Advise on Machines for Apartment

[Chgoman]

Hello all,

I recently purchased a 4-plex with a laundry room contracted with a laundry company that services about 20 2 bedroom units. The laundry room has 2 top load washers and 3 dryers: 1 stacked unit, 1 stand alone. I'm unsure of the make and model, but they are older coin units that look just like what you'd have in your house.

The machines are $1.25 to wash & $1.25 to dry and run about 450 loads per month (all machines together, so I'd assume about 110 loads per washer per month, 75 loads per dryer per month).

I currently receive 50% of the gross revenue, but pay all utilities. the laundry company keeps 50%, but provides the machines and maintainance.

I'm thinking about ending the contract and purchasing my own machines. Do you have any recommedation on what type of machines it would be best to look at given the residential situation? (FYI, there are acutally 40 units on the street and mine is one of 2 laundry rooms that are identical. Due to location on the street, I believe mine actually services a little more than half the units.) Thanks in advance and let me know if you need any more information.

[Kitty]

Send them to the nearest laundromat.......

[E&R]

To replace what you current have with the same type of washers, I suggest Maytag (5 yrs. part warranty) or Whirlpool (costs less).

To replace what you current have with front load washers, many like the smaller front load washers such as Maytag Neptune, Continental Aurora, IPSO softmount washers, etc.

Do attend a service school so you can take care of the small repair jobs ~ and there will be many...

[MSKLAUNDRY.]

Maytag Neptunes would be you best bet as the cost of running them is lower than tops but the initial outlay will be more. As stated 5 year parts warranty now.

Can you just drop the contract just like that?

Good for you, go for it!!!

[Chgoman]

Thanks for the input! I was starting to look at the maytag neptunes after reading good things on the boards here about them. I don't mind investing a little more money up front to get a better product and save in utilities down the road. I actually figure once I upgrade the machines, the usage will probably go up a little as people who are inbetween my laundry room and the other will gravitate toward the better one.

As far as breaking the laundry contract, it has 1.5 years left of a 6 year contract. The old owner of the buildings got a stipend up front when the contracts started. I should be able to buy out the contract by paying a prorated amount. I'm running all the numbers right now to see if it is worth while to do so balancing the extra income against the need to service the machines myself versus having the laundry room on auto-piolet with a service company.

Any more input would be great and thanks again to those who responded!!

[pete f]

Sears sells comercial equipment also. My uncle had them in his laundry room for a 26 unit rental. No neptunes at that time, but it was his favorite little money maker. I would lean towards Neptune/dryer stacks for that type of use. The Neptunes will save you about 25 cent a load in utility cost, they are about $500 more than a maytag top, you do the math, see if it is worth it to you for your situation.