Outsourced Facilities Maintenance a Cost-Savings for Commercial Building Owners and Managers

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) March 9, 2010 -- Reducing costs in a tough economy is high on the list for commercial building owners and managers today. Hiring an outsource facilities maintenance company offers an option to keeping a team of maintenance workers on payroll or working with a number of different vendors who may not be available when needed.

What are the advantages of hiring an outsourced facilities maintenance company? “As an outsourced contractor, we provide the right service when it’s needed,” says Troy Norberg, General Manager for Tru-Serve (http://www.tru-serve.com/pages/Services/), a facilities maintenance company in the Twin Cities. “More times than not, we are less expensive and more efficient than using a separate plumber, electrician, or carpenter. Our professionals can come into a facility at one time to do the work of all those vendors.”

Outsourcing lets owners and managers control operating costs, trim down capital expenses, and reduce the need to hire and train onsite staff. Plus, the outsourced company can easily change as the needs for facilities maintenance change—either an increase or a reduction in trained professionals.

Tru-Serve has provided services to Winnetka Village Apartments since 2003. According to Property Manager Lindsey Heritage, “Outsourcing our facilities maintenance saves us money. We had a light installation project that would have taken two full-time employees 60 hours to complete. Tru-Serve came in and finished the project with a high quality of work and in record time.”

Using an outsourced provider doesn’t necessarily mean the facility manager are removed from the process. Instead outsourced contractors work in tandem with facility managers with the same goal in mind: to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and extend equipment and product life.

“Our trained professionals provide day-to-day maintenance as well as preventative maintenance. Many times a facilities manager asks us to cover for vacationing or sick employees,” says Norberg. “That’s a function we can easily and quickly fill.”

Tips for Choosing an Outsourced Facilities Maintenance Company

When hiring an outsourced contractor, it’s important to know what you’re getting. What looks like a bargain, could eventually cost you more if the company doesn’t understand the level of quality tenants demand. Here are some tips for hiring an outsourced facilities maintenance company that will meet your bottom-line and quality expectations.

Saving money starts with being efficient. How quickly and thoroughly can the work be done? Is the general manager reachable when there’s work to be done?

Qualified professionals do the work. Doing the work right the first time saves time and money. What training do the professionals doing the work have?

Flexibility and range of services matter. How willing and capable is the outsourced contractor at changing services? Do the professionals possess all the necessary skills? How creative is the company at providing cost-saving solutions?

Inspection and documentation pay off. Does the contractor have a process for documenting work done and inspection dates? Keeping good records and caring about the quality of the work will go a long way in maintaining facilities and equipment.

Proven service is backed by good references. How well respected in the company? The outsourced contractor who is competent and reliable will have good references. Be sure to check them.

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