Tenant Improvement Archives - Page 3 of 5

Residential Property Maintenance Services

September 5, 2021 by Staff

Homeowners often invest in residential property maintenance services at strategic times of the year. These services are offered by various property maintenance companies and are useful in maintaining the look of your home sweet home. If you own a large property and have a landscaped exterior, it is important to plan regular upkeeps to preserve both the appearance and value of your property. You can enlist the help of contractors who specialize in landscape maintenance, garden cleaning, lawn mowing, and other improvement services. Contractors can also help you customize the maintenance scope to address various problems and bring out the best aesthetics or functionalities. Grounds maintenance technicians usually come on board to provide the necessary solutions. Residential property maintenance can be a very homeowner-specific project that relies on the topographic makeup of the land. With a mix of both organic and artificial structures, the amount of work that goes into maintaining them will differ.

Companies also offer service packages to cover your seasonal requirements. The changing seasons always leave a mark in their wake, and as much as we love the crisp sound of autumn leaves, it helps to take care of any organic leftovers before it is too late! For this reason, debris cleaning makes a crucial maintenance service. Apart from such landscaping and cleaning aspects, companies may also provide miscellaneous repairs like fixing a roof leak or installing a new door. You can choose the company that fits your maintenance plan and includes add-on services in its package.

Residential property owners often decide on full-scale services to revamp the building as well as the immediate landscape. This is particularly useful when you do not have the time or resources to do all the work by yourself – a large property always benefits from a professional touch rather than DIY approaches. The service company will handle all kinds of damages and restore your property to its optimum condition, letting it embrace a new lease of life.

Residential property maintenance services

Why do you need them?

The key incentive behind this project is the value it adds to your residential property. Beyond the impressive curb appeal, your home will also stand out in its improved functionality. Maintenance services help you optimize your HVAC infrastructure, update appliances, renovate old roofs or floors, schedule routine safety checks, and plan essential replacements throughout your property. Most of these services allow you to anticipate the needs of your home and take precautions on time. This eliminates a lot of expensive repairs down the road. You might also choose maintenance options in response to current, emerging problems like clogged drains or flood damages. A well-maintained property is less vulnerable to fire damages and elemental despair, keeping you safe from accidents and emergencies. As a building owner, you can ensure the safety of your renters and increase your chances of swift move-ins. As a homeowner, you can enjoy the extended lifespan of your property by saying goodbye to otherwise recurring issues.

What do they include?

Residential property maintenance has a wide spectrum of services. They range from all minor upkeeps and technical repairs to exterior maintenance and landscape upgrades. Here is a glimpse of some standard services you will find in a residential contractor’s portfolio:

internal and external cleaning
pest control
landscaping and lawn maintenance with sidewalk repairs
garbage disposal
infrastructural repairs
HVAC, mechanical, and electrical replacements
safety inspections
general cleaning, power washing, and disinfection
snow, leaves, and debris removal
graffiti removal
pool maintenance and repair
fire safety inspections and alarm control
appliance repairs for dishwashers, heaters, etc.
storm clean-up
roof maintenance, gutter repairs, and deck upgrades
energy-efficient installations and insulation
automation choices for smart technologies, self-cleaning roof gutters, and sensor control

How do they work?

It is important to hire licensed and reputable contractors for the job. Service compatibility is crucial, as it decides what areas of the property you can revamp. When we talk about extended lifespan, professional caliber definitely walks the extra mile, and your property receives a quality facelift. You can collaborate with the company and find out what type of maintenance your residential property needs. Predictive maintenance services rely on sensors and inspections to predict and create a timeline for the required actions. Preventive maintenance is more diagnostic in nature and focuses on regular inspections to discover red flags and prevent potential problems. Reactive maintenance includes services that cover the aftermath of an event, like emergencies and natural disasters. Depending on your property’s existing condition, you can organize a relevant service plan that is both feasible and versatile enough for your expectations.

Changing with the seasons

Residential property maintenance should adapt to the seasonal setting, so you can pay for services that actually benefit you in the current season. Maintenance companies specialize in different services and can help you compile a list for your seasonal pursuit. The following services are categorized into a seasonal walk-through and make a helpful guide for what to expect.

Spring maintenance services:

recovering from winter’s elemental damages, including those from snow buildup and heavy rains
exterior painting and renovation
inspecting the roof and gutters for potential leaks
checking and maintaining heaters, HVAC ducts, vents, air filters, etc.
getting rid of any mold and mildew problems
planting new spring flowers in your garden

Summer maintenance services:

repairing the air conditioning units, vents, and ductwork
updating the fire alarm systems and fire emergency precautions
exterminating pests and ensuring thorough clean-ups
refreshing the landscape by trimming, watering, and cleaning regularly
installing solar technologies for better energy efficiency, especially with the increased use of air conditioners

Fall maintenance services:

bracing for the upcoming winter season by updating the heaters, fireplace, and chimney
inspecting the roofs and gutters for leaks, debris, or clogged leaves
property cleaning and power washing

Winter maintenance services:

maintaining the HVAC and fireplace throughout the season
planning snow removal for the driveway, sidewalk, etc.
inspecting all the plumbing pipes for any damage – and insulating the exterior pipes against the cold
securing your property against winter storms by maintaining the surrounding trees
protecting and closing the swimming pools efficiently

Using online tools

Most residential property management companies allow building owners and homeowners to book an appointment online. Various management software apps are available to send online requests and collaborate with your chosen contractors. They also help you track the status of your request and schedule the maintenance services accordingly. Online collaborations are an efficient way to streamline the whole process and receive productive feedback – compared to making lengthy phone calls.

