Maintenance of a hotel property is an essential part of running a successful business. Ensuring that all systems and components, such as HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), plumbing, electrical, and elevators, are functioning correctly can help create a pleasant environment for your guests while also avoiding potential disasters. By performing regular inspections, repairs, and preventive maintenance on these systems, you can help extend the life of your property and ensure that it is operating at its best. Regular property maintenance also helps to protect your investment by reducing the need for costly emergency repairs.

At the same time, property maintenance should be viewed holistically to identify which areas are more critical than others and require more attention. HVAC systems, for example, typically require frequent maintenance to keep them running smoothly, while elevators may only need attention once or twice a year. Knowing which items are the most important can help you prioritize property maintenance tasks so that your property is always kept in peak condition.

By understanding property maintenance and how to maintain your property properly, you can ensure that your property is operating at its best and maximize the potential of your investment. With the right knowledge and tools, property maintenance doesn’t have to be a difficult or time-consuming task.

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)

The HVAC system of a hotel property is one of the most important aspects to consider when it comes to property maintenance. Not only does this system provide comfortable temperatures and air quality, but it also helps to control humidity levels and circulation of fresh air throughout the property. To ensure that the system is functioning correctly, inspection and maintenance should be completed regularly.

Inspection of the HVAC system should be done at least twice a year, while repairs or maintenance should be done as needed. During an inspection, technicians will check for any signs of wear or damage to the components and make sure that all parts are working properly. This includes checking the air filters, blowers, and evaporator coils for any obstructions or signs of damage.

In addition to inspection and repairs, regular preventative maintenance should also be done on the HVAC system to keep it operating at its best. This includes checking and cleaning the air ducts, adjusting the fan speed, replacing worn parts, and ensuring that the system is properly insulated.

By performing regular inspections, repairs, and preventive maintenance on your property’s HVAC system, you can help ensure it is functioning correctly and provide a comfortable environment for your guests. This can help to extend the life of the system while also reducing the risk of costly emergency repairs in the future.

Plumbing

The plumbing system in a hotel property is one of the most complex and important aspects to consider when it comes to property maintenance. From toilets, faucets, and showers to drains, pipes, and septic systems, ensuring that all components are functioning correctly can help provide guests with a comfortable stay while also avoiding costly damage due to faulty plumbing.

Regular inspection and maintenance are essential for keeping the property’s plumbing system running smoothly. This includes checking for any signs of wear or damage to the components, as well as making sure that all parts are connected properly and functioning correctly. If a repair is needed, it should be done promptly to avoid further damage and potential emergencies.

In addition to inspection and repairs, the property’s plumbing system should also be maintained regularly. This includes checking for any clogs or blockages in the pipes, tightening connections, and replacing worn parts as needed.

By performing regular inspections, repairs, and preventive maintenance on your property’s plumbing system, you can help ensure it is functioning correctly and provide a comfortable property for your guests. This can help to extend the life of the system while also minimizing the risk of costly emergency repairs in the future.

Electrical

The electrical system of a hotel property is one of the most important aspects to consider when it comes to property maintenance. Not only can faulty electrical systems be dangerous, but they can also lead to costly repairs in the future if not properly maintained.

Inspection and testing of the property’s electrical system should be done regularly to ensure that all components are functioning correctly and safely. This includes checking for any signs of wear or damage to the components, as well as making sure that all parts are connected properly and securely.

In addition to inspection and repairs, property personnel should also be sure to perform regular preventive maintenance on all electrical systems. This includes checking for any loose wires or damaged components, making sure that all outlets are properly grounded, and ensuring that the property’s wiring is up-to-date with current building codes.

By performing regular inspections, repairs, and preventive maintenance on your property’s electrical system, you can help ensure it is functioning correctly and safely. This can go a long way in helping to extend the life of the system while also reducing the risk of costly emergency repairs in the future.

