Broken doors, damaged drywall, and a leaky roof greet you as you check on your commercial property. You're behind on your maintenance schedule, but you didn't think the building would be in such poor condition. You're now worried about how much these problems will cost to fix.
Research shows that deferring maintenance is costly, leading to short-term gains but long-term losses. Every dollar you save by postponing maintenance translates to a $4 increase in replacement costs. These additional costs might total 15 times what you would've spent on timely maintenance.
Regular maintenance and repairs are necessary to successfully sell or rent commercial properties. Let's explore how to master property maintenance for commercial properties.
Perform Preventative Maintenance
Addressing maintenance issues before they grow into bigger, more expensive problems is essential to experiencing success as a landlord. Some jobs should be handled frequently to keep your commercial building functional.
Change your air conditioning unit's air filter. Service the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system yearly. Landscape your building's exterior to keep it attractive to prospective tenants.
Other areas to check routinely include your building's smoke detectors. Flush your water heater twice yearly to keep sediment from collecting. This will cause the water to become dirty.
Tend To High-Traffic Spaces
A commercial building receives heavy traffic. Pay close attention to this area in your maintenance activities since employees and guests notice it.
Suppose your building has a main lobby. Visitors may frequently pass through it. Give the walls and floors extra attention.
Create a schedule for polishing the floors and cleaning or painting the walls. Make vacuuming the carpet daily a priority. This will keep your building looking fresh, helping draw tenants.
Look Out For Mold
Your commercial building can experience significant damage if mold takes over. That's because you'll need to clean the structure thoroughly before individuals can revisit it.
Mold may also indicate that wood is rotting in your building. It might be a sign your establishment is having plumbing problems, too.
Watch out for signs of mold as you maintain your building. It may develop near plumbing fixtures since these areas tend to be moist.
The biggest indicators of mold include a musty smell. Other issues include damp walls, leaky plumbing, and visible staining or discoloration.
Mold may look slimy, powdery, or fuzzy. Dark stains on ceilings, floors, and walls may point to a mold problem.
Are people struggling with watery eyes or sneezing? These are other signs you have mold in your building.
Do you notice indicators of mold? Address this problem immediately with help from a professional.
Maintenance and Repairs
Maintenance and repairs can help your real estate business thrive. That's because they can keep your building looking and feeling good to tenants and employees.
Your maintenance regimen should include performing preventative maintenance. This will help keep problems from escalating and becoming more expensive.
Pay special attention to your building's high-traffic areas. These parts of your building may need more maintenance attention. Looking out for signs of mold is also a wise move.
PMI Commonwealth is your leading property management company in Virginia. We can handle your repairs and maintenance tasks. Partner with us today!