The website of your maintenance company will be a good place to start. Websites that integrate management software help companies automate their work, process client requests faster, and stay organized. Self-serve online support also allows applicants to handle the specification stage on their own and get in touch with a specialized service provider quickly. It is a smart way to receive tailored service advice for your residential property, as the company can troubleshoot relevant problems and dispatch associated teams to your location. This is quite useful in the face of disaster remedy and preventive aspects. Your service request will be accessible to all the property maintenance stakeholders, including project managers, specialized technicians, inspection teams, and landscape architects – so most of your application process will be handled online.

Leaving a neat residential footprint

A regularly maintained property makes your humble abode look elegant and inviting. Maintenance services at different times of the year cater to the seasonal impact on your property. They give your home a picture-perfect charm that can finally rival your Pinterest boards. The improved curb appeal is very reassuring, and you can always relax knowing that no accidents and injuries will occur due to property negligence. If lack of maintenance around your property leads to bigger hazards for yourself and others, the domino effect will be unstoppable – as will the resulting lawsuits! This is especially true in terms of pandemic aspects, life safety, and wildfire issues. A spark is all it takes to start a wildfire, and the scorching summer heat adds to the fuel. Homeowners who live near the greens have to be even more cautious about routine upkeeps as a result. Planning regular sanitization and disinfection services are also important elements of this checklist.

Hiring a licensed maintenance company gives you a full-service scope that is compatible with your specific property. The specialists can handle various issues like cleaning your HVAC filters, installing new hardware, maintaining your lawn, and winterizing outdoor structures. Scheduling frequent repairs and improvements for your landscape will keep it resilient and fresh against any seasonal changes. It is also a great chance to let the experts come in when you do not have the time to cut and trim away – precise attention to details is a definite bonus. The contractors can organize property inspections to shed light on issues you might have missed. A spruced-up outdoor experience is definitely something to look forward to during the pandemic. With banned dine-in restaurants and cafes, it is time to welcome the alfresco vibes to your own home!

Office Seating Plan Software Reviews

September 5, 2021 by Staff

Image source: Open Sourced Workplace

Businesses face an emerging need to update their office seating plans for various reasons, including hybrid working patterns. A well-structured arrangement optimizes the available space, creates a neat layout, and considers uninterrupted passage around these workplace “islands”. Companies frequently use an office seating plan software to automate the process and make it as customizable as possible. This allows them to collaborate on interactive floor plans and easily decide both permanent and flexible seating options. The online, cloud-based plans accommodate the needs of regular as well as remote employees, so the seating map can display all occupied and vacant areas in your building. You can quickly locate an available room for impromptu conferences, find where your teams are at a glance, and select offices for new employees. Compared to manually finding out everything, a software app brings all the information to you on your computer screen.

It is a great way to streamline relocation aspects within the same building or a new one. The clickable features of the seating plan let you drag and drop various elements, so you can arrange your employees’ workstations based on department proximity, individual preferences, and collaborative needs. Modern workplaces often feature open floor plans with no enclosed offices. This inspires a very dynamic coworking atmosphere, full of collaborative potential. Your software will help you experiment with different layouts without ever moving the physical furniture.

Various corporate catalysts can drive the need to change your existing floor plan – business downsizing, rebranding, social distancing, improved desking concepts, and décor upgrades are some examples. A seating plan software gives you a bird’s-eye view of the existing floor plan for quick navigation. From that vantage point, you get a clear idea of which areas can be decluttered and revamped. Three such software apps are discussed in this article with customer reviews making an insightful buying guide.

Office seating plan software reviews

The main benefit of using a software app is that it brings all the seating arrangements throughout your building on the same page. An exhaustive alternative would be to use spreadsheets – or worse, a pen and paper – to keep track of each layout. Office seating plans that are managed online can help you organize both hot desks (equipped and ready to use) and spare desks (vacant and extra). All kinds of seating and space management software add cohesiveness to your office layout by preventing overcrowded or underutilized plans. They optimize the total square footage, promote new desking concepts, consider your workspace challenges, and distribute employees efficiently. This can easily speed up your space allocation needs as a manager and comes in handy during relocation aspects. The following office seating plan software apps primarily support mapping out desk locations and include other related management solutions.

1. Wisp by Gensler

Workplace occupancy

Gensler provides a host of design and planning solutions, one of which is the cloud-based Wisp office seating plan software. The Workplace Information Solutions Platform (Wisp) enables spatial visualization for your office, so you can determine occupancy, vacancy, and square footage allocation goals. By automating your workplace occupancy, you can track each seating plan and assign permanent/temporary desks to employees. The software lets you alter the seating scenarios in real-time, making the plans accessible to all stakeholders for collaborative ease. This also streamlines office observation tasks for surveyors and managers to follow up on employee activity. You can integrate your floor plans with the occupancy data using interactive tools to manage the workflow and decide the best work settings preferred by everyone.

