A new National Association of Home building (NAHB) survey concludes that laundry rooms are now the number one specialty room among millennials, so choosing the right stackable washer and dryer or washer/dryer combo can help a home stand out with a new generation of homebuyers.
Beating out media rooms, wellness rooms, and even dining rooms, laundry rooms came out on top for speciality rooms in NAHB’s report on Millennial homebuying trends, What Home Buyers Really Want (2019 Edition). NAHB surveyed recent and potential homebuyers to figure out what they are looking for in a home and ranked 175 features, including specialty rooms. A specialty room in this case is any room that is not a kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom. Nearly all people surveyed want a separate laundry room: Fifty percent of millennials believe that they are a must-have, while 36 percent believe them to be “desirable.”
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In order to respond to this demand for laundry rooms, appliance companies are leaning into new trends. GE set out to create ones “that no longer get banished to basements,” according to David Wilson, GE’s commercial director of clothes care. One move that GE took was to update the color palette of their UltraFresh front Load Washers to include Satin Nickel and Sapphire Blue matte finishes to stay on trend. The company has also seen increased interest in smart appliances, so they are now incorporating smart features into their machines.
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“Millennials have been influenced by the technology that they have grown accustomed to in other categories and are now looking for appliances that help them in their homes,” Wilson says. GE’s new UltraFresh Front Load Washers have WiFi compatibility so users can start, stop, and change the settings of a load remotely. The company says that washer also holds an entire bottle of soap, accurately dispensing enough soap per wash so users can “fill it and forget it for up to 32 loads.”
Other companies, such as LG, are also incorporating smart technology into their appliances. A majority of LG washers and dryers available today are Wi-Fi connected, according to Taryn Brucia, director of public relations for LG, and their sales are strong.
“Millennials are particularly interested in smart functionality for laundry and across LG home appliances, though need for smart functionality still takes a backseat to the core consumer priorities of performance and reliability,” Burcia adds.
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In a move that combines technology and performance, LG introduced its new Proactive Customer Care feature, which the company says is the first AI-powered customer service solution for smart appliances to deliver “truly tangible benefits.” The feature acts as a personalized customer care guidance that gives users insights and tips based on usage to keep appliances performing their best. The machines will alert users of potential issues and also help find a solution to the problem.
Here are seven washers and dryers that can help your laundry rooms stand out among Millennial buyers :
Bosch Stackable Washer and Dryer
Bosch Stackable Washer
1. The Bosch stackable Washer and Dryer can be operated remotely from anywhere via a smart device and can wash five dress shirts in 15 minutes.
Samsung AddWash Front Load Dishwasher
Samsung AddWash Front Load Washer
2. Samsung’s AddWash Front Load Washer and Electric Dryer are WiFi enabled and can send notifications to users when their laundry is done. Its Smart Care feature can also troubleshoot and offer solutions.
GE Smart Front Load Steam Washer
GE Smart Front Load Steam Washer
3. Along with WiFi-connected smart features, GE’s Smart Front Load Steam Washer can hold up to 32 loads worth of soap and properly portion it out with its Smart Dispense feature. The Front Load Gas Dryer settings are linked to the washer, so users only have to program settings once.
Haier's Smart Frontload Washer
Haier's Smart Frontload Washer
4. The Haier Smart Front Load Washer and Dryer feature Wifi connectivity, a touch screen, and hundreds of washing presets, all in a stackable duo.
LG's Front Load Washer
LG's Front Load Washer
5. Using WiFi-connectivity, LG’s Front Load Washer and Dryer pair with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant so users can control the machines with voice commands. The washer also features both a steam clean that helps prevent wrinkling and a 30-minute power cycle for quick loads.
Whirlpool Smart Front Load Washer
Whirlpool Smart Front Load Washer
6. With intelligent learning, Whirlpool’s Smart Front Load Washer and Dryer learn a user’s routine and suggest the customized settings on its touchscreen. Users can save up to 30 settings on the washer and 36 for the dryer.
Maytag's Smart Front Load Washer
Maytag's Smart Front Load Washer
7. It is easy to divvy up chores with Maytag’s Smart Front Load Washer and Electric Dryer. Users can assign tasks to family members, control and monitor loads remotely, and control the machines with their voices via smart home technology.
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