Property Maintenance is essential to the ongoing development of
commercial and retail facilities. Mandatory maintenance such as repair
to non-working electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems comes first. But
other projects must be prioritized to get the most out of your budget.
In order to maximize revenue and minimize costs, consider the
maintenance areas that will have the highest impact. We recommend the
following items to avoid potential high dollar repairs and to increase
the attractiveness of properties, thus drawing new tenants and/or
customers.
Properties that are well maintained will appreciate. Properties that are neglected will lose. In the interest of protecting your investment, we have identified six critical areas that every owner should address.
HVAC
Summer is nearly upon us and for those of you not in our area, Charlotte gets plenty of heat! The past few years have been above normal in temperature and below normal in rainfall. If your property has an HVAC system for which you are responsible, you will do well to get the system tuned and ready before the high temps hit. Tenants are often responsible for their own HVAC systems. It is a good idea to communicate with them and remind them of the division of responsibility. A gentle reminder before a problem occurs may head off a "heated" misunderstanding in the future.
Landscaping for Curb Appeal
Spring and summer in the South are beautiful. Trees and bushes in bloom and grass greening from a long and dry winter make people want to get out and enjoy! Be sure your property is pleasantly landscaped. Get rid of plants that may have died over the winter, or those that have a wild unkempt appearance. Trim bushes and put a fresh layer of pine straw or mulch in planting beds. If you are going to plant new items, now is the time to do it before the summer temperatures reach their peak.
Pay attention to color. The planting of even a small bed of colorful flowers will lift the appearance of an otherwise bland center. Colors draw the eye to the location and are a literal, non-verbal advertisement.
Parking lot maintenance
A thorough check for asphalt or concrete damage that may have occurred over the winter months is a good idea. Repair of potholes and significant cracks is good practice to avoid claims for auto damage, or worse, personal injury. Fix problems now before the onset of heavy summer traffic.
Re-striping the lot will definitely make the property look newer and more inviting. Many owners attend to the buildings and landscape and ignore the parking areas. A well defined and neat parking area is every bit as important to make the facility appealing to the eye, a very important factor when attracting new tenants to office buildings and customers to retail centers.
Signage
An attractive sign gets attention. It's important to be sure lighting is in working condition and that tenant signage is up to date. If a tenant has left, the sign, if applicable, should be removed. Have a new tenant? Be sure their business is included on any combined development signage.
General cleaning and sprucing up
Summer is the time to do a good general cleaning of exterior surfaces of the property. Windows and sidewalks that are especially marred by the tree pollen will really benefit from pressure washing and scrubbing. Spring brings out the shoppers so make a good impression. Happy shoppers are more likely to come back to your retail center; happy tenants are better for your bottom line!
Tenant space general inspection
Periodically make a general inspection of rented space to ensure that no problem areas exist. The inspection can be two-fold. One, you will become aware of any damage to space and two, you make contact with the tenant as an enhancement of landlord/tenant relations. Live too far away for personal inspection? Hire a reputable maintenance company to handle your maintenance and to keep you advised of potential problem areas.
Properties that are well maintained will appreciate. Properties that are neglected will lose. In the interest of protecting your investment, we have identified six critical areas that every owner should address.
HVAC
Summer is nearly upon us and for those of you not in our area, Charlotte gets plenty of heat! The past few years have been above normal in temperature and below normal in rainfall. If your property has an HVAC system for which you are responsible, you will do well to get the system tuned and ready before the high temps hit. Tenants are often responsible for their own HVAC systems. It is a good idea to communicate with them and remind them of the division of responsibility. A gentle reminder before a problem occurs may head off a "heated" misunderstanding in the future.
Landscaping for Curb Appeal
Spring and summer in the South are beautiful. Trees and bushes in bloom and grass greening from a long and dry winter make people want to get out and enjoy! Be sure your property is pleasantly landscaped. Get rid of plants that may have died over the winter, or those that have a wild unkempt appearance. Trim bushes and put a fresh layer of pine straw or mulch in planting beds. If you are going to plant new items, now is the time to do it before the summer temperatures reach their peak.
Pay attention to color. The planting of even a small bed of colorful flowers will lift the appearance of an otherwise bland center. Colors draw the eye to the location and are a literal, non-verbal advertisement.
Parking lot maintenance
A thorough check for asphalt or concrete damage that may have occurred over the winter months is a good idea. Repair of potholes and significant cracks is good practice to avoid claims for auto damage, or worse, personal injury. Fix problems now before the onset of heavy summer traffic.
Re-striping the lot will definitely make the property look newer and more inviting. Many owners attend to the buildings and landscape and ignore the parking areas. A well defined and neat parking area is every bit as important to make the facility appealing to the eye, a very important factor when attracting new tenants to office buildings and customers to retail centers.
Signage
An attractive sign gets attention. It's important to be sure lighting is in working condition and that tenant signage is up to date. If a tenant has left, the sign, if applicable, should be removed. Have a new tenant? Be sure their business is included on any combined development signage.
General cleaning and sprucing up
Summer is the time to do a good general cleaning of exterior surfaces of the property. Windows and sidewalks that are especially marred by the tree pollen will really benefit from pressure washing and scrubbing. Spring brings out the shoppers so make a good impression. Happy shoppers are more likely to come back to your retail center; happy tenants are better for your bottom line!
Tenant space general inspection
Periodically make a general inspection of rented space to ensure that no problem areas exist. The inspection can be two-fold. One, you will become aware of any damage to space and two, you make contact with the tenant as an enhancement of landlord/tenant relations. Live too far away for personal inspection? Hire a reputable maintenance company to handle your maintenance and to keep you advised of potential problem areas.
Judy Wilson is Consulting Technician for Indian Trail Services Company or ITSCo. The company offers a full range of building and facility maintenance services to the Carolina Piedmont area, including Charlotte, Winston Salem, Columbia, and the surrounding areas. ITSCo. is a North Carolina HUB certified company. Learn more about their services at http://indiantrailservices.com or contact info@indiantrailservices.com
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