Many people are attracted to the promise of a commercial property empire in Tampa. But those dreams can soon become overwhelming when the list of maintenance tasks arrives in your inbox. What's the best way to stay on top of these demands and ensure you still make some healthy profits?
We've put together this guide to help answer those questions. Read on for five best practices for your commercial property maintenance today.
1. Focus on Preventative Maintenance and Property Upkeep
No commercial tenant will take kindly to emergency repairs that interrupt their working day. It's vital you do as much preventative maintenance as possible to prevent issues from escalating. Schedule regular inspections for things like:
- HVAC units
- Plumbing
- Electrics
Always use trusted contractors who will commit to your timescales. Prompt inspections are often the best way to resolve minor issues and prevent breakdowns. Increase the frequency of inspections before the hurricane season starts to ensure your building is well-protected from risks like heavy storms.
2. Keep a Schedule for Your Outdoor Tasks
Maintenance isn't just about repairing broken parts in a building. It's also about making the outdoor area look beautiful, especially for commercial tenants who must impress their customers. So it's always a good idea to have a separate schedule to keep up with this work. It will include items such as:
- Mowing the lawn
- Trimming back trees and bushes
- Controlling weeds
- Repairing broken lights or signs
Make sure that you have someone who can do a regular walk around the outdoor space to check for issues. Often, these are items that might get overlooked by your tenant.
3. Offer Energy-Efficient Upgrades
Use maintenance work to upgrade old parts of your building and their systems. You can often choose more energy-efficient solutions that could save your tenant money, such as:
- LED lighting
- Energy-efficient HVAC units
- Solar paneling
It's always important to weigh the costs and benefits of any commercial real estate care. Yet, energy-efficient upgrades will always help retain tenants, which is worth remembering.
4. Plan for Emergencies
While you can prevent some issues and breakdowns, emergencies will still happen. What you can do is make sure you are well-prepared for them.
For example, have a backup plan in place if your building suffers from flooding or damage after a hurricane. And ensure that you have a large team of 24-7 contractors on standby to help with any emergency callout.
5. Listen To Your Tenants
Good maintenance is also about being proactive and responsive to your tenants' needs.
Ensure you have a robust system for capturing and prioritizing issues when your commercial tenants report them. Keep them updated on progress and provide accurate timescales wherever possible. Ideally, use an online portal so tenants can monitor everything from one dashboard.
Mastering Your Commercial Property Maintenance
Commercial property maintenance often leaves you with an extensive task list, but don't let it overwhelm you. Staying organized and using these five building maintenance tips will ensure you keep your investments in excellent condition.
PMI MetroBay can transform everyday demands into a hassle-free venture by taking on your commercial property management in Tampa. Find out how our experienced property management team can help you by viewing our services here.
