Organizations often face situations where they are unable to determine whether they should use in-house staff to perform facility maintenance or simply outsource the job.
If you are in the same boat and trying to decide between putting together your own maintenance team vs. hiring a commercial facilities company, this post is for you.
As the manager of your property or facility, you are in charge of overall operations and the effective maintenance of the physical plant.
Odds are, you have experienced Murphy’s Law firsthand: anything that can go wrong will go wrong. And when that “something” goes wrong, you are the one that gets called to address it.
Building maintenance is usually one of the most significant, yet overlooked, functions in a commercial property or facility.
People only notice when something is not working, or there is an emergency issue.
But for the safety of the building occupants and smooth functioning of the operations, your building equipment must be properly maintained so it operates within manufacturer specifications.
Focus on Running Your Facility — Not Repairing It
Taking care of all the equipment, systems and machinery may not seem like a full-time job — until it’s your job.
You’ll need to find, hire, and manage the right people.
This involves creating new positions and spending considerable time and resources.
So, ask yourself, do you have the time to recruit, train, and manage a team? Managing staff is only one consideration.
You must also determine how many people you need on the team and at what skill-level, as well as how you’ll handle back-up staffing for planned and unplanned absences.
Sound exhausting? It is.
That’s why most organizations prefer to outsource facility maintenance, sometimes referred to as engineering services.
Using a vendor can quickly save property and facility managers time and resources. Outsourcing also limits risk.
Your business won’t be exposed to additional liability that comes with managing employees whose job responsibilities fall outside the scope of your core business.
Put simply, managing your own maintenance team is like running a separate business all on its own.
Depending on the size of your commercial asset and the complexity of the operations, these costs can amount to a fortune.
Why Outsourcing Your Facility Maintenance Is A Better Option
Hiring a professional team delivers numerous benefits. For starters, your vendor will help lighten your workload and work within your budget parameters.
Qualified facility maintenance companies not only hire skilled professionals who undergo a thorough background screening, but also provide technical training.
But that’s not all. The following are additional benefits of outsourcing the maintenance of your building or facility:
- Eliminate administration of employees and potential liabilities
- Technical oversight
- Trade relationships and procurement discounts
- Access to Preventive Maintenance software
- Only pay for services that you need and nothing more.
- 24/7 emergency response
- Allows you to focus on your business and the big picture.
It’s clear that subcontracting your equipment maintenance to professionals brings a lot to the table.
Most facility maintenance companies today offer a comprehensive package to address all your needs.
Electrical, plumbing, heating ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) and energy management systems (EMS) are examples which qualified companies can effectively handle.
With a skilled and experienced team by your side, you won’t need to find and wait for various single purpose professional contractors when something needs minor (or urgent) repairs.
Are There Any Risks Associated With Outsourcing?
Sometimes outsourcing can present some unique challenges.
For one, outsourcing doesn’t mean that you, as the management, will no longer have any responsibilities.
In fact, you will need a dedicated point-of-contact to coordinate and collaborate with the maintenance company.
If roles are not clearly defined and understood, it can lead to confusion and duplication of responsibilities.
Even though outsourcing the maintenance services can be cost-effective, the geographic location of the contractor company may make supporting your assigned staff and asset challenging.
If you decide to outsource, make sure the contractor has credible resources within your trade area to support your account.
As familiarity with an asset and its equipment is critical, insure a facility services firm will commit to a dedicated on-site staff to maximize continuity and effectiveness.
Servi-Tek Facility Solutions has the Answers to Your Building Maintenance Needs
Want to know how a facility maintenance company can partner and serve you?
Servi-Tek Facility Solutions offers best-in-class janitorial and building engineering services.
Contact us today to meet our experienced, client-focused team and learn more about our customized services.
