If you own your business property, you’re in a very exclusive but lucrative club, and so it makes perfect sense to keep your building functioning at its very best. With rising costs in commercial property maintenance, there are some staple functions that you can carry out that will minimise the number of times you have to call your property manager and save you some money. (Or, in some cases, a lot of money).
And it’s not just the structural issues you need to worry about either; studies have shown that unkept or unrepaired workspaces have a detrimental impact on the mental health and well being of your employees, so not only will your banker thank you when it’s time to sell, but your bottom line will be most grateful in the meantime. Let’s have a look.
The Exterior
So this could fall into the “ministry of the blindingly obvious” category, but it’s one area that property managers all over the world regularly overlook – at your peril. The structural integrity of your building extends beyond just bricks and mortar. Suppose you have a traditional structure with many wooden elements. In that case, wooden panels, beams, window frames, doors or shutters, then you’ll want to make sure that you’ve taken the correct precautions when it comes to pest management – especially our termite friends. So get the experts out and do a thorough check.
While you’re at it, you also want to check for cracks or damage in concrete, tiles and outside paving, parking and flooring, especially in areas prone to extremes in temperature where ice, snow and rain can cause significant damage over time. Whether you have a relatively small building or a skyscraper, you also have to ensure that you check all of your windows for cracks, chips and scratches. The earlier you get to it, the better it’s going to work out for you in the long term; Glass Scratch Repair is your go-to.
The Interior
Interior maintenance is an area that gets the most attention and means that some of the most prominent areas of concern are overlooked. Carpets, flooring, restrooms, breakrooms, storage spaces, windows, walls, electrical appliances – the list goes on, so to help you get the most out of your interior spaces, the most efficient line of approach is regular maintenance and repair audits. Ensure that all of your team members have a checklist at the ready and always make sure that every call is logged.
Groundskeeping
The overall function of commercial property management is not a “one-man job”, and if you’re in the position where you have to manage your own property, or you’ve been promoted into the position where this has become your responsibility, you must know that this is not a job you can do on your own. A well trained and lead team is what’s going to make the difference here. First impressions count, so while you’re ensuring that things like pest control, efficient water usage and energy consumption are all priorities, remember to keep the focus on landscaping and groundskeeping.
We hope this post has given you some food for thought, as this kind of management doesn’t come naturally to most people. You’re not going to find everything you need here, but it’s an excellent place to start and remember: record keeping is your friend. Over time the historical performance of your teams when it comes to attending to repeat issues can be invaluable data for your insurers and your accountants.
