Have you ever walked into a store and immediately decided not to buy from there because the building seemed run down? First impressions count, and business owners know that. It's why proactive maintenance is high on their wish list when searching for commercial property.
Read on for our essential guide on commercial property maintenance. Discover how to streamline this for your Chattanooga real estate portfolio.
Check Local Regulations for Chattanooga
Some commercial property maintenance has legal implications, so always make sure you are aware of this before embarking on any work.
For example, you'll need to ensure any fixes or modifications comply with safety rules for that property type. Likewise, there are environmental regulations and zoning rules to consider. If in doubt, consult with a legal expert.
Property Upkeep Tips: Create a Calendar for Routine Maintenance
Routine maintenance is a crucial part of managing any commercial building.
Quite often, a regular minor repair or inspection can prevent a more costly or complex problem from causing havoc with your building. So don't let this work get sidelined.
Create a calendar and ensure you have the right people available to complete the routine maintenance on time every month. That way, your property will always be in excellent condition.
Alternatively, consider investing in an online portal for your property. That gives you a dashboard for overseeing all your building maintenance.
It's also a place where your tenants can report issues, so it's more efficient than the traditional method of tenants calling you with problems. Having all your maintenance issues on one simple dashboard helps you prioritize the most critical ones, too.
Choosing Dependable Contractors
If you maintain commercial buildings, you don't want to rush around looking for a contractor each time a tenant reports a problem.
Have a directory of trusted contractors on hand who can deal with any problem, including routine maintenance.
Always have a backup and check their availability for emergencies to ensure you avoid a catastrophe if there is a serious problem in one of your properties.
Manage Your Commercial Building Care Costs
Expenses can spiral fast when you're dealing with maintenance problems. That's why it's crucial you have a budget that includes some contingency.
An ongoing inspection will help you preempt issues and avoid expensive emergency costs. However, some maintenance is unavoidable, which is why you need to have a financial cushion to pay for parts and contractors.
Regularly review your budget to ensure it's accurate.
Consider Environmental Factors
Commercial tenants want sustainable buildings. They're essential for reducing their carbon footprint and can also help lower bills through more energy-efficient, such as:
- Modern energy-efficient HVAC units
- LED bulbs
- Solar panels
When conducting repairs, consider replacing old setups with more energy-efficient options. This is often a smart investment for both you and your commercial tenant.
Commercial Property Maintenance: Looking After Your Investment
Commercial property maintenance is more than a task on your to-do list. Paying attention to your Chattanooga property can help maintain it's value and it will keep your tenants happy.
At PMI Chattanooga, we used cutting-edge technology and tried and tested processes to help our landlords streamline their commercial property management. Find out how we can help you by visiting our services page.