By paying attention to property maintenance items such as HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, hotel property owners can help extend the life of their property while also minimizing the risk of costly emergency repairs. Regular inspections, repairs, and preventive maintenance are essential for ensuring that all components are functioning correctly and safely. By following this advice, property owners can help to ensure their property is comfortable and safe for guests while also avoiding any unexpected expenses down the road.

Elevators

Elevators are an important part of any hotel property and should be given special attention when it comes to property maintenance. Not only can faulty elevators be dangerous, but they can also lead to costly repairs in the future if not properly maintained or inspected regularly.

Inspection and testing of the property’s elevator systems should be done regularly to ensure that all components are functioning correctly and safely. This includes checking for any signs of wear or damage to the components, as well as making sure that all parts are connected properly and securely. If a repair is needed, it should be done promptly to avoid further damage and potential emergencies.

In addition to inspection and repairs, property personnel should also be sure to perform regular preventive maintenance on all elevator systems. This includes checking for any loose wires or damaged components, making sure that all parts are well lubricated and functioning correctly, and ensuring that the property’s wiring is up-to-date with current building codes.

Allocating your Maintenance Resources

No business has limitless resources. Scheduling as many inspections and repairs as possible, acquiring the best possible replacement parts for your assets, or buying the best possible equipment for your property, are all going to require a huge amount of money, money that will probably have to come from other parts of your budget where it might be put to better use.

Clearly, then, you can’t just throw money at the problem of good maintenance for your hotel, at least not without overspending with diminishing returns. Property owners and managers need to be able to allocate their limited maintenance resources as efficiently as possible. From one perspective, this is fairly simple:

  1. Figure out what the lifecycle of each of your assets is supposed to be, and compare it to how old the asset is to estimate how long it will last without further repairs.
  2. Get an inspection done, or review the notes from a recent inspection, and use that information to adjust your estimate of the life left in that asset. If the asset is doing unexpectedly well, extend the lifespan estimate; if it’s in surprisingly poor condition, decrease it proportionally.
  3. Schedule another inspection for the estimated end of the asset’s lifespan.
  4. Make plans and/or preparations for repair or replacement of the asset, depending on its condition.
  5. Set a portion of the budget aside for emergencies, should any arise.

This is probably the essential framework of most property managers’ maintenance plans (if in a less formalized form), regardless of what kind of property they run. In this model, owners and operators should allocate their maintenance resources based reactively based on what’s currently causing problems and proactively based on what is likely to cause problems in the near future. There’s nothing wrong with this model, but it could be better. If you don’t think that there’s much room for improvement on this model, then ask yourself this one question:

  • How much influence does each of your assets have on your overall profit margin?

Intelligent allocation of maintenance resources is about more than just ensuring that all of your property is in good condition. It’s about prioritizing those repairs and maintenance items which are most likely to affect your property’s bottom line so that you can maximize the return on each of your investments.

In other words, property managers should always be asking themselves: what items need attention right now? To do this, property owners and managers should have a good understanding of what their property’s most profitable assets are and how likely those assets are to fail before the end of their lifespans. With this in mind, property owners and managers can allocate their maintenance resources efficiently and effectively.

By maintaining an effective property maintenance plan that focuses on the property’s most profitable assets, property owners and managers can ensure that their property remains in good condition and generate a healthy return on investment. With the right maintenance plan in place, property owners and managers can rest assured that their properties will remain profitable for many years to come.

Property owners and managers should always remember that good property maintenance is an investment, not just an expense. When property owners and managers can prioritize their property’s most profitable assets while still paying attention to all of the property’s other maintenance needs, they will be able to get the most out of their property and maximize its value.  Investing in property maintenance is key to ensuring that your property remains a profitable business for years to come.

Bilt’s Asset Management consulting program equips property managers in many industries, not just hospitality, with the knowledge and expertise needed to develop and adapt top-tier maintenance plans and practices. Get in touch with us today to schedule a free meeting to see if our program is right for you and your property.