Space management

Wisp offers dynamic solutions to help you reimagine your seating arrangements. Space management, move management, wayfinding, desk reservations, reporting and analytics, and software integrations are just some of the services you can use. Employees can reserve their favorite desk spots from their own devices, which makes a smart self-service idea. Since all the seating plans are available online, wayfinding becomes quite simple when you want to locate an employee or an empty conference room on the grid. Wisp is compatible with various office systems to enable data integrations across platforms. This simply adds to how you can visualize a new plan using employee data you already have on another software. It is a quick option to generate interactive seating maps with drag-and-drop icons, allowing you to track everyday moves as well. The occupied to vacant ratios deliver good workplace insights for enhanced space management.

Software reviews

The good:

Wisp makes it easy to find both space and head counts in just a few minutes.
It provides a transparent way to charge departmental rents based on space usage.
The real-time seating plan exports and reporting keep all the stakeholders on the same page. Wisp uses a ticketing system to keep track of each report.
You can add unlimited users without any license fees.
The ongoing CAD service upgrades mean that the system is always on the mend to accommodate emerging technologies.
The software is quite straightforward to use. In case of any problems, the Wisp customer support team has its own set of positive reviews that speak for themselves! The team also helps you customize the implementation, so the subscription meets your office scope.
Wisp makes a great tool for administrative control and management aspects.
If you have multiple office locations, you can track their individual seating plans without ever having to leave your own desk. You might not have visited the other premises, but you will still know what their arrangements look like.
It is a very portfolio-friendly software, with all the color-coded tracking and reporting data just a click away.

The bad:

A supported mobile version would make the software better accessible on tablets and smartphones.
There are issues with reconfiguring the furniture layer of the app.
The initial installation and setup can be time-consuming.
The supported integrations can be improved to automatically update the seating plan when an employee leaves or joins the office – for example, by pairing it up with your office’s HR systems.

2. SpaceIQ

Workplace operations platform

SpaceIQ is a popular workplace management tool used by businesses that are reopening their doors. Its actionable data features support ideal real estate planning to determine occupancy statistics. Some of the app’s services include space planning, workplace management, space inventory tracking, and move management. They allow you to stack plans and explore multiple office desking concepts, including reshuffled floors with incredible convenience. You can relocate employees and equipment seamlessly throughout the office, and this also contributes to efficient accounting based on square footage use. SpaceIQ addresses your agile workplace goals by providing customizable plans for hoteling purposes – which refers to temporary offices assigned to visitors and short-term employees. You can rearrange hot and spare desks and alter their ratio as needed. The online seating plans provide insightful space forecasting ideas to utilize the given floor plan effectively, predict future scenarios, make quick head counts, and enhance task allocation. Your employees can navigate the workplace better and book available rooms from their mobile devices.

SiQ space planning

SiQ is one of the facility management products from SpaceIQ. It focuses on space and move management goals using visual representations of your office floor plans. SiQ is compatible with HR, ERP, and IT systems, which is a great advantage for real-time integrations. You can plan moves between office buildings, floors, and departments and maximize space allocation on the screen. All of these features help you borrow relevant data from external sources for the seating layouts.

This enables seamless transitions for your workforce, as employees will relocate to fully equipped desks based on seating availability. There are drag-and-drop features to help you test different scenarios until you make up your mind. Moreover, SiQ’s real estate dashboard gives you a centralized platform for real-time office visibility to analyze updates, reports, seating densities, cost statistics, etc. You can also export these features to a suitable format on your computer.

Software reviews

The good:

SpaceIQ solutions save a lot of time when you want to look for peers or available conference rooms.
The software is simple to use and provides detailed dashboard results to keep all your seating information on the same page.
You can experiment with new layouts while planning future moves, which makes it easy to relocate employees and assets.
SpaceIQ is designed to adapt to your office’s needs and grow with them. It can support multiple office seating plans online where you can make changes without losing the current configurations. The multiple support also allows you to track a large number of employees from your own office desk.
The software is available as both web and mobile versions, featuring simple user interfaces.
Integrations with HR and ERP systems go the extra mile when you want to incorporate real-time data from existing software.

The bad:

Room labels on the printed seating plans can be difficult to read.
SpaceIQ can have delays in updates which may slow you down if your office technologies are already moving ahead. Also, the incoming new app features can congest and disrupt the existing functions, so product testing areas still have a lot of room to improve. Compared to other software apps, this limits the user-friendliness of SpaceIQ.

3. OfficeSpace

Hybrid workplace management

OfficeSpace is a very innovative solution for managing seating plans, office moves, desking concepts, and employee requests. It includes all the tools you need to embrace hybrid working patterns for full-time and flexible employees. Flexible working is now a corporate trend, and OfficeSpace allows you to create productive neighborhoods throughout the floor. The all-in-one platform can be used on any computer and mobile device, so employees will no longer have to waste their break in finding an available conference room. They can easily book desks, make check-ins, use different seating strategies, and pick their favorite neighborhoods (assigned, hoteling, hot desking, etc.). Open seating neighborhoods have become quite popular, and activity-based neighborhoods are equipped with the necessary hardware ready to use. You can choose casual ad-hoc meeting and coworking environments for creative collaborations.

