Have you decided that your business needs new premises and are looking to buy a property? No matter what size or shape of property you are looking to buy, it will require maintenance in the long run.
Knowing what’s in thestore is important if you are buying a property for your business. If you want to keep your business’ property in the best condition, make sure you are investing time and money in the following factors.
PROPERTY CARE
What lies beneath the surface of your property could be what endangers it the most. Damp, woodworm, and dry rot are all problems that are extremely common in older UK buildings.
Damp can be extremely dangerous if it left untreated. Damp specialists Glasgow, Richardson and Starling say that “Damp is the biggest day to day risk to the deterioration of your property” and that is why it is important that you have your property damp proofed before any other work continues. How can damp affect your property?
- Rising Damp
- Penetrating Damp
- Basement Damp
- Condensation
- Plumbing Leaks
- Flooding
If you think you have identified damp within your property, it is important that you have it treated ASAP. The spread of damp could cost your business more money in the long run as the problem will only get worse.
It may even cause your business to close, damp has an adverse effect on the fabric of a property and could cause dry & wet rot to its timbers. Both of these problems could cause mould growth to the walls and ceilings of your property.
CLEANING
Cleanliness not only gives your customers an insight into how your business is run but having an untidy and unsanitary workspace could lead to accidents.
Start a fresh and avoid leaving large amounts of clutter around your business. Fires can happen extremely easily and a single spark from may be enough to a frayed ignite cardboard boxes or papers that happen to be lying around.
FIRE STANDARDS
This brings us on to the next point. Is the property you are buying already up-to-scratch with the most recent fire regulations? Upholding fire safety within your business should be an effort which is made by both you and your employees. However, you are responsible for fire safety in business or other non-domestic premises if you’re:
- an employer
- the owner
- the landlord
- an occupier
- anyone else with control of the premises, e.g. a facilities manager, building manager, managing agent or risk assessor
As the ‘responsible person’ you must encourage your employees to work together to meet the fire safety standards that are required. The responsibilities include:
- Carrying out a fire risk assessment of the premises and reviewing it regularly
- Informing your employees of the risks you’ve identified
- Creating and maintaining appropriate fire safety measures
- Creating a strategy for emergencies
- Making sure your staff understand fire safety instruction with training
SECURITY
If you do not invest in a quality security system, then you could be making your building extremely vulnerable. Security not only protects your property but you and your employees. Make sure the presence of CCTV is displayed as it may deter thieves from targeting your business.
Security may also make customers feel safer. The presence of CCTV will make customers feel secure especially in busy locations.
Theft is not the only danger which CCTV Cameras can reduce as they can also be placed in areas where accidents can happen. By having CCTV surveillance, in the worst case scenario, it could save someone’s life.
