Proper maintenance of shopping centers provides a welcoming atmosphere for patrons and limits liabilities for property owners. While perhaps not the largest consumer of a property’s budget, maintaining exterior spaces such as parking areas and landscaping can have significant costs. This article will highlight five areas in which shopping center owners can save money through landscaping and property maintenance.
Liability Reduction
Few things can be more expensive and unexpected than a lawsuit. Property owners have the responsibility to maintain a safe environment for all customers, guests and employees. According to a recent study, slip and fall accidents account for 15% of accidental deaths in the United States, second only to motor vehicle accidents. Roughly 60% of these accidents occur at work in the services, wholesale and retail trade industries. Just one lawsuit by an employee or patron could cost tens of thousands of dollars if not more, even if settled out of court.
In shopping centers, the first priority for minimizing these accidents is walking paths. Whether the entrance to the building or in the parking area, steps should be taken to remove any obstructions or slippery areas. One area that is often overlooked is the small strips of landscaping that are often present throughout the parking area. People will often take the shortest path to the store or their vehicle even if that means stepping through shrubs or raised beds of plant material. When they do, they may slip on loose material such as bark or mulch or trip over sprinkler heads or irrigation hoses. These devices can also suffer damage as they are not built to withstand heavy force.
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Strategy 1: reinforce the path with thick shrubbery or fencing to deter people from cutting through
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Strategy 2: embrace the path and provide a clear walkway or install stepping stones or pavers for safe footing
Lighting Efficiency
Ample lighting is key to safety and liability reduction in both indoor and outdoor spaces. Technology has improved greatly in the past decade with regards to energy efficient lighting options. While there is an initial cost associated with replacing traditional light bulbs with LEDs (light emitting diodes), particularly commercial grade systems, the long term savings can be significant.
Here is a cost comparison provided by Eartheasy:
Not only are LED bulbs cheaper in the long run but they can also put out more light, are not sensitive to low temperatures or high humidity, do not get hot to the touch, are more durable, do not contain mercury and emit a fraction of the carbon dioxide that CFL (compact fluorescents) or incandescent light bulbs do. Learn more about how outdoor lighting can enhance the look and safety of your property here.
Parking Surface Maintenance
Replacing or repairing parking area surfaces can be extremely expensive and intrusive. Sand, dirt, silt and other debris are abrasive and when left on the surface will deteriorate pavement. Outsourcing porter services is a great way to proactively protect your parking services. There are two primary methods for cleaning commercial parking lots:
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Blowing and Picking
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Power Sweeping or Power Brushing
Routine power sweeping is typically the best option for shopping centers as it is more effective and is not nearly as loud as commercial handheld or backpack blowers. Learn about the many benefits of power sweeping here.
In addition to keeping your parking surface clean, maintaining clear striping on curbs, parking spaces and direction arrows is important. These indicators, when highly visible, help direct traffic and decrease the chances of parking lot accidents.
Tree Care
In some municipalities, commercial properties such as shopping centers are required to have a certain number of trees for every parking space. These areas can be harsh environments to grow trees and replacing them is very costly. Schedule a professional arborist to examine your trees in order to gauge their health. If trees are unhealthy or dying, they can become a large source of liability if branches or the tree itself were to fall. In some cases, fertilizer injections can be utilized to encourage healthy growth. Tree canopies should also be trimmed at least 8 or 9 feet off the ground so that pedestrians and vehicles do not come in contact with them.
Potted Plant Irrigation
Potted plants are a great and cost effective way to add landscape design to your exterior spaces. They can add color and character as well as be strategically placed to guide foot traffic. Watering potted plants though can be a pain as they are not typically in an area where automatic irrigation methods are easy to install. Consider using a product such as Terra-Sorb, a “water grabber” which absorbs water and holds moisture around plant roots. These products are inexpensive, can last for several years and reduce the frequency in which you need to water potted plants.
Partnering with a professional landscape manager can streamline your maintenance plan and keep you a step ahead of all of the exterior upkeep required to have a safe and aesthetically pleasing shopping center.
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