Clean is good. But sometimes clean alone isn't enough. Floors and surfaces are subjected to daily wear and tear: from shoes, moisture, dirt, cleaning agents [...]
A broken light in the stairwell, a door that doesn't close properly, leaves in front of the entrance and somewhere an old wardrobe has been sitting around for three weeks.
All small things.
Until nobody cares.
This is precisely where professional property maintenance comes into play.
Because property maintenance means significantly more than just cleaning the stairwell every now and then. A well-managed property needs someone who keeps an eye on things, identifies minor problems and ensures that the building and surrounding area remain well kept.
Or in short:
Someone needs to keep an eye on the place.
The duties of a caretaker depend very much on the property in question.
A small apartment building requires different services to a commercial property, a larger housing development or a building with many different users.
Typical tasks might include, for example:
The crucial thing is that it is clearly agreed which tasks fall under caretaking duties.
For this also applies:
«Just having a bit of a look around to see that everything is in order» is not a particularly good job description.
One of the most important tasks is at the same time one of the most unspectacular:
check regularly.
During an inspection round, for example, defective lights, damaged doors, contamination or other irregularities can be identified at an early stage.
That sounds trite.
In practice, however, it makes a big difference whether a problem is discovered while it is still small – or only after several residents or users have already complained about it.
Therefore, good property maintenance does not just work on demand.
She is looking ahead.
Stairwells, entrance areas, basement corridors or other communal areas shape the impression of a property.
Anyone entering a building usually sees the entrance and staircase first.
And unfortunately, you can also see pretty quickly there when no one has looked properly for a while.
Therefore, dust, dirt, fingerprints, cobwebs or, in winter, salt and moisture are among the classic tasks of regular cleaning.
The advantage when cleaning and property maintenance work hand in hand:
The person who is in the building regularly anyway also notices other anomalies.
In the everyday management of a property, smaller jobs keep coming up.
A loose screw, a minor defect or something that needs reattaching.
It's not always necessary to call out a tradesperson for every little thing.
Depending on the job, minor repairs can therefore be carried out directly as part of the property maintenance.
However, it is also important to know where the line is drawn.
Electrical, plumbing or other specialist work must, where required, be carried out by appropriately qualified specialist companies.
Therefore, good property maintenance does not have to be able to do everything itself.
However, she ought to realise, when a professional is needed.
Sometimes it's quickly clear:
This is no longer a small repair.
Then the organisational part often begins.
Which tradesperson is responsible?
When can the work be carried out?
How much is it?
And who ensures that access to the building is provided?
Property maintenance can act here as an interface between the owners, administration and external companies.
If required, quotes can be obtained and work coordinated.
This significantly reduces the administrative workload for the management or ownership.
Entrance doors and other access points are subjected to heavy daily wear and tear.
A door that does not shut properly may at first hardly be noticed.
However, on a property, it can quickly become a nuisance.
Therefore, checking doors and locks can also be part of property maintenance.
Minor anomalies can be identified at an early stage and, if necessary, forwarded for further action or resolved.
A classic in shared properties:
There is an old chair in the cellar.
Beside that, two cardboard boxes.
A week later, this has surprisingly turned into a small furniture exhibition.
Unwanted items, left-behind furniture or other materials can block areas and detract from the appearance of a property.
Depending on the job, property management can therefore also include clearances and professional disposal.
Of course it should be clarified beforehand, what may actually be disposed of.
Because experience shows that the supposedly ownerless old table belongs to someone again the exact moment it has disappeared.
A well-maintained property does not begin only behind the front door.
External areas also contribute significantly to the overall impression.
These can include, for example:
Depending on the property, a garden maintenance service may therefore also be sensible.
Especially with smaller properties, it is practical not to have to organise three different contacts for cleaning, property maintenance and groundskeeping.
Caretaking and cleaning are not the same thing.
You two go very well together.
The cleaning company takes care of defined cleaning tasks.
Property maintenance takes a broader view of the real estate.
When both areas are combined, practical synergies are created.
For example, during cleaning it is noticed that a lamp is defective.
During the inspection round, it is noticed that additional cleaning is required in the entrance area.
Or a minor defect is discovered before it turns into a bigger problem.
That is how care works not just reactively, but proactively.
As with routine cleaning, caretakership should define as clearly as possible which services are included.
For example:
Which areas are checked?
How frequently do patrol rounds take place?
What cleaning work is included?
Which minor repairs are permitted?
When will management be informed?
Who is authorised to commission external companies?
Which tasks are charged separately?
The more clearly these points are regulated, the fewer misunderstandings will arise later.
An apartment building with six flats doesn't need a property maintenance schedule like a large commercial property.
Conversely, for a heavily frequented building, an occasional patrol might not be sufficient.
That is why property maintenance should always match the actual usage.
Important factors include, for example:
A bespoke commission is therefore more sensible than a blanket solution.
You can tell good property maintenance not by someone constantly and hectically solving problems.
Ideally, it is precisely the other way around.
Many things are getting done, before they even become a problem.
Regular checks, clear responsibilities and a direct point of contact ensure that minor issues do not sit around for weeks.
Or, to put it another way:
A good caretaker does not wait for the building to call. He checks beforehand.
Professional property maintenance is significantly more than stairwell cleaning.
It combines monitoring, cleaning, minor repairs, organisation and, depending on the property, clear-outs, disposal or garden maintenance.
It becomes especially practical when property maintenance and cleaning are sensibly combined.
This ensures clear responsibilities, less coordination effort and a single point of contact who knows the property.
Or in short:
A well-maintained building doesn't just need someone who cleans – but someone who keeps an eye out.
The Putzvogel GmbH offers caretaker services and other facility services in addition to traditional commercial cleaning.
We would be happy to put together a package of services tailored to your property and provide you with a no-obligation quote.
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