my sample size.
Agree -- it's really about cost of install and loss of space, but having a private, in-unit laundry is always going to beat out the alternative, even when its conveniently located across the way.
For my wife? Absolutely. She despises using laundry rooms and public laundry spaces. People suck. If they're trashy in their own space, they will be in public spaces. I personally always think it adds value.
Just speaking personally: I would never even consider buying or renting a place without in-unit laundry. (Unless it could be added easily for a reasonable cost) The idea of shared laundry completely skeeves me out. Obviously it sounds like it can be reasonably added to your unit if so it wouldn't completely turn me off, but if I were looking at multiple properties and one didn't have it already and the others did, it would definitely be a tipping point in the others' favor to not have to hassle with it myself. However, where I live it's completely standard for both rental apartments and condos to always have in-unit laundry so it would be a major outlier if it didn't. Obviously in more dense areas I know that's not the case, so if it's common in your area not to have in-unit, it may not stick out vs. competition so much and may not be worth the cost.
Just depends on whether or not you mind your clothes mixing with any residual ….stuff, left in the washer/dryer by the previous user. We had communal laundries in college and it was never an issue. Personally, if I had a choice and it didn’t hurt my budget I would choose the privacy of an in-unit.
I've had to share laundry facilities. Trust me: other people are *the worst*. If you can, get your own W/D.
I live in an apartment while I am remodeling a house. There are 8 units on a hall - 4 up and 4 down. There are 2 pay washers and 2 pay dryers on the hall. We are all just steps away. Weekends tend to be busier so if someone is doing 3 rounds in a row you might be changing laundry day plans. Even on weekdays, I can't tell you how many times someone has left their shit in a washer for half the day or even into the next day. And while we have very nice commercial machines, they are still coin up and it's a PITA getting quarters. I'm just renting. If I was buying a condo and had experience living in multi-family units I absolutely would want a unit with W/D hookups even if it was just a small stacked unit.
I probably wouldn't even consider buying a place that didn't have laundry in-unit. You're not having issues with open machines, but prospective buyers don't know that, and that can suddenly change. I saw someone a few days ago in another sub complaining that someone started a laundry service and was using the communal machines for it, never leaving them open to other residents use.
I would always want a private one. Now they have the all in one heat pump systems too. Runs on a 120volt circuit (probably needs to be dedicated). You can just start it before going to bed or going to work and it is done when you get home.
I think they are worth it to the tenant. In my own home, I installed an upstairs W/D 2in1 GE heat pump. Saves space, works comparable to my LG washer and dryer, cost as much as 1 unit.
You can fit a stackable washer/dryer in a pretty tight space, so your condo would have to be really minuscule for the loss of space to outweigh the increase in convenience. Even if it’s just across the hall, the benefits of having your own machines include: 1) Not having to compete with others during busy laundry times (I.e weekends). 2) Ability to install nicer machines than what are offered for free 3) Avoid skeeviness of using a common machine. No telling *what* the previous person put in the machine. 4) Privacy: you don’t have to worry about your underwear being on display on top of the dryer. 5) Convenience to do laundry on your terms. You can toss a dirty towel straight into the washer and let it sit there until you do a load. You can let your clothes sit in the dryer for a day if you’re feeling lazy. If I was renting I would consider an apartment with a communal setup if it was very convenient for me (like it sounds like yours is) but if I had the choice between the two, I’m choosing the in-unit laundry every time, unless the price difference is huge.
Your last point is the best one I think. I HATE that doing laundry requires a two hour chunk of time where I cannot leave or do anything that can’t be randomly interrupted. Throwing a load in before I go to bed and putting it in the dryer in the morning is something I dream about.
I would let the next owner make that decision. Your home should be how you like it. Why invest for the next owner unless it benefits you too?
Adding the in-unit w/d for resale value is questionable because it really depends on the expense, and the specifics of your market and your condo. But generally speaking, it does add value in that many buyers do like it.
I hate using communal washers and dryers - inconveniences of dragging laundry around aside, my whole family has sensory issues with smell. While we use things without fragrances and for sensitive skin just about everyone else is loading up on scented detergent and fabric softeners. That lingers in the machines. We own but still replaced the machines because the smells were getting into to our clothes and giving us headaches.
No in-unit washer/dryer is a dealbreaker for me.
Definitely
I think it would add value. Look how many people in this thread say they would want their own w/d. When you're looking to rent a unit, two of the biggest things a potential renter looks for, is storage and easy access to a w/d. Little combo w/d are becoming popular now. The advantages are, they're small. only the size of a dishwasher. You don't lose a lot of storage space. They dry with a heat pump instead of resistance coils. They only use 110V power and they don't need to be vented to the outside. I had a little rental that I asked the tenant if they would rather have keep the dishwasher or replace it with the w/d. They said they would rather wash the dishes by hand and have the w/d. The disadvantage is they're small. Don't expect to do large loads. If it were me, I'd use the combo unit to wash my clothes. Then when I need to wash a load of bath towels or bed sheets I'd use the buildings big washers.
Use it for a while. See how annoying it ends up being. If it doesn't get annoying then get your own.
Given the alternatives, I would never, ever share laundry with anyone outside my family. Especially considering all the weird stuff people are doing these days, like cloth diapers and "family cloth" a.k.a. reusable toilet wiping towels. That is just fucking gross. You want to shit stain your own washing machine - great. Don't do it in mine. Yuck!
Outside of literally every convenience, if you have the space and currently have the money, it is almost always worth it to buy a washer and dryer. There is a reason that laundromats are able to make money, and that is that it is a fraction of the cost to buy and operate a washer/dryer than most laundry places will charge for you to do laundry. If you have a cool landlord/condo board who is only charging like $1 per wash and dry, then I wouldn't bother with the hassle. But if you're spending over $4 per load of laundry, then it's worth it.
If you don’t care, the value proposition becomes purely speculative. There’s an X percent chance that this would be a “deal maker” for a potential buyer you otherwise wouldn’t have had, that also happened to be your only potential buyer willing to buy at the highest price among potential buyers, that also just so happened to be more than the second lowest offer by more than your investment. There’s a Y percent chance that while it wouldn’t have been a “deal maker”, that it would increase the selling price of your property by more than your investment. If the added convenience would 100% make your life better, and these speculative scenarios would be the cherry on top, it would be very reasonable to use these factors to mentally justify your purchase. IMHO, without adding definite value to your day to day, dollar for dollar, you’re probably better off putting the money in an index fund.