Distancing management

OfficeSpace has intelligent tools and trackers to streamline move communications. Scenario and distancing planners generate socially distanced seating plans and help you reorganize teams accordingly. They speed up the distancing requirements in offices by keeping every change synchronized and reflected throughout the floor. It is an efficient way to discover underutilized areas that can accommodate the expanded layouts. Returning employees can fill in COVID-19 wellness checks, screen for potential risks, and confirm their distanced seating on their own devices. In this way, the OfficeSpace platform keeps your environment COVID-proof by automating various protocols – taking away the managerial load off your shoulders. Using real-time scenarios, your office teams can view different seating possibilities. They can also replicate the same seating plans on multiple floors and use block and stack technologies for large-scale changes. OfficeSpace enables data-driven improvements to keep up with your company’s emerging needs.

Reporting

Out-of-the-box reports from the software offer detailed insights into your space utilization. This sheds light on your employees’ requirements to perform better – for example, with proper access to amenities and departmental allocations. These analytical reports display the occupancy and vacancy aspects, so you can visualize improvements in real-time.

They also reveal any wasted space and how it affects your overall costs. The result is that you can make more informed decisions on optimizing the layout for a better financial outlook. Office space relies on system integrations to gather data and can work with platforms already used by your employees – such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, HR Software, etc. Such time-saving integrations enable peers to communicate effectively and track seating changes as they happen. Real-time visibility through automatic reporting and integrations is a great way to future-proof your office and welcome technological evolutions.

Software reviews

The good:

OfficeSpace is very easy to use and caters to the growing corporate needs of every business.
It is compatible with all web and mobile devices, so your employees can access changes from wherever they are. All you have to do is put the new office seating plan on the cloud, and let your teams view it instantly.
The support team is always responsive and ready to help.
OfficeSpace releases new upgrades regularly to follow the latest trends and keep businesses focused, driven, and fast-tracked.
Integrations with popular software apps make the job even easier. Employees frequently use your company’s installed systems, so a lot of data is readily available to transfer to the seating plan software. Some examples could be employee attendance, check-ins, name lists, and associated departments. Based on this information, you can assign relevant seats to your teams to suit their job descriptions.
Its social distancing automation is a definite bonus, as the quicker the seats are distributed, the faster you can reopen your doors.

The bad:

The software lacks a few booking/locating features that are delivered by other apps.
There are also some exporting limitations, for example, you cannot export layouts to PowerPoint.
Navigating between dashboards and platforms is often slow, as the transitions are not always smooth.

Have a seat. The world is your oyster!

A well-defined office seating plan promotes work efficiency to drive your corporate ecosystem. It will focus on mobilizing foot traffic around workstations as well as maximizing productivity within them. Move management is essential to help you relocate your teams and resources around, and a good software app takes care of this nomadic goal. Using the software can be a learning curve for start-up businesses and even established ones that implement the system for the first time. The versatile scope for making changes on the intuitive user interface is very rewarding in the long run. You can experiment with multiple revisions from your own desk, which saves you the need to physically move furniture – only to change your mind all over again! Office seating for spacious arrangements becomes simple; the theoretical effort is handled by the software, and you just have to follow the map.

Software solutions have a great impact on the way offices reopen and resume their work. The essential workplace protocols for COVID-19 set the pace for hybrid working, and now it has become a happy corporate lifestyle. Your teams can simply log in to their software app, view the updated seating, make desk reservations, and book meeting rooms – all with proper screening checklists covered by the system. This prevents bottleneck issues with huge crowds of employees queuing up outside the office – or the bulletin board! You can reconfigure the old seating plan in just a few clicks and focus on the actual work. Social distancing is also one reason why open floor layouts are stealing the show for their safe, collaborative, and creative potential.

Most software apps help you drag and drop the desk icons to fit the missing pieces like a puzzle. In this way, you get to document your office seating plan, and encourage teams to bring their corporate talents to the table!

Electrical Maintenance Services

September 5, 2021 by Staff

Image source: Everon Electrical

All residential, commercial, and industrial applications rely on electricity to keep their appliances and equipment up and running. Any length of electrical downtimes will disrupt the operational flow of a business, and prolonged delays can easily fracture the company’s reputation. To prevent unexpected system failures, both homeowners and businesses need to plan electrical maintenance services. They are provided by maintenance companies who specialize in electrical applications and help you address faulty power systems, red flag issues, and equipment downtimes. Most of these services enable preventive maintenance programs where you can proactively identify issues and take measures on time. Routine checks on the electrical framework of your building and equipment help you add extra years to their operational life. This saves you a lot of costly repairs down the road – and you will have one less thing to worry about!

Preventive maintenance for electrical systems includes inspections, equipment upgrades, essential retrofits, and other improvements. These services ensure a thorough upkeep of your building, paying special attention to tip-of-the-iceberg problems. By enlisting professional support, you can eliminate the risk of potential hazards and ensure human and resource safety. Since amateur users can be at imminent risk of fires/electrocution, these projects should only be handled by experts who know what they are doing. Licensed electricians will step in at this point to assess the current status and make sure that everything meets their safety checklist.

A comprehensive plan can be tailored to your specific requirements for revamping the electrical infrastructure, accommodating new technologies, and future-proofing the building. The main benefit of consulting licensed teams is that they can unearth hidden problems which you might have ignored – or not even noticed. There is a vast range of services you can request, as discussed in this article.

