Exterior Maintenance of a Commercial Building Is Critical for Storm Preparedness

3/19/2020 (Permalink)

You must keep the building maintained to stay profitable

Owning a commercial property can be a smart investment in Belton, MO. Choosing an area where rents are expected to either stay stable or increase can bring a return on investment of around 9%, better than three times the average return on residential rentals. However, to make it pay off, you need to keep up with exterior maintenance to be ready for storms and other issues.

You Must Keep the Building Maintained to Stay Profitable

When a property isn’t maintained, it’s useful life will be reduced – and rents may be as well. Commercial buildings also normally require more maintenance than homes. There are a few reasons for this:

• Tenants and customers are harder on properties than owners.
  
• Commercial operations tend to cause more wear and tear.
  
• Businesses are more likely to cut corners on maintenance in the pursuit of profit.
  
  

Storm Preparedness Starts With the Cladding

Whether you have siding or cladding on your building, it’s the first line of defense against inclement weather. That’s why exterior maintenance is so important – a tiny leak in the wrong place can cause massive, hidden water damage. Holes in the exterior can be fixed easily if caught quickly.

Yearly Inspections Are Also Essential

A building inspection is not only important for long-term profit, it may be required by law. Having an expert inspect the property is your only way to know what’s really happening to it, especially if there isn’t a full-time building superintendent on-site.

If Possible, Visually Inspect the Property Yourself Every 3 Months

Walk through and around the building quarterly to make sure your tenants aren’t exacerbating an issue. Also, inspect after a significant storm. Pay close attention to vulnerable areas, such as the siding, around windows and visible portions of the roof. If you see rust, you need a follow-up inspection an expert.
If you see an issue in your walkthrough, call a professional storm cleanup company to examine the damage and determine the best course. Good exterior maintenance will help prevent excessive repairs, reduce damage from storms and identify tenant carelessness, but eventually, all buildings will need repairs.