Author: MaintenX

Commercial real estate is a tricky market to navigate. While financial projections are the primary consideration for buyers, aesthetic features and building maintenance can put one property over the edge in a highly competitive environment. MaintenX specializes in building repair and renovations and has had many experiences with facility inspections at the time of sale. If you want your building to jump off the page in its listing, follow these three maintenance steps: Schedule a maintenance inspection.  Before you begin showing your property, make sure you plan an inspection with your maintenance team to see what needs to be repaired or updated. Just like a home inspection, this can ensure you find any flaws before potential buyers do. If you currently have a renter, you may be able to have them cover the costs of repairs due to wear and tear. Update any necessary facility systems.  While appliances can easily be replaced from lease to lease, the bones of your facility need to be in good working order before you sell. Any system your tenant is not responsible for – including the HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and roofing systems – should be in tip-top shape before showing your building to prospective buyers or agents. Invest in curb appeal. The exterior of your building will make the first impression on buyers – both online and onsite. Before you take photos for your listings or bring agents onsite, invest in exterior maintenance and landscaping services to improve your facility’s appearance. If you are interested in doing minor renovations or improvements to your building before listing it for sale, contact your local MaintenX team today for information!

Remote work is likely to become the defining feature of office jobs in the 21st century. While the COVID-19 pandemic forced many companies’ hands into the remote setting, it has stuck even after businesses are able to open. The reduced overhead for businesses as well as increased freedom and flexibility for employees makes it a win-win that most brands are eager to enjoy. However, with this dramatic shift in the workplace environment, there are also dramatic shifts in workplace culture that need to be managed. Many companies express the same challenges when attempting to switch to remote workplace culture. If you are struggling with any of these three issues, there are ways to manage the growing pains and come out the other side more successfully. Personality types  While many introverted people love the work-from-home setup, not all of your employees will thrive in an isolated environment. Your extroverted employees will miss the office environment and may look elsewhere if your company does not provide some sort of collaborative environment. Offer options for these employees, whether it is a coworking space or travel opportunities to events such as conferences and corporate retreats. The unfair advantage If you have some employees working remotely and some still in the office, they may start to feel a workplace cultural divide. The employees working from home may feel disconnected from the workplace culture, while those in the office may feel jealous of those who are able to stay at home. If your company is going to bridge this divide, you should ensure that everyone has equal opportunity for some office work and some at-home work. By providing choices rather than giving orders, you allow everyone to work in the environment that makes them feel most comfortable. Peer pressure If you give employees the option to work from home, you must emphasize that this option is equally valid to coming into the office and that it does not reflect on one’s personal standing or work ethic. While many employees prefer to work from home for focused, independent work, they may feel that it reflects poorly on themselves compared to the employees who show up every day (even if their performance is on par or greater). Building remote work into the culture takes time and should be viewed with high regard by your upper management. If you are interested in recreating your facility in order to reflect your business’ changing values, contact MaintenX today to learn about our renovation options.

Running a business is very similar to organizing a family household. There are about a hundred moving parts that all need to be attended to, and only a small team of people to make things happen. If you want to succeed, you need to attend to both with careful attention to detail, as well as develop excellent communication skills to ensure everyone is on the same page. If you are struggling to manage your facility’s maintenance department, take a few tips from home in order to improve preventative care and the organization of your team: Organize  At home, you likely have a to-do list or weekly routine that keeps you and the family accountable for all that needs to be done. This is exactly the kind of organization that is needed for your maintenance department as well. A preventative care checklist can help ensure that maintenance services aren’t missed on a monthly or quarterly basis and that your preventative care program actually works according to plan. Delegate  In most households, the work is divided by role to ensure everything gets done and everyone pitches in. Dad does the grocery shopping, mom cleans the bathrooms, the kids tend to the family pet, and so on. This division of labor happens in your maintenance department not only by specialty (such as plumbing vs. HVAC) but by team seniority and skillset development. Your maintenance team should have a pecking order based on experience and evaluated skills to ensure young talent is cultivated, but your best technicians are available for important service. Communicate  The strength of a household is fully dependent on communication. If you can’t communicate with our team, then you can’t consider yourself a team at all. This is why open communication is a core value for the MaintenX team. We encourage technicians to ask questions, raise concerns, and communicate honestly with clients to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that nobody is operating without the full information they need to do the job. In a workplace where communication is encouraged, the best service is possible. These family values can easily translate to the workplace if they are cultivated within your team’s culture. To learn more about developing your maintenance team for success, visit our Resource Center.