Electrical maintenance services

Early detection and aversion of problems is the main goal of a preventive electrical maintenance service. After conducting the electrical diagnosis of your building, the technician can decide on relevant solutions – for example, using a backup generator, rewiring the framework, installing new switches, and using the right appliances. The intricate network of wires and connections can often make it difficult to isolate the source of concern. For this reason, thermal imaging cameras are popularly used for scanning buildings and machinery to reveal hot spots, improper connections, damaged insulation, etc. They speed up the diagnostic hunt for dangers and play an important role in avoiding power surges to protect the equipment and its vicinity. Here are some examples of electrical maintenance for both residential and commercial contexts.

Residential services:

Landscape lighting – outdoor electrical maintenance commonly includes lighting aspects for improved aesthetics, energy efficiency, and ideal ambience levels. You can choose from a variety of lights including recessed, smart, security, and LED types. This form of service should address outdoor safety by insulating any exposed wires and checking for electrical hazards due to rain, heat, placement, etc.
Appliance installation – home appliances like heaters, air conditioners, microwaves, ovens, washing machines, desktop computers, and refrigerators have specific electrical requirements. If your existing electrical framework cannot support such appliances, it is important to fine-tune the wiring before installing anything. Power-hungry appliances may require their own electrical source to isolate them from the rest of your home’s wiring. This ensures maximum protection and independent functionality for each appliance.
Smart integrations – your maintenance team can upgrade your home’s power outlets and help you configure smart technologies.
Accessible outlets at strategic points around your home enable easy plug-ins for various home automation products. You can then use smart lights/dimmers, smart switches, and smart plugs for increased versatility and remote access.
System inspection – having a licensed team inspect your electrical wiring, panels, transformers, and regulators will help you discover faults and hidden damages. Full-scale inspections often shed light on hazards like blown fuses and excessively hot wiring. If ignored, these electrical symptoms can lead to irreversible consequences. An upgraded framework will handle your power requirements smoothly and keep every appliance on the grid safe to use.

Commercial services:

Equipment safety – businesses rely on seasonal maintenance programs to boost the functionality of their machinery and equipment. Well-maintained hardware and connections ensure the longevity of your assets and allow them to operate without chronic problems. This also strikes off repair costs from your business’s expenditure, letting you focus on operations instead of obstacles.
Energy efficiency – installing energy-saving lights in commercial buildings is a great way to save on electricity. Businesses can switch to various smart technologies as well to keep an eye on their carbon footprint and adopt greener practices. Also, since serviced equipment performs better, your machines will consume less energy for greater throughput than before.
Digital maintenance – with computers driving the massive digital workforce for businesses, it is important to plan routine system maintenance. This includes installing standby power generators for seamless work transitions. Surge protection is another crucial service, as it ensures safe operations throughout your building and reduces downtimes. If too many devices draw power from the same source, the resulting overload increases fire risks. Your service program should definitely focus on circuit overload detection and protection. Electrical maintenance takes care of your valuable commercial data because all the networks rely on electricity – the loss of which can start a domino effect throughout the grid! Businesses cannot afford their systems collapsing every now and then, and so scheduled maintenance should be a priority.
Alarm and sensor maintenance – fire alarms, motion detectors, and other sensors need to be checked for responsiveness and proper functioning. This is particularly useful in COVID-proofing your premises through the use of contact-free technologies like touchless faucets, automated doors, and smart switches.
Rewiring applications – businesses frequently move their computers and other equipment to establish socially distanced environments, for example. This calls for professional rewiring services, as only electrical compatibility will help you resume your work. Relocating to new premises also depends on rewiring efficiency when you are using the same hardware. Before installing the systems, it helps to first make sure that they can adapt to the new electrical climate and conform to that building’s safety codes.

Electrical maintenance companies

Muth Electric Inc.

A leading electrical contractor

Muth Electric was founded in the year 1970 and offers competitive electrical maintenance services throughout South Dakota and Nebraska. The licensed contractor has various specializations in this field to help you plan the necessary electrical upkeeps for your residential or commercial building. As a result, its truly electrifying portfolio is charged with some of the best maintenance projects. Muth Electric provides services to hospitals, water treatment facilities, airport runway lighting, industrial plants, schools, offices, retail stores, and several other audiences. Its serviced buildings include Williston Area Recreation Center, Hilton Garden Inn, Cedar Shore Resort Oacoma, Black Hills Corporation Headquarters, and SDSU Performing Arts Center Brookings.

Electrical maintenance services

Muth Electric has a team of licensed electricians who cater to the needs of both businesspeople and homeowners. You can schedule various electrical renovations around your building and address issues in breakers, fixtures, fuses, etc. The company has a rich source of preventive maintenance expertise to ensure code-compliant and fully functional wiring systems. Its quality workmanship is backed by a 2-year warranty, which is an added bonus on top of the budget-friendly services you will find.

Electrical maintenance is a very building-specific project, and Muth Electric works on delivering tailored services. For example, it meets the technological demands of schools and universities to provide them with accessible electrical solutions. These enable a high-tech learning environment for multimedia classrooms, laboratories, auditoriums, conference rooms, etc.

