Property owners usually hear of residential tenants being unhappy with their landlords. However, if you own commercial property, don't think you're safe from these sentiments.
The reality is, it's even easier to fail as a commercial landlord. Your tenants will need everything to be perfect to serve their customers optimally. So your management skills must be top-notch; otherwise, you won't turn a profit on your commercial property.
Read on for four facility management best practices you should observe to ensure your tenants are satisfied.
1. Regular Maintenance
It's important to implement a preventive maintenance program. This can help you identify and address issues before they become major ones.
Regularly inspect and maintain crucial systems, such as:
- HVAC, electrical
- Plumbing
- Fire safety
Not only will fixing these small problems save you money in the long run, but it'll also impress your tenants and keep them motivated to extend their leases.
2. Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
Today's consumers are clued into the climate crisis, and they're actively making sustainable choices. This means it's vital that your commercial tenants are reducing their carbon footprint as much as they can.
Make this possible for them by implementing energy-saving practices. Use LED lighting, energy-efficient appliances, and smart building systems. You can conduct energy audits too, as these will identify areas for improvement and track energy consumption.
In addition, you can integrate sustainable practices like waste reduction, recycling programs, and the use of eco-friendly materials. To go the extra mile, consider Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for your facility.
3. Technology Integration
As technology keeps making leaps and advances, it's becoming more and more common to use pieces of tech to make life easier and more secure. If you refuse to adapt to the times, then you're sure to lose tenants.
Embrace smart building technologies for better monitoring and control of systems. For example, you can get smart lighting, HVAC, and security systems.
Plus, use computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS). These can streamline work order management.
4. Clear Communication
You'd be surprised, but most tenants don't mind inconveniences, as long as they're given notice beforehand. So if you're thinking about sweeping these things under the rug, then think again.
You should foster effective communication between facility management teams, departments, and stakeholders. To make things easier, provide clear channels for reporting issues and feedback from your tenants.
A property management company can help you with this. They'll have an online portal for easy communication. Your tenants can also easily pay rent so you don't have to hound them.
Practice Excellent Facility Management
If you want to keep your commercial tenants happy, then excellent facility management skills are a must. Without a good system in place, things can quickly fall apart. As a result, you'll get a bad reputation as a landlord.
So keep tenant turnover low and satisfaction high by implementing the above tips. Most importantly, listen to what your tenants want and give it to them. Ultimately, it'll be a win-win situation for everyone.
Get in touch with us if you'd like assistance with property management.
