5 Tasks Property Managers Should Do At the Beginning of the Year

Managing a property is no easy task. Not only does the size, high traffic and different surface areas of a residential/strata or commercial building take a lot of work to keep clean, making sure it’s safe and efficient for its residents takes forward planning, organization and attention to detail.

Before launching Eco Planet Cleaning, our Business Development Manager Branislav Celic operated as a property manager in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. With years of experience and knowledge in the industry, Branislav shares his top five tips for other property managers who want to make sure their properties are clean, safe and properly maintained the beginning of 2021.  

Clean Out Your Water Lines

Gutters, drains, and other waterways can easily get clogged by leaves and foliage, especially during and after rainfall. Cleaning these out is actually one of the easiest things to keep on top of, but it often goes unnoticed or forgotten by property managers.

If leaves and foliage are not properly cleaned, water lines are likely to block, which can result in poor water pressure or even halt water flow entirely. Ideally, your service provider would check these each week to scoop any blockages out of the gutter, and then ensure the drain pipes and guttering are working as they should.

Drain covers should also be checked, ensuring they’re in good condition and not covered by leaves. If a lot of leaves gather on top of them, pools of water will form in unwanted places, which can lead to flooding. Did you know the City of Vancouver has an “adopt a catch basin” program? Consider sending this information to your strata council, in case any keen residents want to show their neighbourhood some extra love.

Ensure Outside Mess In Indoor Common Areas is Kept to a Minimum

Keeping indoor common areas clean is probably one of the most challenging aspects of property maintenance. There are three things you, as property manager, should seek to avoid:

1. Minimize the need for constant cleaning;
2. Avoid long-term damage to your flooring with protective matting;
3. and reduce the danger and liability of slips and falls on wet floors.

An efficient way to minimize outside mess is to ensure the lobby and common areas have a custom-made rubber mat laid down. This helps to keep dirt and moisture where it belongs – outdoors! Imagine what your property would look like after only a dozen people return from a rainy—or even snowy—day in Vancouver. When it comes to snow, your residents or guests may be bringing inside the snow removal salt that you sprinkled outside! Unless you’re using eco-friendly ice melt, like we provide at Eco Planet Cleaning, you may be risking erosion on your floors.

Speaking about rubber mats in the lobby and common areas, not all rubber mats are made equal. You can find a long-term solution for the three points above with the matting sold at Canadian Tire. Contact our Sales & Marketing Director, Dunja Celic, for a quote on custom rubber mats. Our team lives and works in the Lower Mainland and can do an on-site inspection of your property so you can have a full-service solution to your cleaning needs.

Control Wetness on Floors to Ensure Safety

The safety of residents or workers in a building should always be prioritized. In rainy Vancouver, wetness on common floors can be an issue, and people carrying wet umbrellas through lobbies and hallways can be one of the main culprits of slips and falls. One of the ways property managers can minimize this is by arranging eco-friendly umbrella bags for residents to catch any drops as they move through the property.

Contact our Sales & Marketing Director, Dunja Celic, for a quote on eco-friendly umbrella bags. We at Eco Planet are a local, neighbourhood basis and are happy to visit your property so you can have a full-service solution to your cleaning needs.

Be Prepared for Winter with Snow Removal Services and Eco-Friendly Ice Melt

For property managers, it’s never too early to start preparing for winter. Snow and ice can come unexpectedly, and getting caught out can wreak havoc on your property – and your budget!

One of our favourite eco-friendly products here at Eco Planet is our Eco-Friendly Ice Melt. This environmentally friendly salt takes on stubborn ice, keeping sidewalks clear and eliminating any danger to the public. One of the things we and our customers love most about it is its safety for your pets. Unlike traditional salt, which can crack your pets’ paws, corrode metal and damage concrete, our Eco Friendly Ice Melt has less impact on grass, trees and shrubs and won’t harm your animals.   

Eco-Friendly Ice Melt is available for pre-purchase for property managers looking to ensure safety and efficiency in their property as they prepare for the year-end. Contact our Sales & Marketing Director, Dunja Celic, for a quote.

Review your Options for Cleaning and Maintenance Service Providers

When it comes to property maintenance, it’s always a good idea to keep up to date on the market and general landscape regarding cleaning and maintenance service providers. After all, just because you’ve used the same company to clean and maintain your property for the last ten years, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the best out there!

Approaching your Annual General Meeting (AGM), we at Eco Planet recommend property managers research other available options for cleaning and maintenance service providers, to review and discuss at the meeting. This way, you can rest easy knowing you’re doing your due diligence when it comes to looking after your property and its residents.

Hire a Janitorial Team You Can Count On

Do you require cleaning or maintenance services for your property this winter? Our Sales Manager, Dunja Celic, is ready and looking forward to talking with you about all your eco friendly cleaning and property maintenance needs. Call her now at 778-837-9749 or contact her via email at dunja@ecoplanetcanada.ca.