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**Getting the Most Out of Multifamily Shared Printers**
By Connect CRE Staff
When you think of “multifamily amenities,” flashy features like resort-style pools, rooftop decks, yoga rooms, and coffee bars likely come to mind. But one often-overlooked amenity that significantly enhances resident convenience is the simple, shared on-site printer.
Ben Meth, Senior Director of Sales at WithMe Inc., believes that a reliable, secure, and intuitive printer is an unsung hero in improving tenant experience.
> “A pool might be used a handful of times in a season,” Meth said. “Access to a reliable printer supports needs that come up week after week.”
### The Problem with Traditional Shared Printers
Printers have long existed in multifamily properties, but few have been integrated in ways that truly serve both residents and staff. Meth explains that typical setups often fall short in functionality, privacy protections, and convenience.
In many communities, leasing staff are tasked with printing documents for residents, an added burden to their already busy workloads. Moreover, this opens the door to potential privacy breaches, as personally identifiable information (PII) may be retained instead of securely deleted.
Business centers equipped with basic printers typically require residents to use flash drives or download third-party drivers onto unsecured desktop computers—further contributing to frustrating experiences and security risks.
> “The process is inconvenient, plagued by frequent equipment failures, and leads to unclear costs that frustrate both residents and staff,” Meth noted.
### So Why Not Buy Personal Printers?
Purchasing a personal printer may seem like an easy solution. With initial costs ranging from $80 to $400, it’s not prohibitively expensive. However, Meth warns that residents quickly find hidden costs stacking up.
> “Ink is notoriously overpriced, paper always seems to run out at the worst time, breakdowns require time-intensive troubleshooting, and most residents don’t want to sacrifice valuable apartment space for a machine they only use occasionally,” he said.
What’s more, personal printers also pose privacy concerns, with some home devices storing or even selling user data. This is a real problem for residents who print sensitive documents like IDs or financial records.
### What Makes a Perfect Shared Printer Setup?
Meth outlines three essential components of a high-functioning shared printer system in multifamily communities:
1. **Reliability**
A shared printer should always be ready for use—quietly dependable without breakdowns. Meth suggests working with a service like PrintWithMe, which uses a cloud-based platform to keep printers consistently operational.
2. **Simplicity**
Today’s renters expect digital-first convenience, and printer functionality should match that expectation. Residents should be able to easily send a document and receive a printout without struggling through outdated technology or complex procedures.
3. **Security**
The system should protect user data with automated safeguards and end-to-end encryption. While multifamily housing isn’t bound by data regulations like HIPAA, residents still expect a high level of privacy for their sensitive documents.
### Cost Savings and Tenant Satisfaction
Well-executed shared printer setups benefit more than just residents. Meth stresses that these systems can reduce property management workloads, improve operational efficiency, and even help retain tenants.
> “As multifamily communities grapple with high turnover and rising costs, owners and operators are realizing that the amenities residents truly depend on — the ones that make everyday life easier — quietly deliver the strongest ROI,” he said.
Cloud-managed printers with automated supply replenishment and live support ensure hassle-free operation, allowing staff to focus on broader property needs.
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*Originally published on ApartmentBuildings.com*.
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