In managing residential properties, staying on top of basic maintenance and upkeep is crucial. Here are some of the most important things that managers need to prioritize.
Create a Comprehensive Maintenance Program
Managers should have a working playbook outlining every component that goes into caring for a property. A comprehensive maintenance program eliminates ambiguities about what needs to happen and when it needs to happen. Furthermore, it clarifies who is responsible for individual facets of ongoing maintenance.
Invest in Preventative Pest Control
Preventative extermination services can safeguard a building against insect and rodent invasions. The cost of proactive pest control is usually far less expensive than the cost of eradicating an active infestation.
An integrated pest management plan is preferable to spot treatments in areas limited to areas where insects or rodents are present. Critters tend to find refuge in areas that do not receive treatment, so a building-wide approach is the best way to prevent infestations from spreading.
Handle Waste Management Strategically
Managers ought to establish and enforce clear policies about residents’ use of trash rooms and receptacles. Circulate policies to residents about the importance of disposing of materials in sealed bags and which materials are recyclable.
In the context of waste management, you also have to be conscientious of the resident’s practical needs. Consider scheduling one or two days a month when residents may have access to a large disposal container in your building’s parking lot.
This smart approach to waste management strategy can prevent residents from incurring fines or subjecting the building to fines for the improper disposal of nonstandard waste items such as furniture items or bulk-sized shipping containers.
Getting a 10 yard dumpster size rental that a collection company can drop off and pick up directly onsite is a convenient and affordable waste management solution. This type of resource can be especially useful during periods with a high volume of resident turnover, the start of the spring cleaning, and the end of the holiday season.
Get Insights From Insurance Providers
The condition of apartment buildings and the caliber of their maintenance programs can significantly affect insurance coverages. Neglecting a building’s maintenance might present problems in procuring affordable rates for property and casualty insurance. Likewise, poor maintenance may hinder an insured’s ability to successfully initiate claims against a policy.
Insurers want to equip their clients to avoid these scenarios.When insurers help their clients reduce their risks, it effectively reduces their own risk.
Many insurers request to see formal maintenance programs prior to offering or renewing coverage. It may be advantageous for managers to solicit feedback. Insurers commonly offer informative resources about best practices in maintenance and risk management strategies.
Ensure That Your Maintenance Program Reflects Compliance With Local Regulations
The condition of a residential building may be subject to an array of various county, city, or municipal regulations. Building departments and fire departments share responsibility for the enforcement of rules pertaining to building safety. Issues with noncompliance might precipitate costly and entirely avoidable fines.
Managers must familiarize themselves with their local fire department’s requirements regarding life and safety systems. In particular, they must coordinate all mandatory recurring inspections in a on schedule, well before certificates of inspection or occupancy licenses elapse.
In addition, managers ought to be attuned to potential missteps with the maintenance of a building’s exterior that can result in the issuance of violations. For example, non-working gates or lights could easily catch the eye of a code compliance officer.
The requirements for compliance vary substantially by region, so managers’ comprehension of their obligations must be specific to a buildings’ locale. After identifying core requirements, managers should integrate them into their building’s written maintenance programs.
Lastly, it is important to acknowledge that making maintenance a top operational priority will help to facilitate positive sentiment within a community of residents. In turn, excellent maintenance can make a property more valuable and enable it to generate more income.
