Quick answer: Using one property maintenance company for janitorial, carpet care, floor care, power washing, parkade cleaning and caretaker services usually means less coordination, one point of contact, consistent standards and easier accountability. Using separate specialists can make sense for highly technical or regulated work. Most commercial and strata properties do best with one core maintenance partner for cleaning and building care, plus licensed trades for things like electrical, plumbing, elevators and fire systems.
Many property owners end up with a patchwork of vendors without ever deciding on it: one janitorial company, a different carpet cleaner, a power washer found online, another company for the parkade. Each relationship made sense at the time. Together, they create a lot of coordination work and a lot of places for things to fall through the cracks.
The Case for One Maintenance Partner
One point of contact
One call or message handles everything from a spill in the lobby to scheduling the annual parkade scrub.
Better scheduling
Services can be sequenced properly: sweep before washing, wash before carpet cleaning, schedule floor work around moves. Separate vendors rarely coordinate with each other.
Consistent standards
One company applies the same products, training and quality checks across all services.
Clear accountability
When something isn’t right, there’s no finger-pointing between vendors about whose job it was.
Less admin
Fewer contracts, insurance certificates, WorkSafeBC clearances and invoices to manage.
Portfolio consistency
For owners and managers with multiple properties, one partner can deliver the same standard across all of them.
When Separate Specialists Make Sense
- Licensed trades: electrical, plumbing, gas, HVAC, elevators and fire protection should go to qualified, licensed contractors
- Highly specialized work: high-rise window cleaning by rope access, roofing, envelope repairs
- Gaps in capability: if a maintenance company can’t do a service well, don’t force it
What to Look for in a Maintenance Partner
- Range of services: janitorial, carpet, floor care, power washing, power scrubbing, power sweeping, parkade cleaning and caretaker services
- Credentials: fully licensed and insured, WorkSafeBC coverage, a good Better Business Bureau rating
- Industry involvement: membership in organizations like CHOA and compliance platforms like Complyworks
- Owned equipment: ride-on scrubbers, sweepers and power washing units, not just subcontracted
- Reporting: real-time updates and photo reporting
- Supervision: regular inspections and a clear escalation path
- Track record: references from properties like yours
Questions to Ask Before Signing
- Which services do you deliver with your own staff and equipment, and which are subcontracted?
- Who is my day-to-day contact?
- How do you coordinate scheduling across services?
- How do you report work and issues?
- Can you provide insurance and WorkSafeBC documentation up front?
- How do you handle a missed service or quality issue?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is one vendor more expensive?
Not necessarily. Bundling services can reduce mobilization costs, and less coordination saves management time.
What if one service isn’t up to standard?
With one partner, you have more leverage, since the whole relationship is on the line.
Can we move services over gradually?
Yes. Many owners start with janitorial or power washing and add services as contracts with other vendors end.
One Partner, Every Service
EcoPlanet Property Services has served Greater Vancouver’s strata, commercial and specialty properties for more than 20 years. We’re fully licensed and insured, hold an A+ BBB rating and are members of CHOA and Complyworks. Janitorial, carpet care, floor care, power washing, scrubbing, sweeping, parkade cleaning and caretaker services, all with one point of contact. Request a free quote or call 604-565-5238.
