What is porter service?
If you’ve never heard of the term, don’t be troubled – many property and facility managers haven’t either.
Porters are responsible for ensuring your facility is clean and presentable to staff, tenants, and visitors during business hours.
They can perform basic cleaning and general maintenance tasks, including front lobby support, restroom restocks, and trash removal.
DAY PORTER VS. JANITORIAL SERVICE: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
The responsibilities of a day porter and a janitor are quite similar, but precise job duties vary depending on your property needs.
The title “day porter” implies that the individual is onsite during the workday (business hours).
Besides running errands within the facilities, a day porter is responsible for cleaning surfaces and common areas.
Many “deep” cleaning activities are often performed only after hours.
During a day porter’s shift, the facility is occupied; therefore, they would not perform certain cleaning activities such as those that generate considerable noise or create strong odors.
Janitorial services, on the other hand, are typically performed after hours or when the building occupant traffic is low–allowing ample time for deep cleaning.
With a reliable day porter service in your property or facility, you’ll never have to wait for the night cleaning crew to sort urgent issues after the fact.
WHAT ARE PORTER SERVICES? THE DUTIES OF A DAY PORTER
In most cases, a day porter job description will state that qualified applicants should have a high school diploma.
Day porters mainly perform comprehensive cleaning and maintenance of public areas within facilities.’ as follows:
Their services usually include:
- Inspecting, cleaning, and disinfecting common areas
- Litter cleanup from daily use
- Sweeping and mopping floors
- Cleaning of windows and glass doors
- Vacuuming
- Event set up/post-event breakdown & clean-up
- Replace light bulbs
- Respond to service calls
- Providing assistance with guest’s luggage (when applicable)
This isn’t an exhaustive list of their duties. In most cases, their duties depend on your facility’s specific needs.
5 TOP BENEFITS OF DAY PORTER SERVICES FOR YOUR FACILITY
Here are some of the most significant benefits of having day porters on your property:
1. IMPROVE FACILITY APPEARANCE
First impressions matter.
Maintaining a clean environment can significantly improve your business’ reputation, occupancy, and overall value.
Day porters are all-around helpers dedicated to keeping your facility neat and running smoothly at all times.
2. MAINTAIN BUILDING SAFETY
A day porter service cleans up spills and removes tripping hazards to keep the occupants from slipping or falling.
Additionally, the responsibility of the day porter may also perform light maintenance functions.
In case of any problems, they should notify the management office as soon as possible.
3. COST EFFICIENCY
If you hire a day porter to handle your cleaning and maintenance tasks during daytime working hours, you may not need a large cleaning crew to clean up the facility during off-hours because a lot of basic cleaning tasks are already completed by the day porters.
As a result, you can reduce costs on your night cleaning services.
4. CUSTOMER SERVICE LIAISON
For instance, a day porter can coordinate and direct other vendors and deliveries.
Property or facility manager, you’ll have more time to focus on your work, and you’ll enjoy some peace of mind knowing someone is competently handling micro-tasks for you.
Most significantly, a good day porter will provide concierge-type customer service.
5. CUSTOMIZED SERVICES
Day porter services are generally customized to the type and specific needs of a commercial facility.
This means that you get the resources and skill set your property and business require.
DAY PORTER CHECKLIST: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PORTER SERVICE
So, you’re convinced a porter could be helpful to your facility. But how do you find the right porter service?
Here’s a quick day porter checklist that’ll help you find a suitable service for your property needs:
QUALITY SERVICES
Make sure they have a good track record.
You can look at online reviews from credible websites to see what people are saying about them, as well as utilize industry recommendations.
TRAINED
Yes, day porters need training.
Ensure they’re well-versed with the latest cleaning and sanitization techniques and trends for your specific industry.
EQUIPPED
Choose a janitorial company with state-of-the-art cleaning equipment, supplies, and techniques.
FLEXIBILITY AND RESPONSIVENESS
They should provide a safe and top-level service without disrupting the day-to-day operations of the facility, including special requests.
They should also quickly and efficiently respond to emergency tasks.
FULLY INSURED
This will help ensure the day porter company can respond to property damage or bodily harm claims at your property.
HOW MUCH DO DAY PORTER SERVICES COST?
Costs are quite affordable, particularly given the significant impact day porters can have on your property.
The cost of porter services is also influenced by the type of facility you have, the scope of work, and the skills needed.
It’s recommended not to always go for the cheapest services.
Rather, look for services that can fully meet the needs of your property and business goals.
LEADING PROVIDER OF DAY PORTER SERVICES FOR COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENTS
Servi-Tek Facility Solutions provides best-in-class, full-service cleaning, janitorial, and engineering services to a wide array of clients.
With properties ranging from office buildings to medical office buildings to mixed-use facilities or retail centers.
We will create a customized plan based on the specific needs of your facility. Contact us today for a consultation.
