Top 5 Commercial Property Maintenance Tips

As a commercial property owner, your most important tasks are maintaining the property’s value and keeping it fully occupied with good tenants to generate rental profits. Proper building maintenance is the primary way to achieve those goals.

Building maintenance is not something to skimp on because deferred maintenance will reduce the property’s value accordingly. There are many tasks involved in properly maintaining a commercial property.

These top 5 commercial property maintenance tips can help you construct a plan for monthly, quarterly, and annual tasks to keep your commercial building in top shape to attract the best tenants and favorable rents.

1. Exterior Maintenance

Keeping the exterior of a commercial property well-maintained and in top condition helps attract new tenants and preserves the ability to charge premium lease rates. Diligent and regular care results in a more presentable and professional building environment.

Set a routine schedule to inspect the building exterior for broken window glass, damaged paint or stucco, deteriorating caulking, cracked or buckled concrete walkways, and faded or broken signage. Additionally, check the condition of paved parking areas, roofing, rain gutters, and landscaping. Make repairs as soon as possible to avoid additional damage.

You might think spending money on regular maintenance is costly, but it costs less than having to repair a damaged building later. For example, keeping the roof clear of branches, algae, and other debris can extend its life significantly, saving a good deal of money.

2. Interior Maintenance

Tenants expect the interior of the building to look as presentable and well-maintained as the exterior. Unless the terms of their lease agreement require tenants to perform their own maintenance, they expect to see upkeep such as walls that are clean, painted, and free of damage.

Good interior care includes keeping the floors free of dirt and stains and in good repair. Check lights and light fixtures throughout the building, and keep furniture in common areas clean and in good shape.

You could be confronted with legal issues for injuries due to poorly

maintained building areas. Safety is always an issue on commercial property, and performing regular, necessary maintenance keeps the building safe for tenants, employees, and customers.

3. Equipment and Facilities Safety

Commercial properties have several facilities areas the property owner must maintain, which usually play a crucial role in the property’s smooth operation.

Regularly check and maintain restrooms, break rooms, elevators, and escalators. Monitor and repair water heaters, air-conditioning units, heating, and any other utilities or facilities that fall under the property owner's responsibility.

4. Stormwater System

Evaluate the property’s stormwater control facilities and perform routine maintenance. The maintenance process should include assessing stormwater pipes, storm drains, catch basins, inlets, discharge pipes, manholes, and other devices.

Have your provider look for any signs of blockage or deterioration, and perform necessary cleaning and repairs immediately, especially if the wet season is coming.

These commercial property maintenance tips prevent accidents and damage due to improper stormwater system function. Additionally, trim or remove any vegetation that impedes the water flow. For some of the repair and maintenance work, you might need the services and expertise of a professional storm drain cleaning company because they have specialized Vactor trucks and other tools that do a more thorough cleaning job.

5. Inspect for Signs of Water Damage

Issues with a building’s pipes and plumbing can cause water leaks, which lead to significant damage if they go unnoticed and untreated. Water damage causes mildew and mold growth, which is destructive to the building in various ways.

Damp areas with slow water leaks breed allergy-causing mold spores that create problems for tenants with allergies or respiratory issues. Water spots on the ceiling, water dripping down walls, lumpy drywall, wet carpet, or warped flooring can also signal pipe leaks and other related plumbing problems.

Locate the source of the water, and immediately dry out any damp areas to prevent further problems. Have a professional plumber assess the plumbing for necessary maintenance and repairs.

Outsource Your Stormwater System Maintenance

With these commercial property maintenance tips, you can more effectively preserve your building’s value while increasing revenue and reducing costs. At CatchAll Environmental, our team of professionals can perform routine maintenance and repairs on your stormwater system, and we can even help you with any regulatory paperwork.

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