Commercial Property Maintenance Protects Value

In today’s economic climate, commercial property maintenance is more important than ever. Some owners may want to cut back on commercial property maintenance costs to save money but this is exactly the wrong direction to go. Not keeping up on repairs or tending to chores will lead to neglected premises and run down quality, which will always lead to lower values in the long run. Some of the things to think about regarding keeping up properties is the staff needed, the internal structures, the external structures and safety. Here are some things to consider:

- Staff: It takes a crew to keep properties maintained. Personnel must have handyman skills, know about plumbing and electrical, housekeeping and more. Landscaping also needs to be tended. A business owner will need to decide if he or she wants to hire these workers as employees or independent contractors. Independent contractors are those who run their own cleaning or handyman businesses and yours is just one of their stops. Having an employee, on the other hand, will allow them to be available as needed but will cost the company more in terms of taxes, workers compensation and regular salaries.

- Internal structures: Basic cleaning will need to be performed on a regular basis. Painting the interior walls, shampooing carpets, polishing floors, cleansing the bathrooms and more will be part of the routine. Inside tasks also include keeping the toilets unclogged and the HVAC units running smoothly. Telecommunication systems such as computers and phone lines must be kept up to snuff. There are lots of chores to be accomplished inside a building.

- Exterior structures: Outside duties include upkeep on the surrounding landscape as well as the buildings themselves. Grass needs to be fertilized, mowed and edged. Bushes and trees must be pruned and trimmed. Flowers need to be planted and watered. The outside walls of a facility need to be painted, roofs need to be repaired, windows need to be washed, chimneys need to be cleaned and sidewalks need to be swept. Parking lots must be kept clean with sharply painted lines and even surfaces of blacktop.

- Safety: In addition to keep the facilities attractive, neat and well functioning, it’s also important to consider safety. Smoke detectors and fire alarms must be in place and monitored regularly. Fire sprinkler systems will also need to be maintained, as well. Security lights must be installed and working appropriately. Well lit exit signs must be at doorways. Fire extinguisher canisters must be checked annually and hung at appropriate locations within a building. It’s also sometimes necessary to hire security guards to man reception areas of many commercial buildings or to have guards watching over the facilities at night.

Owning nonresidential facilities is a big responsibility. With residential ownership, an individual is often just looking out for his or her own family. When owning a place that is used by the public, their safety and comfort must be considered. Saving money by not taking care of hiring adequate staff to maintain inside, outside and oversee safety concerns is a big mistake. Allotting a portion of the budget for commercial property maintenance is a way to keep its value up to snuff.