Building maintenance is a crucial part of running a successful business. It ensures that your facilities are safe, comfortable, and efficient for your employees, customers, and visitors.
However, building maintenance can also be a significant expense that eats into your profits. The average maintenance cost per square foot of commercial buildings in Dubai was anywhere between AED 3 to AED 30 per month.
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce your building maintenance costs without compromising on quality or performance. In this blog, Najmat Al Miraj will share with you five simple and effective ways to lower your building maintenance expenses and boost your bottom line.
1. Perform regular preventive maintenance
Preventive maintenance is the practice of performing regular inspections and repairs on your building systems and equipment before they break down or malfunction. It can help you avoid costly breakdowns and repairs, extend the lifespan of your assets, and improve their efficiency and reliability.
Some examples of preventive maintenance tasks include:
- Inspecting HVAC systems for leaks, cracks, and clogs
- Cleaning filters, coils, and ducts
- Checking plumbing fixtures for leaks, corrosion, and blockages
- Lubricating moving parts and tightening loose connections
- Testing electrical systems and components for faults and hazards
A study by Jones Lang LaSalle found that preventive maintenance can reduce reactive maintenance costs by up to 25%. Moreover, it can also reduce energy consumption, improve indoor air quality, and enhance occupant satisfaction.
2. Implement energy-efficient measures
Energy efficiency is the use of less energy to provide the same or better level of service. It can reduce your building maintenance costs by lowering your utility bills and extending the life of your equipment.
Energy efficiency can also help you reduce your environmental impact and comply with green building standards and regulations.
Some examples of energy-efficient measures include:
- Installing LED lights, which use up to 80% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs
- Upgrading insulation, which can reduce heat loss and gain and improve thermal comfort
- Using smart thermostats, which can automatically adjust the temperature and humidity based on occupancy and weather
- Installing solar panels, which can generate clean and renewable energy and reduce your dependence on the grid
Apart from saving 20% on energy costs, energy-efficient buildings can also increase their value, attract more tenants, and improve their reputation.
3. Hire qualified and experienced maintenance technicians
Experienced maintenance technicians can perform quality work and avoid mistakes that can lead to rework, delays, and accidents.
They also give you expert advice and recommendations on how to optimize your building maintenance strategy and budget.
Here’s how you can find and hire the best maintenance technicians:
- Checking their credentials, such as licenses, certifications, and training
- Asking for references, reviews, and testimonials from previous employers and clients
- Conducting interviews, tests, and background checks to assess their skills, knowledge, and attitude
- Offering competitive compensation, benefits, and incentives to retain and motivate them
Hiring qualified and experienced building maintenance technicians can reduce maintenance costs by up to 18%.
4. Use a building maintenance software
Building maintenance software is a tool that can help you automate and streamline your building maintenance process. It can help you schedule, track, report, and communicate your maintenance tasks and activities. You can also store, organize, and access your maintenance data and documents.
Most building maintenance software come with the following features:
- Scheduling: You can create, assign, and manage your maintenance work orders and appointments with ease and efficiency
- Tracking: You can monitor and update the status and progress of your maintenance projects and technicians in real-time
- Reporting: You can generate and analyze your maintenance reports and metrics to measure and improve your performance and productivity
- Communicating: You can communicate and collaborate with your maintenance team, vendors, and customers via email, text, or phone
According to a report by Software Advice, using building maintenance software can reduce maintenance costs by up to 20%.
5. Plan and budget wisely
Planning and budgeting wisely can help you avoid overspending on your maintenance activities. It can also help you prioritize and allocate your resources and funds effectively and efficiently.
Some steps on how to plan ahead and budget wisely include:
- Conducting a building audit, which is a comprehensive assessment of your building’s condition, needs, and risks
- Setting priorities, which are the most important and urgent maintenance tasks and projects that you need to complete
- Allocating funds, which are the amount of money that you need to spend on your maintenance activities and contingencies
According to a study by the Building Owners and Managers Association, planning ahead and budgeting wisely can reduce maintenance costs by up to 15%.
Conclusion
Building maintenance is a vital part of running a successful business. It can help you save money, improve safety, and increase asset value. However, building maintenance can also be a significant expense that eats into your profits. That’s why you need to implement these five simple and effective ways to lower your building maintenance expenses:
- Perform regular preventive maintenance
- Implement energy-efficient measures
- Hire qualified and experienced maintenance technicians
- Use building maintenance software
- Plan and budget wisely
By following these tips, you can reduce your building maintenance costs and boost your bottom line.
If you need more help with your building maintenance, you can contact Najmat Al Miraj for more information or request a quote. Najmat Al Miraj is a leading building maintenance company in Dubai with high-quality and affordable services. Contact us today and let us take care of your building maintenance for you.