Building Maintenance. What Is It And Who Needs It?

Maintenance and repairs are definitely not the glamorous part of owning and operating a building, but they’re critical to the success of your business. If you ignore them, you may find your tenants aren’t happy and your revenue suffers; that’s why it’s important to know when you need building maintenance and why. Find out what building maintenance is all about in this article.

‍

Building Maintenance – The Basics

Over time, a building may need to undergo maintenance in order to keep it at its best. How often a building should undergo maintenance depends on a number of factors including how old it is, what kind of material was used to build it, where it’s located, and who uses that space. 

‍

Ultimately, proper building maintenance ensures that your commercial property maintains its aesthetic value as well as structural integrity for many years to come.

Building maintenance includes cleaning common areas, removing trash regularly, and repairing items that are broken. It can involve inspecting, repairing, and maintaining electrical systems, heating and air conditioning systems, and other utility services.

‍

In some cases, building maintenance extends to the outdoor property as well and includes sprinkler management, lawn care, and landscape management.

‍

Do I Need It? 

The short answer to whether you need building maintenance or not is YES. Even if your business doesn’t look like it needs maintenance, that doesn’t mean that some of your building features might not need some care—and just because they don’t appear broken, doesn’t mean that they aren’t causing damage on a slow burn.

‍

Keep in mind that many building defects are unknown issues which are overlooked by people when performing regular inspections. For example, although mold may be only visible when buildings are built with poor ventilation or low-quality interior surfaces, there can be signs of internal mold growths beneath any surface. 

‍

There are many reasons why buildings require special attention from trained professionals; for example, properties with structural defects may require chemical remediation treatment while cracks in flooring could lead to water leakage problems. 

‍

It is common for unqualified owners to deny these problems until they get worse - but without professional help, not only will problem buildings cost more in repair costs down the line, but also cause an inconvenience for residents or employees at work.

‍

What Does It Involve? 

Building maintenance encompasses a broad range of tasks, including cleaning, inspecting for damage, minor repairs, landscaping, snow removal, plumbing, and electrical work. 

‍

As you might imagine with that many possibilities available to building managers/owners responsibilities are not easily defined. However, most people will agree that routine upkeep -- i.e., regular inspections -- are part of any good maintenance program. 

‍

During these checkups, anything from peeling paint to failing air conditioners will be identified and dealt with as necessary before they become problems for residents or hurt property values in general. 

‍

When is the best time to conduct building maintenance? 

A property manager can schedule building maintenance at several times of year. If you own a place of business such as a storefront or office building, it’s best to conduct repairs during periods of slow foot traffic, such as mornings, evenings or holidays. This will allow you time to perform necessary tasks without disrupting your tenants’ workday. 

‍

However, if you’re a property manager for a multi residential complex, it’s more important for repair technicians to have access to your buildings during all times of day. Also, if possible, make sure to set clear expectations with your vendors; otherwise they might arrive unannounced during peak hours when they know you are busy overseeing other properties.

‍

While it may not be possible to conduct maintenance work around your building all the time, try to schedule at least one time each week. While you’re at it, think about what tasks should be done outside of business hours or on weekends. 

‍

Perhaps you can schedule cleaning services for late Sunday afternoons or early evenings so tenants won’t feel like they’re sharing their office with someone doing maintenance, or being disturbed in their homes.

‍

There are plenty of ways to conduct building maintenance without bothering tenants if you plan ahead and take advantage of off-hours access. Think about how any work will impact residents and make accommodations whenever possible.

‍

Of course, most property managers contract with third-party vendors who specialize in various types of maintenance and management solutions. With that said, always ask for references and examples of their past work before contracting them on behalf of your organization. 

‍

Also be sure to ask for companies to provide proof of compliance. Remember that you are reliable for any issues resulting from work done by vendors at your property. Making sure that they have insurance and are compliant keeps everyone safe.

‍

What value does it provide?

There are quite a few benefits to employing regular maintenance workers. These include:

‍

Saves you money 

Routine inspections keep small fixes from becoming big issues. In other words, by paying attention on a consistent basis to plumbing pipes, HVAC systems, etc., you can prevent more costly problems from developing later on down the road. This means savings for you!  

‍

Clean grounds lead to happy tenants 

A main focus of routine maintenance is cleanliness, which translates into satisfaction for tenants. With clean carpeting, shiny surfaces, laundered towels in restrooms, etc., you’ll increase goodwill toward your property—not only among current residents but potential renters as well. 

‍

Tenants are much more likely to stick around when they aren’t spending their entire day wondering how to tackle another one of your broken facilities. If you hope to keep your tenants happy and build long-term relationships with them, you need to ensure they live in safe and well-maintained properties. 

‍

Energy efficiency 

Regular building maintenance can help improve energy efficiency by encouraging you to clean and update your heating and cooling systems, upgrading light bulbs to more energy-efficient models, and performing other similar tasks. 

‍

Perceived value 

A well-maintained property appeals to prospective buyers more than a neglected property. In fact, a study by Trulia revealed that properties in their best condition get on average 20% more offers and sell for 2% more. On top of increased interest from potential buyers, maintenance can also improve resale value. So while there are obvious upfront costs associated with building maintenance services, they’re an investment that pay off over time. 

‍‍

How can VendorPM make maintaining your property easier? 

As your property changes, so should your maintenance strategy. VendorPM’s annual maintenance programs enable you to monitor all of your properties in one central location, proactively scheduling routine check-ups before small issues escalate into big headaches. 

‍

Our proactive approach ensures that management systems are kept up-to-date while providing property managers with better service through simple online requests, all while saving you time and money over traditional manual methods. If you would like to learn more about how VendorPM can make your maintenance decisions quicker and easier, visit us at vendorpm.com.