Choosing the Best Washer and Dryer for Rental Property
Appliances in rental units is a major topic of conversation when you’re a landlord or owner. When you have the right ones, they can be a nice selling point when you’re looking for tenants and it’s something you don’t have to worry about. On the other hand, if they are constantly causing problems, then you’ve got something that drags you down and costs money on a regular bases. Choosing the best washer and dryer for rental property in particular can be a major thing for your long-term sanity.
Experienced property managers and landlords have done their research and have settled on appliances that work for them. They’ve weighed all the options. As one of the premier Atlanta property management companies out there, we’ve sifted through a lot of options ourselves. So, let’s dive into it. Let’s go over a lot of the thinking that can help you make the most informed decision when you’re scoping out washers and dryers.
Table of Contents
- Should You Provide a Washer and Dryer for Rental Property?
- What Makes Something the Best Washer and Dryer for Rental Property?
- Some of the Best Options
- Consider Property Management to Help
Should You Provide a Washers and Dryer for Rental Property?
Deciding whether to include a washer and dryer for rental property is one of those questions that comes up sooner or later for a lot of people. It’s understandable. It’s like wanting to choose the best blinds or the best thermostat for your rental units. You want to save money if you can, sure, but you also have other factors at play. There are a few layers to think through before landing on a clear decision. What works well for one property or market might not make sense for another.
Providing a washer and dryer can make a rental more appealing and help it stand out. Are you in a competitive market? Then it could help. Many renters see in-unit laundry as a major convenience and may be willing to choose one property over another because of it. That can lead to faster leasing and maybe higher rent. At the same time, supplying appliances means taking on maintenance and replacement responsibilities, which adds cost and headaches over time.
The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) Renter Preferences Survey Report took a poll to see what features mattered the most to tenants.. and guess what? They found that #1 on the list was washer and dryer (92%). So while expectations can vary from one city like Atlanta to other locations and states, one thing to note is that nationwide, it’s a major factor for many renters.
For many, it comes down to costs and expectations. It’s a balancing act, people! Supplying the machines adds costs, sure. But market norms matter a lot. In areas where in-unit laundry is expected, not providing it can put you at a disadvantage. In other places, shared laundry or tenant-provided machines are common and accepted. The key is balancing convenience, cost, and what renters in your area actually expect.
What Makes Something the Best Washer and Dryer for Rental Property?
So what makes some ideal and some others… well, not. When people talk about the best washer and dryer for rental property, they’re usually not talking about the fanciest models on the market. That’s just being realistic. The “best” options for rental landlords and owners are the ones that quietly do their job without causing problems. That means fewer service calls, fewer confused tenants, and fewer surprise expenses down the line.
Durability is usually at the top of the list. Rental appliances tend to get heavier use than owner-occupied ones, so machines that can handle frequent cycles matter. Simple controls, fewer digital bells and whistles, and solid internal components often hold up better over time. Many owners would rather have a machine that lasts years with basic functionality than one packed with features that are expensive to repair.
Then there are repairs, both the lack of them and how easy they are to manage when they do come. Washers and dryers that use common parts and are supported by local repair technicians tend to be more rental-friendly. If something breaks, the goal is a quick, affordable fix rather than waiting weeks for specialty parts. Machines with straightforward designs are often easier for technicians to work on, which keeps downtime and frustration to a minimum.
As someone on Reddit pointed out:
If you can get an old mechanical upright combo unit that’s best. The digital ones have more stuff that can go wrong but the mechanical ones will run forever.
Size and capacity are other things to keep in mind. Larger-capacity machines can be appealing, especially for families or multi-bedroom rentals. At the same time, the units need to fit the space comfortably and work with existing hookups. The best washer and dryer for rental property usually strikes a balance between capacity, reliability, and simplicity.
Some of the Best Options
- Roper – Many landlords point to Roper as a solid brand. Their washers and dryers tend to appeal to landlords who want something basic, affordable, and easy to live with over time. These machines usually skip fancy features in favor of straightforward knobs and simple cycles.
- Maytag – This one is also mentioned by landlords as a step up in durability while still staying practical for rentals. Their washer and dryer sets are known for solid build quality and the ability to handle heavier use. You might like that Maytag balances reliability with availability, making parts and repairs relatively easy to deal with. Everyone knows the Maytag brand.
- Speed Queen – If you haven’t heard of them, you have now. Speed Queen has a reputation that comes up again and again in landlord circles, mostly because these machines are built with commercial-grade use in mind. They’re often more expensive upfront, but many owners see that cost as a tradeoff for longevity and fewer breakdowns.
Consider Property Management to Help
There is a lot to think about when choosing the best washer and dryer for rental property. But when you make a good choice, and you have a lot of units, then that good decision results in good results in one place after another. Efficiency and savings build over time and as you get more experience managing units. That’s one of the keys to owning rental property. Experience matters. And sometimes, hiring experience can be one of the best things you can do.
With Bay Property Management Group as your trusted property management company, you can guarantee that experience is on your side. We pride ourselves on being the best at what we do, from maintenance calls to rent collection and everything in between. So, contact Bay Management Group now. We provide top-notch rental property management in Sandy Springs and Atlanta areas, as well as in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Virginia, Texas, and elsewhere. See how we can help you find efficiency and cost savings throughout your rental property journey.
