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There is a fine line between being a business owner and a property manager. Managing the many risks that come along with property ownership can be extremely stressful. Sadly, there are a number of things that can go wrong with your property, but knowing how to manage them is the only way to move forward. That is why using a property management company like ICC can take all your worries away
Whether your property has been endangered by fire or damaged by damp, make sure that you are better prepared next time.
As a property owner, it is your role to ensure the safety of the staff and customers who work and shop on the premises. Looking for some advice on how to manage your property efficiently? Here is some advice on how you can tackle some of the many problems property owners face.
Property Care
Property care is extremely important for those who own older buildings. Over the years, buildings start to deteriorate and they will require some maintenance to get them back up-to-scratch. Poor building structure can be extremely dangerous and if you do have your concerns, it is advised that you always have a property surveyor to look at the problem.
Whether your property is showing signs of damp to dry rot make sure that it is treated by a property care expert, who will eradicate the problem and treat it to stop a future infestation. Damp Specialists Glasgow, Richardson and Starling say that “ it is important that damp is identified and controlled, as excessive damp will have an adverse effect on the fabric of your property”.
Damp can lead to problems such as dry & wet rot. Rot can be extremely dangerous and can cause mould growth within the walls and ceilings of your property.
Fire Standards
Fires often cause businesses to close permanently. The replacement of interior and the costs of loss outs many property owners out of business. This is why it is important that you have your business fireproofed.
Fire safety is everyone’s responsibility, however, many professionals tend to forget about the little things that can cause severe damage to businesses. It is the property owner who takes responsibility for the health and safety of those who are in the building.
As the ‘responsible person’, the property owner should t encourage the employees that work in the building to adhere to fire safety standards. Fire safety responsibilities include:
- Assessing the building for fire safety risks and reviewing it regularly
- Educating your employees about the risks you’ve identified
- Establishing and maintaining appropriate fire safety measures
- Creating a plan for emergencies
- Making sure your staff understand fire safety instruction with training
Health and Safety
30.4 million working days are lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury, therefore, cleaning your business should be something you shouldn’t think twice about. In fact, managing health and safety doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or time-consuming.
Many businesses hire professional services to clean their building as it will reduce the risks of accidents, fires and staff illness. It may seem like an obvious answer to maintaining property care, however many businesses without professional cleaning services can be prone to letting their standards slip.
If you are the owner of a smaller business, you can make smaller steps to being a cleaner business. Health and safety can be improved by decluttering. Encourage your employees to recycle piles of paper and empty cardboard boxes, not only will this save space but it will make your business more sustainable.
Vandalism
Repair and replacement costs covering vandalism can be substantial. In worst cases, paint must be bought to cover graffiti or windows have to be bought to restore the appearance of a shop front. Small businesses are affected the most by vandalism and the costs deter many from setting up shop.
Reduce the risk of vandalism by installing a security system. A security system will deter many from going ahead with a crime. In general, a security system will also make your staff and customers feel safer while they are in your property.
Also read: The Most Important Partnerships and Hires for Property Developers
About the Author
Melissa Lang is a writer from Glasgow, Scotland. Melissa has a keen eye for all things design and in the past has consulted on business branding and marketing.
