Common Mistakes Building Owners Make When It Comes to Their Maintenance Department

Construction & Contractors Blog

When you own or manage any type of commercial building, whether it's an apartment complex or shopping center, you may not think much of its maintenance, at least not until something breaks and needs repair or replacement. However, a building's maintenance is very important as keeping it in good repair can mean avoiding costlier repair bills down the road, and ensuring that it's safe for customers, tenants, and everyone else. Note a few common mistakes that building owners make when it comes to their maintenance department so you can ensure you avoid them with your own property.

1. Not upgrading software for the department

You may be concerned about your accounting software, your point of sale software, and other such computer upgrades, but then don't think about updating the computer programs you use for your maintenance department. However, the right software can generate checklists of items that need to be done by your maintenance staff to ensure nothing is overlooked; it can also create reminders of deadlines for certain tasks and track the cost of supplies you need for maintenance. If you don't update your software, you may be missing out on features that make your maintenance department run more smoothly and efficiently, and more cost-effectively as well.

2. Not planning for emergencies

Planning for emergencies can mean financial planning; you should have a certain reserve of funds for emergency repairs after a flood or fire, or if the building suffers structural damage due to soft soil or other such conditions. Emergency planning also means planning for when an emergency happens; your maintenance staff should know how to handle a fire or flood in the building in order to secure it as best they can until emergency personnel arrive. This can mean turning on sump pumps to drain floodwaters or ensuring fire doors are closed in areas of a building to cut off the spread of a fire. If you don't plan for these emergencies and train for them, they can have more devastating consequences than they would otherwise.

3. Not checking on updated codes and regulations

As a building owner, it's your ultimate responsibility to ensure that the building is up to certain codes and regulations, including fire codes, safety codes, and so on. Your maintenance staff should be trained and informed of these things and should know when to check on violations when it comes to safety of the premises. Your software can assist in these types of checks and ensuring they're done, but you also need to have regular updates from your local city council, building council, and other regulatory agencies as to any updates and changes to these codes.

For more information on this topic, check out a company like Austral Property Maintenance Pty Ltd.

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17 June 2016