MaintenX is headquartered in Tampa, Florida, and it comes as no surprise to the locals that our most requested service in the area is HVAC repair. Many would agree that you’re not really a Floridian unless you’ve had the A/C break down in the middle of July. The excessive heat coupled with intense humidity puts units under incredible stress, and as they get older they simply cannot keep up. So, what happens when you’re in the middle of the work day and the A/C shuts off completely? In many cases, it is not safe for employees to continue working, especially in commercial kitchens or bakeries when the heat is already intense. And, even if you can keep your doors open, it’s unlikely that customers will want to stay if you don’t have A/C in your building. If you are worried about this possibility (or are experiencing it right now), here’s what you need to do:

• Call your MaintenX team immediately – If the A/C is shut off completely, call your local provider immediately for service. Because summer is our busiest month it may take several hours or even the next day for us to send a team onsite. The sooner you call, the sooner a team can be dispatched to help.

• Turn up the thermostat – Oftentimes, we turn down the temperature in an attempt to get the building to cool faster, but this only overworks the system. If your unit can’t keep up, turn up the temperature to give it a break and avoid a complete shutoff.

• Check for airflow issues – Airflow can be blocked by old air filters, furnishings against the vents, or even clutter near the main indoor unit. This can cause the unit to overwork and shut down, but is luckily an easy fix.

Once you’ve followed these three steps, wait until your HVAC technician arrives to provide an analysis and diagnosis. Your MaintenX team can help you either repair or find solutions to your issue to ensure you stay cool through the summer.

2022 has seen one of the hottest summers on record, with the Rocky Mountain region and southwest seeing the worst of the heat waves. However, across the U.S. businesses are feeling the heat, and their A/Cs are struggling to keep up. If you haven’t experienced HVAC issues already this summer, you’re likely to by August. And, for certain facilities, it can become bad enough to force emergency closures. High temperatures aren’t just uncomfortable; they can cause onsite accidents and injuries related to dehydration, exhaustion, and even heat stroke. While outdoor jobs like agriculture and construction are at higher risk for heat-related accidents and injuries, workers inside can also be at risk if the A/C isn’t running properly. OSHA recommends indoor temperatures stay between 68-76°F, because the risk of onsite injury raises by 3.5% for temperatures in the 80s, and increases by 7% when temperatures reach the 90s.  With this in mind, it’s essential for businesses to maintain their HVAC systems. Below are a few ways you can beat the heat and avoid emergency HVAC breakdowns this summer:

• Ensure proper airflow – If your air filters are clogged or there are furnishings blocking your air flow, your HVAC system will have a hard time keeping up. Removal of these barriers is an easy fix if your HVAC system is struggling to keep up.

• Consider zoned units – If your business has several large spaces to heat and cool, you may consider zoning them to control the temperature in each area. This way, spaces like the commercial kitchen can be kept at a cooler temperature to combat the indoor heat, while areas like your lobby can be maintained by a smaller unit.
• Check-in with your HVAC tech – A consultation and tune-up is never a bad idea in the middle of summer. This can help you catch issues sooner so your system doesn’t completely give out in the middle of the work day.

MaintenX can help you maintain your facility’s HVAC system with preventative care and reliable emergency service. To learn more about your summer HVAC options, contact one of our local offices today!