Kirby Electric

Full-service electrical maintenance

Kirby Electric is a specialized electrical contractor across Seattle, Bellevue, and western Washington, operating since 1990. It offers commercial and industrial services from experienced electricians and low-voltage technicians. The company’s portfolio features various lighting, repair, showroom renovation, electrical construction, electrical maintenance, and fire alarm projects. Some of Kirby Electric’s clients include Auburn Retail, Good Samaritan Medical, Seattle Mini, Cheesecake Factory, Doxon Toyota, FedEx – Fife, and Amazon Fulfillment Center.

Electrical maintenance services

The company provides all kinds of electrical and emergency services that keep your business up and running. You will have qualified electricians leading your project with tailored commercial solutions that suit your business. This sets the benchmark for commercial maintenance as opposed to residential maintenance, and Kirby Electric’s teams know where to draw the line. With comprehensive preventive maintenance services, you can safeguard your building against elemental damages, restore outdated frameworks, and keep up with the latest electrical codes. Kirby Electric can arrange detailed inspection services to evaluate your equipment status and building safety. Furthermore, its customized lighting retrofits make a great energy-efficient alternative that promotes both ideal ambience and aesthetics.

Kolb Electric

A family-owned service provider

Kolb Electric has been around since 1925 and offers electrical services throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. The family-owned company specializes in all residential, commercial, and industrial applications, helping homeowners and businesses round the clock, round the year!

Its teams address various problems like circuit breaker issues, panel replacements, ceiling fan installations, appliance wiring, parking lot lighting, generator installation, ballast replacement, and electrical code corrections. You can book detailed consultation services and call in the bucket truck when needed; teams are always ready to be dispatched to the clients’ locations.

Electrical maintenance services

Kolb Electric delivers infrared thermography inspections to monitor what goes on behind the scenes. Various preventive maintenance services are available for all the necessary electrical upkeeps, allowing you to catch emerging issues and resolve them immediately. The contractor also offers primary services and distribution solutions to protect your building from overcurrent and power surge hazards. You can set up sensor-controlled atmospheres throughout your building by installing motion detection systems, fire alarms, and smart lights. The serviced systems will greatly facilitate all telecommunication contexts and daily operations, with backup power sources on standby ready to take over.

Dubak Electrical Group

A national electrical leader

Dubak Electrical Group was established in the year 1988. Headquartered in LaGrange, Illinois, the company has nationwide coverage for its electrical services. Professional expertise and competitive pricing define its portfolio, which features electrical contracting, maintenance, integration, electrical CAD, industrial installations, custom repairs, and even more full-scale services. Most of these projects focus on aspects like automation, fiber optics, and emergency protocols to help businesses respond to technological progress and emerging issues. So, there are both preventive and reactive maintenance options to choose from.

Electrical maintenance services

The licensed contractor specializes in various industrial scopes to provide design services and installation advice that fit your business context. You can enlist the help of electrical distribution teams to assess and upgrade your building’s wiring configuration. With virtual design and detailed electrical audits, Dubak Electrical Group can conduct thorough electrical investigations and locate potential red flags in a facility.

Once the root cause of an issue is confirmed, you will receive professional follow-ups to ensure safe and functioning systems. This includes utility service coordination and other distributive aspects to keep your resources thriving on the given electrical grid.

Tweaking a building’s central nervous system

Businesspeople and homeowners need to make sure that their electrical systems and all the connected equipment actually stay awake on this radar. Building codes keep updating based on new standards, and emerging technologies demand compatible integrations. For this reason, planning regular upkeeps with a licensed contractor gives your electrical framework a valuable stitch in time. From emergency power restoration and wiring distribution to basic troubleshooting and fault detection, companies like those mentioned above know exactly where to begin. The key objective is to create a reliable working and living environment to promote the safety of people, resources, and property.

Electrical maintenance varies between residential and commercial examples, as the level of difficulty naturally shifts across small and large-scale projects. Regardless of the project size, the level of danger remains the same when we deal with flowing charges – let all the yellow caution signs flash as one giant reminder! With the help of professional electricians, you can rely on well-serviced equipment and technologies to carry on smoothly – as this is what it all comes down to: the binary 0 and 1.

Tenant Improvement Construction

August 15, 2021 by Staff

Image source: Aquila Commercial

Tenant improvements are the physical changes made to a leased commercial space so that it meets the tenant’s requirements. They are also known as leasehold improvements, and as a tenant, you can define the scope for these customized upgrades in your lease agreement. Building owners are responsible for adding the necessary retrofits and making the premises optimized for their tenants’ businesses. The lease agreement is an important starting point, as all the negotiations for tenant improvement construction revolve around it. Property configurations may include renovating the walls, ceilings, floors, HVAC systems, etc., and so the final agreement must suit both parties for the construction to begin. This allows you to navigate within the lease boundaries and plan an effective buildout to support your commercial operations.

A good incentive for an owner to agree to such modifications is that most of the structural improvements can be used by the next tenant, so there are better chances to rent the space immediately when the current lease expires. This divides tenant improvements into two types of commercial spaces: first generation and second generation. First-generation spaces exist as a blank shell with no alterations, allowing you to configure them the way you like. Second-generation spaces are already rented in the past, so some improvements made by the previous tenants still remain – such as new lighting, walls, tiles, and utilities.

