When a Handyman Isn’t Enough: Commercial Property Maintenance

When it comes to fixing a leaky faucet or painting a high-traffic wall, a reliable handyman can be a lifesaver.  The well-known, jack of all trades image of a handyman is the perfect quick fix for everyday repairs around the house or in small business spaces. But when you’re managing a commercial property like an office building or retail space the need is different, and so is the solution. So where is the tipping point? Below we get into some of the specifics of managing commercial repairs and maintenance and help identify where our needs might exceed the skills of our favorite handyman. 

Know Your Role: Understanding the Skills of a Handyman

A handyman is by nature a generalist who handles a wide range of minor repairs and maintenance tasks. This can include fixing door hinges, repairing drywall, replacing light fixtures, or patching a leak under the sink. In residential settings or for very small businesses, handymen can be a great solution that comes at a reasonable price.

However, even the best handyman has limitations. Most are not skilled in specialized trades like electrical work, plumbing, or HVAC systems, which can be a problem in commercial facilities where a knowledgeable approach to repair and maintenance of major building systems is important.  Additionally, they typically work alone or as part of a small team, making it hard to use their services on large projects. For commercial property managers, these limitations can quickly become a liability when issues extend beyond basic upkeep.

What Makes My Property So Different

For residential purposes, handyman services can be a perfect fit.  However, the needs of commercial buildings can present challenges.  Unlike homes, commercial properties involve large-scale, complex building systems—HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and elevators require specialized knowledge and even certifications that are typically beyond the comfort zone of a handyman.  In addition, commercial tenants have higher expectations that can be tied to their lease agreements with the owner.  In some cases, service is required within specific periods of time and within specific guidelines for materials and finishes.  Related to tenant satisfaction is the potential for downtime in the space.  Any interruption in the building could have an effect on multiple businesses. For these reasons, relying primarily on the services of a handyman in your commercial space is a big risk.

You Need Professional Help

Recognizing when it’s time to move beyond handyman services is important to your overall investment and ensures tenant satisfaction. One clear sign your ready for professional maintenance services is frequent or recuring maintenance and breakdowns.  This typically points to patches instead of repairs.  One of the best measurements of this type of maintenance and repair work is the frequency of tenant complaints about unresolved repairs, poor response times, or other building issues. A strictly reactive approach to maintenance and repair projects can lead to emergency repairs and downtime in your building.  A dedicated commercial property maintenance team brings the expertise, tools, and preventive strategy that focuses on a quick response and anticipation of future repair and replacement needs to avoid issues and keep your building running smoothly.

Call In the Experts

A full-service commercial maintenance team goes beyond a quick fix.  Professional teams will provide a structured and strategic plan to address maintenance and repair of your building.  The bench strength of a professional team means this plan is layered with expert insights and experience to address existing concerns as well as create a preventive maintenance plan that is designed to help extend the life of major building systems and equipment that can be expensive to replace.  Additionally, 24/7 emergency service should be an option and provides a level of comfort that regardless of the timing, major issues will be resolved quickly.  Unlike handymen, these teams include experts in a number of skilled trades ensuring professional level work.  They’ll also handle vendor management and procurement to further support your building operations and reduce the burden on property managers and related staff.  And finally, all of this activity will be included in regular reporting from the issue of a work order to completion of a routine preventive maintenance check so you can monitor progress.

So What’s It Going To Cost

While handyman services might seem like a cost-effective solution, the reality is it is a short-term fix in most situations.  Full-service commercial maintenance delivers much greater long-term value for a building owner. For example, if your team puts off regular maintenance of a commercial A/C unit it likely results in upfront savings.  But, if that same unit fails during a summer heatwave, a replacement could cost tens of thousands of dollars and likely have a negative impact on your building tenants.  The better, more cost-effective approach is to routine maintenance of the system and equipment that most likely extend the lifespan by several years and at a fraction of the cost of replacement or major repair when it fails.  Looking past the physical building, the impact a professional maintenance and repair technician can have on tenant satisfaction can’t be overlooked.  Happy tenants are more likely to renew leases which means reduced turnover and vacancy costs. In commercial real estate that can have a big impact on revenue.  In the end, the cost of peace of mind and reliable service levels is a strategic investment.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, while handymen have a place and can be valuable for small or residential properties, the specialized needs and scale of commercial real estate mean they’re not usually equipped to handle the work. Building owners will benefit most from a more detailed and measured approach that protects the value of their property. Don’t wait for small issues to turn into costly repairs.