Commercial property maintenance and management in Chicago can be a difficult job.  You’re responsible for likely millions of dollars in investments, which must be protected and also grown, if possible.  Meanwhile, you also have to maintain the satisfaction of the tenants, visitors, customers, and other people making use of the property.  That’s a tricky balancing act for anyone, even experienced property managers.

At Genesis Construction, we’ve spent over 25 years building a reputation as a great partner for Chicagoland commercial property maintenance, and we know how to make a property run more smoothly. We have some tips that should, hopefully, make your job a bit easier.

X Ways to Improve Your Chicago Commercial Property Maintenance and Management

1 – Know your property, regulations, and competition

Keeping a commercial property viable and thriving is very much a competitive endeavor, and that means you should understand your property and its regulations in as much detail as possible.  Be an expert on local zoning laws, and don’t allow properties to ever fall out of compliance.  That can bring some awkward visits from city officials.

Likewise, be aware of what your competition is doing.  What other nearby commercial properties offer the same features, or target the same types of businesses/tenants?  You should keep a close eye on them and be ready to respond whenever they make a move that could threaten your position.  Or if they have a problem, such as a pest infestation, be ready to proclaim your supremacy.

(Protip: Following them on social media under an alt account can be a great way to gather intelligence without being obvious about it.)

2 – Invest in good property management software

If there’s one common factor in the property managers, we work with who are truly successful in their jobs, it’s that they’ve invested in a great software package that reduces their workload.  Modern property management software can handle everything from accounting to tracking tenant maintenance tickets, as well as offering automatic alerts for legal issues (taxes, inspections, etc.) which need to be handled by certain deadlines.

Plus, good software packages offer robust analytics and long-term trends tracking.  They can actually become more useful over time, as the data you put into them can continue to provide increasingly detailed insights into your property year after year.

3 – Be proactive about maintenance – with a plan

Preventative maintenance is always going to be less expensive overall, compared to ignoring a small problem until it becomes a big problem.  We’ve seen too many properties that allowed themselves to fall into disrepair because their managers tried to pinch pennies on maintenance. That’s a “money saving” tactic which can become very costly if it goes on too long.

Do frequent walkarounds and inspections on your property, taking note of any potential issues such as broken signs, fallen branches, shaky railings, etc.  Put particular priority on anything which could be a health and safety hazard.  The last thing you want is an injury lawsuit dragging you into the public eye for the wrong reasons.  Also be sure that all your major utilities – plumbing, electrical, internet, etc. – receive plenty of attention and are well-maintained at all times.

4 – Upgrades are a good thing

Never rest on your laurels!  Technology and standards in commercial properties are constantly advancing, and you need to keep up.  A property, which isn’t seeing frequent upgrades and renovations, is in danger of stagnating, which is never a good thing in a business that’s looking to grow.

Smart investments into upgrades, renovations, and tenant-focused features will help you maintain your current tenants, while attracting new ones whenever you need to fill a space.  You want as many talking points as possible when selling people on your property, and that means being able to offer the latest and greatest features.

5 – Keep your tenants happy

Properties are really fighting for tenants right now, and you don’t want your current renters to feel like they can get better services elsewhere.  You want a safe, attractive, positive environment that will attract and retain tenants, while also satisfying the needs of their own customers.  Take time to understand the operations utilizing your property, and what their business needs entail.  They will appreciate that you’re looking to make their lives easier, and that can significantly increase tenant satisfaction.

Be sure they have open lines of communication as well, and know they have a way of reaching you if they have problems, questions, or concerns.  The more open and inviting you are with your tenants, the more likely they are to feel like all their needs are being addressed.

 

Genesis Construction specializes in commercial property maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and renovations.  From basic repairs to major overhauls, we offer top-quality work at fair prices, performed by highly trained specialists.  Contact us to discuss your needs.