Depending on the size of your tenant improvement construction, you can plan such a project for various commercial needs. These may include office buildouts, shopping mall stores, facility improvements, and other applications. A well-organized construction process caters to your business’s specific needs for better spatial benefits. It helps you focus on the necessary infrastructural changes to accommodate electrical, mechanical, and technological additions – always remembering to leave some room for future-proofing ideas. The complete tenant improvement timeline can vary considerably based on your construction scope, as discussed in this article.

Tenant improvement construction types

Tenant improvements in a new commercial space

If you are leasing a new commercial space, or a first-generation space, then the improvement process will begin from scratch. The shell condition has only the bare minimum interior with unfinished layouts, making it easy for you to customize the space as you like. You can add the required infrastructure, amenities, and décor to suit your commercial goal. This blank canvas interior exists as two different shell spaces, so you can decide which one is more feasible for your first-generation pursuit:

Grey shell or cold shell spaces have unfinished walls and floors, with no electrical, plumbing, or HVAC frameworks. Improving a grey shell space naturally takes more time and expenses to bring the empty interior up to a workable standard.
Plain vanilla shell or white box spaces are partially finished and include completed ceilings, floors, and utility frameworks. They offer the basic functionality you can add upon, and so the construction process has a shorter timeline.

Tenant improvements in an existing commercial space

Leasing an existing commercial space – a second-generation space – is the best choice if you are planning for quick occupancy. With most of the previous upgrades already in place, you only need to add the required elements for your business. This creates several options to reuse the existing improvements and incorporate any cosmetic changes for better aesthetics. Tenants often prefer renting a second-generation building that checks most of the boxes for their commercial use.

There is more repurposed potential compared to leasing brand new premises, especially if you are on a tight budget. By reconfiguring a used space, you can improvise with what is available at hand and focus on how to make the area more functional/creative for your business.

Tenant improvement construction process

Lease negotiation

Building owners offer some tenant improvement allowance to fund the construction process. The amount is agreed in your lease, and it is important to organize the project accordingly. Negotiating the lease terms and allowance effectively will help you get the best out of the agreement. You can have your commercial space configured to your expectations without paying any additional amount – if you do manage to negotiate successfully. This financial concession allows you to lease the space with improved finishes that will help your business in the long run. Your building owner might agree to pay only for the improvements made to the property and not the furniture/fixtures/equipment aspects. The amount is paid either as one lump sum when the buildout is complete or as installments throughout the construction.

The lease negotiation should also include the actual construction process. This highlights the owner’s financial contribution to the project, letting you know how much coverage the allowance provides. Discussing an itemized breakdown is always helpful while negotiating your expected changes. The lease should specify the required construction features like demolitions, flooring, HVAC upgrades, new technologies, etc. You can finalize the completion date and mutually agree on any additional costs for the tenant improvement construction. This clarifies the general timeline and helps you confirm who will pay for unexpected overheads if they arise.

Design, planning, and construction

The actual construction process is divided into various parts, typically the permit, design, estimation, and planning stages. Once you sign the lease with the owner, it is time to pick the right construction team for your project. Choosing an experienced, licensed, and qualified contractor helps you leverage the process remarkably well. The company will tackle all the permit paperwork and ensure that your tenant improvements are built to the relevant building codes and regulations.

The contractor will also help you confirm the final crew for construction, including architects, designers, electricians, plumbers, etc. Working with a reputable contracting company takes away the “resource hunting” headache from you, as all the materials and construction experts will be provided by the contractor. You can collaborate with architects during the design and planning stages to receive cost estimations for the whole construction timeline.

Building owners can even recommend their own construction companies for tenant improvement. Depending on your lease flexibility, it is important to plan your own consultations as well to receive expert advice and prevent project delays. This includes procuring the required documents and plans, getting them approved on time, constructing the required improvements, and ensuring regular inspections throughout the project. Good management and supervision from the company will enable a streamlined project that meets deadlines and avoids problems from underestimated budgets.

Tenant walkthrough

Your building owner will handle the payment process as discussed in the lease – payments are usually made at the end of each milestone or after the whole construction. Once the tenant improvement process is over, you will get the first look and feel of your commercial space during the tenant walkthrough. This is the perfect time to compile punch list items that need more attention, such as cosmetic flaws or insufficient lighting. When these additional elements are reviewed and updated – and the final inspection from authorities ends in a green light – the construction process is officially complete.

Certificate of occupancy

You will receive a certificate of occupancy once the tenant improvement construction is over. This document verifies that all the improvements you have made to the commercial space are inspected, tested, and approved by relevant authorities. It is a confirmation that the environment is safe to occupy and you are allowed to run your business operations. When you receive the certificate, you can move in as the new tenant and finally bring your commercial dream to life!

From blank canvas to corporate colors

Tenant improvement construction has a pivotal role in building the commercial footprint and identity for your business. For this reason, choosing reputable construction companies always pays off. They help you fuel your project’s timeline with the best resources and expertise, so you can make the most of your lease negotiations – and literally coax your business out of its shell!

Check Tenant Credit Report

July 24, 2021 by Staff

Image source: Oracle Screening

Renting your residential or commercial buildings to tenants requires a lot of verification and background checks to ensure the safety of your property – and timely income. As a landlord or landlady, you need to check tenant credit report options before renting out your space. A credit report displays the financial aptitude of a tenant and helps you decide if the person is suitable to occupy the building. It is a financial background check on various aspects like regular bill payments. Such a report optimizes your tenant screening process, and several verified online tools are available to streamline your hunt for prospective tenants. Credit reports include a tenant credit score along with comprehensive payment history for mortgages, loans, credit card transactions, etc.

