Facility maintenance is a consistent cycle of finding new tasks, completing them, and moving on to the next. A Facilities Manager’s attention is being pulled in several directions at any given moment, so punchlists are their best friend. An organized approach to repairs and maintenance can be the difference between a commercial facility looking brand-new or showing its age. For facilities that are open to a tenant’s customers, upkeep can have a direct affect on their reputation and sales. The amount of care put into a facility can tell a customer a lot about what kind of treatment they can expect from the company. With that in mind, here is a list of maintenance items that can help leave a good impression on customers.

| WINDOWS

A building’s windows are one of the first things a customer sees as they approach. They should be clean, free of cracks or chips, and have good seals all the way around. The best way to keep up on window maintenance is through a proactive, preventative maintenance schedule. That way, you can catch issues early before they become a real problem and you’re caught in the rain (literally). Your facility services company can work with you to set up a preventative maintenance schedule and keep an eye on this for you. And in the worst situations, they should also be able to provide emergency board-up services. Be sure you know what emergencies your service provider can handle ahead of time.

| BATHROOMS

If a facility has bathrooms that are available to customers, it’s important to make sure they’re clean and in good working order. A bathroom in disrepair can be enough to prevent someone from returning to a business. This is another area where preventative maintenance can make a difference. Rely on your facility services provider to put a schedule in place for a janitorial services as well as a regular plumbing assessment to take care of things like minor fixture leaks.

| EXTERIOR WALKWAYS

A facility’s exterior appearance is just as important as the interior, and walkways are one of the biggest surfaces that customers interact with. Regular maintenance and cleaning, especially in high-traffic areas, shows attention to detail. Keep an eye out for chips or cracks in curbs, sidewalk trip hazards that need to be addressed, and dirt or debris that should be removed. Your facility services company should be able to address all of these concerns with patchwork, concrete grinding, and power washing services.

| PAINT

A fresh coat of paint is one of the best ways to keep a facility in peak condition. Not only does it serve to freshen up the look of the building, but it acts as a protective barrier to corrosion and helps everything last longer. Always keep a few cans of your current paint scheme colors on hand for touch-ups and plan for a full repaint project every five or so years. It’s one of the simplest ways to make a good impression on customers.

| LIGHTING

Lighting is one of those things that only gets noticed when it’s not working properly. Because of this, it’s crucial to keep it in good working order. Burned-out or flickering lights are an eye sore and can sour the customer experience. If lighting issues do crop up, they should be addressed swiftly to ensure their impact on customers is minimal. Depending on how often a Facilities Manager can be on-site, it might be a good idea to ask a vendor to keep an eye out for things like this during their visits. It’s something that could fall under the Delegate list in our tips for making a prioritized maintenance schedule.

| SIGNS

Signage around a facility is important. It communicates to customers where they are, who they’re dealing with, and how to get where they’re trying to go. Facilities Managers should frequently review signage both inside and out to make sure it’s clean and easy to understand. Indoor signs, like directories and name placards, should be updated as tenants move in or out. Outdoor signs, like business names and logos or parking signage, should be highly visible and use dedicated lighting, reflective paint, or both. Throughout the facility, signs should be kept clean and replaced when damaged.

AAA Facility Services offers a full suite of repair and maintenance services in addition to our construction, plumbing, and electrical divisions. Contact us today to find out how we can help your facility make a good impression on customers.