January is that season we all resolve to do one thing or the other. We plan our fitness, finances, spiritual, self-improvement and other goals we deem very important to our very existence. One area we never really make plans for is our property’s maintenance. Our attitude to our facilities’ maintenance is often reactionary. This often leads massive unplanned costs which ultimately have a bearing on our financial goals for the year.
The typical Ghanaian has a laid-back attitude to maintenance of every kind. There is a popular saying here that Ghana has no maintenance culture. We see state-owned buildings, cars, stadia, etc. in very deplorable states due to the bad maintenance culture. Same can be said of individual and other private sector assets.
Amidst the current economic challenges with all the “haircut” hitting pockets and affecting businesses’ bottom line, one cannot afford to allow a critical element of our lives such as building maintenance to chance.
Prices of construction materials have risen by at least 50% in the last 6 months of 2022 according to a survey commissioned by Devpod Services Limited. In some instances, prices have gone up by over 120% since January 2022. For instance, prices for a 12,000BTU (1.5HP) air conditioner have risen from an average GHC 2,000 in January 2022 to about GHC 4,500 as at December 2022.
Labour costs are also on the rise due to the current economic challenges. A typical plumbing repair callout which used to cost average GHC 50 now costs twice or thrice as much.
The average Ghanaian home spends at least GHC 1,500.00 on maintenance costs annually. This is projected to increase by some 50% in the next 2–3 years due to rising costs of living. Businesses spend at least 30% of their operational costs on facilities maintenance globally. This figure may be a little higher in our Ghanaian market due to lack of structures, pricing transparency and the apparent lack of adoption for use of professional maintenance companies and personnel for facilities maintenance in homes and businesses.
We are often surprised when we encounter big brands often calling on “The AC Guy”, “Bro Yaw the carpenter”, etc. to render building maintenance services for them. Not only is this expensive, but issues of warranty and other associated risks make it a risky venture for these businesses. These technicians not vetted and certified (which is an issue which should attract a national discussion and policy), there is no price standardization and background checks. The icing on the cake is the poor customer service offered by these people.
Good news is that with an efficient maintenance culture; one that includes a properly planned maintenance schedules, you reduce your costs by 30% with services offered by professional maintenance businesses like the The Accra Handyman (a service from Devpod Services Limited). You also avoid unnecessary replacement costs because you’re always a step ahead of your building’s maintenance.
Businesses stand to gain from employing the services of a one-stop shop facilities maintenance business to save costs, minimize risks and ensure service delivery is same across. Professional facilities maintenance companies also reduce the down-time for maintenance operations because they ensure all phases of maintenance are covered through comprehensive maintenance plans. The goal is to reduce cost and maximize profits, and FM companies help in achieving just that.
Our business solutions also offer 24/7 helpdesk assistance, annual maintenance plans, warranty covered services and a great service advisor to ensure that your facilities are always in tip-top conditions.
Overall, building the right building maintenance culture requires a combination of resource allocation and being intentional about it, which your annual goal setting agenda is all about. Adopting a proactive maintenance approach helps to keep your buildings in good working order and avoid unnecessary, avoidable costs.