Building owners have a better chance of making smarter rental decisions with credit reports. These reports display valuable insights into red-flag considerations like delinquent accounts or insufficient payment activities. A tenant credit typically features bill payments, credit availability, credit utilization, financial presence, and inquiries into the tenant’s credit-seeking behavior. Owners prefer consulting with trusted reporting agencies using their online services. It makes the process much more efficient and helps you find out how responsible the tenant is about money management. Tenant screening and credit report firms offer specialized, web-based services, bringing you all you need to know within a few clicks. Two such companies are discussed below.

Tenant credit report

How it works

To run a tenant credit check, you require the applicant’s basic information like name, address, social security number, or individual taxpayer identification number. These details are normally available on the tenant’s application, and the application itself is your permission to conduct a credit report investigation.

What to look for

A credit report is your best resource for mining key financial data. As a building owner, you want to avoid tenants with a history of suspicious, careless, and fraudulent activities. The report will reveal various red flags like bankruptcy charges and delayed bill/loan payments. It includes criminal as well as eviction histories, so you can find out if lease violations are going to be a problem. Tenant credit reports include all sorts of lawsuit events your applicant might have been involved in. These findings let you decide if the tenant is financially stable to pay rents on time – and avoid trouble on the whole.

What it calculates

Different tenant screening agencies offer different types of reports. They all usually generate similar credit scores using verified calculation methods. The two popular tenant credit scores are known as FICO and VantageScore, ranking tenant potential from 300 to 850. The score measures how financially reliable your tenant is going to be – and if there is a risk of nonpayment. Higher scores move towards the green end of the scale, indicating a better potential for occupancy. Lower scores take up the red end – with enough red flags to chase you away! Buildings owners tend to accept a score of at least 650 for medium to no risk.

Is it enough

While a high credit score does look promising, it does not mean that this strategy is entirely bullet-proof. Credit reports are valuable tools for learning about the tenant’s past and ensuring peaceful coexistence on your property. Low scores with recurring nonpayment and legal clashes help you rule out that applicant and save time.

However, a high score cannot guarantee that the tenant will occupy your space responsibly, cause no damage to property, or be friendly with neighbors. So, apart from a tenant credit research, make sure that you clarify your expectations before signing the papers – and get them in black and white!

Tenant screening companies

Two of the leading tenant screening companies are TransUnion and Equifax. Their online services allow you to sign up and check your future tenant’s credit report. Most US states give building owners the legal permission to charge potential tenants a credit report fee for the whole process. A reasonable screening fee could range around $30 – $50 according to your state laws, and you should create an itemized receipt of your investigation if you are not using online methods. Prospective tenants need to be informed about this credit check fee, including the amount and reason for conducting the check. They can then sign up with the service website and apply for a background/credit check. The service helps them procure the final report and make it accessible to you on the same website. This pay-as-you-go option adds transparency and credibility to the check for the involved parties, as discussed below.

TransUnion SmartMove

TransUnion is a leading credit reporting agency that helps building owners request tenant background checks. You can sign up for free and invite prospective tenants for a credit check on the website. This streamlines the rental screening process and sends you verified results for criminal eviction, income insights, and other financial concerns. TransUnion’s patented SmartMove solution uses a ResidentScore between 350 – 850, which delivers better predictions than other credit scores. This comprehensive ResidentScore stands out in its ability to predict rental performance, not just loan probabilities.

The pay-as-you-go feature optimizes rental screening by giving you the required information and allowing hesitant applicants to rightfully protect consumer data – and pay the agency instead of paying you. Resident scoring converts credit histories into rental feasibility to help you decide if the tenant is right for you. This cuts down issues from hiring tenants with possible eviction charges and lease nonpayment. The credit scale lets you assess various risks and make informed decisions that go beyond the score.

Also, the SmartMove credit inquiry will not affect the tenant’s cumulative credit score, as it is only a soft inquiry made on the credit history and does not count as a suspicious investigation.

Equifax

Equifax is another popular resident and tenant screening program. It is a web-based service to help owners screen applicants and pick the best tenants for their properties. You can verify the overall creditworthiness of potential tenants by confirming their identity, criminal record, rental background, and financial footprint. The credit report looks into various eviction histories and allows you to customize the research as needed. This makes Equifax a very client-specific service for instant and accurate reports. It uses the InstaCriminal Statewide Search for better data mining. You can obtain superior tenant credit knowledge with competitive predictions for all business and consumer perspectives.

Equifax uses the VantageScore method to calculate inclusive credit scores for improved evaluations. These enable you to assess risks more effectively and leave no stone unturned! The online tool generates a detailed credit history. It gives a resourceful vantage point to view your tenant’s financial validity and caliber.

On the credit spectrum

Checking the tenant credit report is an important step before hiring tenants. The statistical insights you receive with just a few clicks tell you everything about the tenant’s financial origins and legal profile. The high end of the spectrum indicates minimum risks, whereas the lower end screams for trouble. While you do have the legal right to conduct such a test, it helps to keep realistic and smart standards that actually convert into steady rents – and happy coexistence on your property.