Environmental sustainability is the biggest trend in marketing today. According to a 2015 Nielson Study, approximately ⅔ of consumers globally are willing to pay more for a product that is marketed as sustainable. In the 15-20 age group for that year (today’s 22 to 27-year-olds), 72% would pay more for products marketed as sustainable. As this age bracket grows into the dominating consumer, it is no surprise that every company everywhere wants to be seen as eco-friendly. However, what are the implications of this marketing trend? While many businesses are genuinely making changes to support their environment and community through better business practices, others are scraping by with the bare minimum in order to use sustainability as a marketing buzzword. Is sustainability a true community goal, or is it simply a word we like to use in order to position our products better? Consumers have greater access to company information than ever before, so superficially sustainable companies are easy to expose. If you want your business to make a real impact on the environment and on customers, there are ways to promote sustainability the right way. Ways You Can Ethically Promote Sustainability

• Release Impact Reports – Impact reports aren’t just for nonprofits and certified B-Corps. Any business can release impact reports on their websites to promote their achievements throughout the year with honesty and integrity.

• Look for affordable ways to give back – While business operational changes and product designs are often the first places businesses look to become more sustainable, you can reach even greater impact by offering volunteer opportunities to employees, providing charitable donations, and otherwise supporting green initiatives in your community.

• Get certified – Consumers are wising up to brands that are only superficially sustainable. By getting certifications for your products and brand, you can prove to customers that you’re not all talk.

Sustainability can be a great marketing tool, as long as you use it honestly and with integrity. If you’re looking for ways to make your building more sustainable, talk to a MaintenX team or visit our Resource Center for more information on sustainable facility maintenance.

MaintenX has been in business for over 40 years, and works with hundreds of clients across the country in order to provide convenient and affordable facility maintenance service. We’ve been able to cultivate a reputation for excellence, not only because of our stellar contractor network but because of the guiding principles that shape the way we do business. And while we couldn’t do it without our incredible technicians and dispatch teams, there is one thing that weaves us together from the corporate level all the way to individual interactions with our customers. We have three priorities that guide every action on the MaintenX team, from top-down decisions to the maintenance service you receive on the job site:

• Safety – We would not be where we are without our talented technicians. Therefore, their safety is at the top of our list for operational success. By providing training, equipment, and safety resources, we prevent onsite accidents and ensure our technicians have long and successful careers.

• Communication – In an emergency, you need maintenance service that is fast and reliable. That is why we’ve invested in the best work-order management and dispatch systems in order to provide you with fast service when disaster strikes. This also facilitates communication for preventative maintenance to ensure you never miss a step.

• Integrity – When dealing with a maintenance emergency, you will likely feel pressured to do whatever your technician tells you. You don’t have time to vet or get a second opinion if the roof is leaking or the plumbing’s backed up. At MaintenX, you don’t need to worry. We individually vet contractors for their service and ensure they not only provide great service but a wealth of information so you can make informed decisions for your building.

MaintenX has the same priorities you do – to get you back on your feet with the best maintenance service around. If you’re looking for a maintenance service that can deliver, fast, reliable, and trustworthy service, contact your local MaintenX team to learn more.

Office spaces used to be designed for maximum occupancy. The era of the cubicle was a testament to this, and while it had its perks, there were many drawbacks that forced this office style out. The lack of personality, collaboration, and an often too-sterilized work environment made many companies question whether or not cramming their office spaces was the best idea for productivity. And, as America changes from a labor economy to an intellectual economy, designing the workplace for mental clarity and engagement is a top priority.

As office designs go from being practical to collaborative, occupancy recommendations may change. Before designing your office space, it’s important to take a look at several factors when designing individual desks and workspaces:

• What type of work is being done
• How often collaboration is necessary or encouraged on the job
• The average customer-to-employee ratio
• Whether employees value open or closed spaces for working; or both
• How many employees work partially from home or in the field

Not all office spaces are built the same, and many are changing drastically in wake of COVID-19. In some companies, less than half of employees are returning to traditional office roles, while others are taking partial work-from-home options. This will likely lead to another social restructuring to blend the best of both worlds. More homes will feature modern office spaces, while more businesses will incorporate the comforts of home in order to retain happy employees.

