Hiring a contractor for facility maintenance can be difficult for even the most seasoned business owners. In the digital age, it takes a little more than a word and a handshake to make sure you, your team members, and your tenants are protected. Here are some tips to make the process more manageable:
These days it’s pretty easy to type in a potential contractor’s business name into Google—but dig a little deeper. Do they have a website? Do the address and phone number match their listing on Google? Dive in and read some customer reviews if they are available. Pay close attention to review dates and weigh more recent reviews heavily. Relying on a referral from a trusted friend or partner can be a good idea but there are pitfalls—so make sure you research those leads just as much.
When it comes to facility maintenance, reviews are more important than ever. Reviews can provide valuable insight into the quality of a company's work and their overall customer service experience. By reading reviews from current and past customers, you’ll be able to get an idea of what kind of services the company provides, how reliable they are, and whether or not they have good communication with their clients.
Additionally, looking at reviews can help you identify any potential red flags when deciding on which facility maintenance company to hire. Ultimately, taking the time to look at reviews can help you make an informed decision that will benefit your business in the long run. So don’t hesitate—take advantage of online reviews and make sure you choose a facility maintenance partner that you can trust.
By doing your due diligence and researching reviews, you’ll be able to find a facility maintenance company with the right fit for your business needs. Doing so will ensure that your facility is maintained in the most efficient and effective manner possible, while also giving you peace of mind knowing that you made a smart decision when hiring a partner.
Investing in the best facility maintenance services for your business is worth it in the long run, so make sure you consider customer reviews before making any decisions.
Many companies will say they are “licensed and bonded” but what does that mean? Make sure to ask for a copy of their most recent Commercial Liability Policy. Make sure to check the date. In many cases, you can call the insurance company and verify if the certificate is still active. Just because a contractor had insurance a few years ago, doesn’t mean their policy is current. This simple verification could prove useful if anything were to ever happen on one of your properties.
A facility maintenance company is responsible for providing critical services that keep buildings and their occupants safe. Therefore, it is essential to have a licensed and insured facility maintenance company. This ensures that workers are properly trained in safety regulations as well as the latest industry standards and practices.
Additionally, liability insurance protects both the facility maintenance company and its clients from potential financial losses incurred due to accidents or damages caused by negligence or malfunctions of equipment on-site.
By having a licensed and insured facility maintenance company you can be sure that all safety guidelines are being followed correctly while also protecting yourself financially in the event of an unexpected issue. Ultimately, licensing and insurance provide peace of mind knowing that your business is in good hands when it comes to facility maintenance services.
Now that you’ve found your trusted contractor, make sure that the scope of work is clear and in writing. We’ve known some contractors to talk about scope of work verbally, by phone, or even in text messages —this is not ideal. It’s always best to get a written proposal or contract which details services, the timing of work, and when inspections will be done. This is also the opportunity to stipulate how payment will be made and when. You don’t want to get into a situation where a contractor is asking for work upfront without it being done yet.
When hiring a facility maintenance company, it is important to get everything in writing and identify the services you need. This will help ensure that all parties involved know what is expected of them and what they can expect from each other. It also allows for contract renegotiations should unexpected changes occur during the course of the agreement. A detailed written agreement should include an outline of services needed, timelines for completion, payment terms, and any specific requirements or qualifications that may be necessary.
Having this information documented will help both parties understand their roles and responsibilities when it comes to facility maintenance. Ultimately, having a clearly-defined relationship with your chosen facility maintenance provider will make sure that everyone is on the same page and working towards achieving successful results.
There are some good resources about checking the licensing of a contractor on the Utah Department of Commerce website here.
As always, we hope you find these tips useful. Rubicon can be your trusted partner in facility management.
