Building maintenance is an important aspect of property management as it helps to ensure functionality and helps to preserve the value of the property. A building maintenance company handles a wide range of tasks on behalf of the property manager or the property owner, including:
i) Painting Exterior and Interior Walls
Most local authorities require property owners to paint the exterior walls of their buildings on a regular basis to ensure the town, or city, always looks attractive at all times. A maintenance company can make the necessary arrangements to paint the exterior walls according to the local laws. Interior walls will also be painted to ensure the property not only looks attractive, but also to preserve its monetary value.
ii) Carrying Out Repairs
It is possible that the railing on a staircase, a bulb holder, or the lock on a rental unit may get damaged in one way or another. In such cases, the maintenance company will take care of the repairs. Basically, these firms usually take care of any repair works that may be needed on a commercial property.
iii) Lift Maintenance
In case of a multi-storey commercial property, the maintenance company must also be able to service the lift. This includes lubricating all the moving parts and replacing worn out parts on a regular basis. However, the firm must be licensed to offer this service. If the lift gets stuck, the maintenance crew will be on standby to resolve the issue and ensure nobody is stuck in the lift.
Choosing a Commercial Building Maintenance Service
Obviously, there are many companies offering building maintenance services in any major city. As you may already know, however, they are not all the same. Some firms are much more reliable than others, so you need to identify the right firm to work with. Below are some key factors to check before committing yourself:
a) Experience
You should never hire an inexperienced company to offer maintenance services because building maintenance is a public safety issue. Only companies that have handled similar jobs in the past, or have existing contracts with commercial property owners in the city, should be considered. This is because they know all the challenges that come with the job, and have excelled in meeting their clients’ requirements.
b) Licensing
The ideal maintenance company must have a license to run that type of business. Since they will be dealing with the structure of the building, they must be licensed contractors. They must also have an electrical contractor’s license because they will also be dealing with electrical systems. The firm should also have an accredited plumber on their team.
c) Cost
The cost quoted by the firm should also be compared to what other firms are charging. After all, you want to keep your expenses low to maintain a healthy profit margin.