The ideal occupancy of your building will ultimately depend on your goals, industry, business structure, and employee needs. However, no matter how many employees you have onsite, you must ensure they are provided the best office conditions possible.

To learn more about ways MaintenX can help you renovate your office space for the changing corporate environment, visit our Resource Center.

Workplace values are changing, and for the better. In many of today’s top corporations, productivity is being replaced with engagement as the primary driver for employee policies. Companies are wising up to the idea that happiness can translate to productivity, and that they don’t have to drive with force in order to get things done. Employees who are happy at work are noticeably different from employees who simply show up in order to earn a paycheck. While a certain salary may be able to get people to work longer hours or apply to jobs they aren’t otherwise interested in, it can’t make them committed to a company’s mission or steer them away when a more lucrative opportunity comes along. Plus, studies show that happy employees are 12% more productive than those who are not. In many cases, a higher salary is not a motivator once a specific economic threshold is met. Once people’s basic needs and lifestyle are met, money can’t make them happier. However, creating a workplace where work-life balance is valued, people’s talents are celebrated, and employees can see the difference they’re making can help create a loyal staff. Offering these intangible benefits can motivate employees to work harder and stay at the company longer. If you want to weave happiness into your company culture, there are several ways you can change your building’s infrastructure and policies:

• Offer comfort – Office spaces are often designed for aesthetics rather than comfort, which makes employees miserable. There is no reason you need an office to look a certain way if it doesn’t serve the person in the chair. Make comfort a priority when choosing furnishings and general building design.

• Create inviting outdoor spaces – Being trapped in a sterile, artificial office all day is the fear of many modern employees. They want to feel not only mentally engaged but physically cared for as well. Providing places outside where employees can walk, get fresh air, and enjoy a little sunshine can help them feel less trapped and isolated at work.

• Support work-life balance suited to individual needs – Culture is adapting to all types of lifestyles and all types of work schedules, from the part-timer to the workaholic. By allowing people to choose the rok-life balance they want through part-time, work-from-home, and accommodating vacation options, you can engage employees at the stage in life they’re currently experiencing.

We spend a third of our lives at work – making the office a place where that time can be enjoyed is the key to employee retention and productivity over the long haul. To learn more about ways you can improve your facility for employee health and happiness, visit our Resource Center.

The B-Corp standard is one of the highest standards of ethics in the corporate world. This certification, which is gained through several months or even years of certification, is attained by businesses dedicated to making an environmental and social impact through their operational practices. The B-Corp standard was founded as a motivator for businesses to structure themselves in a way that provides environmental, social, and health benefits to the greater community, and receive recognition for their hard work. However, it takes hard work to reach these goals, part of which is incorporated into a business’ building design. If you are currently in the process of B-Corp certification and want to ensure your building helps you meet the standards, there are several ways you can improve your building’s energy structure: Solar energy Solar is an obvious answer for many commercial facilities, especially those with flat roofing systems. However, investing in solar can be tricky, even with the right incentives and government rebates available to your business. If you can’t install solar directly, consider purchasing it indirectly through credit programs or other energy options through the state. HVAC, lighting, and water upgrades These three elements consume most of the energy in your building, accounting for over half of your facility’s carbon consumption in many cases. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint in major ways, you need to rethink the way your facility uses its resources. HVAC, lighting, and water systems can be built for maximum energy efficiency while still fitting modern needs. Talk to your MaintenX team about upgrades to see where you can cut carbon in major ways. Energy offsets If you live in an area that does not provide energy-efficient options, you may consider purchasing carbon offsets in order to meet B-Corp standards. In smaller cities and rural areas of America, it can be difficult to access the technologies necessary for energy efficiency. However, by purchasing carbon offsets (which in many cases can be tax writeoffs), you are still playing your part while making the most of the resources available in your community. MaintenX can help you build a better business with eco-friendly installments and maintenance services for modern energy-efficient appliances. To learn more about how we can help your business become more energy-efficient and eco-conscious, visit our Resource Center.