Working with Tenants During Renovation

Renovation of commercial property helps ensure the safety of your tenants and the overall look and efficiency of your units. Whether a high-rise, mid-rise, senior living center, or apartment complex, upgrades to windows and doors are sometimes necessary. They improve the lives of the tenants while increasing the value of the property and decreasing the overall operating expense. However, sometimes tenants may become frustrated with the inconvenience of necessary renovations.

Aeroseal Windows and Storefront has tips to help ensure that necessary renovations for your commercial building take place between you, your property managers, and your tenants with as little inconvenience as possible.

Renovate Windows and Doors with Tenant-in-Place

Replacing windows and doors on an entire property may seem like an overwhelming task.  However, it provides several advantages over renovating during unit turnover.

  • Tenant-In-Place allows all of the windows to be purchased at one time
    • Decreases overall cost
    • Mid to Long-term maintenance on windows is easier since all of the windows are from a single manufacturer versus the potential of different windows in different parts of a community
    • Decreases tenant resentment since long-term existing tenants will receive new windows and doors at a similar time as new residents.
    • Increases maintenance team’s knowledge of new product with the maintenance team being able to see the operation and functionality of the window and door systems for several weeks straight.
    • All residents will have an idea of when they will receive new windows and doors by controlling the schedule from the front end.

Tenant-in-Place window replacement is by far the best approach for replacing windows on larger properties.  With Aeroseal, we bring over 20 years of tenant-in-place replacement experience.

Clearly Communicate the Property Renovation Process and Timeline with Your Tenants

Commercial renovations may take as little as minutes, or they may last for days. Usually, the residents have three questions:

  1. When are you starting my unit?
  2. When will you be done with my unit?
  3. How long will the renovations for the property last?

Considering these questions, it is important to provide residents with a schedule, as well and include them in the process.  While they will not be handling the scheduling of units, it is best practice to have a kick-off meeting a few weeks before the renovations begin.  This allows the property management team to outline the following:

  1. Why are “we” doing this?
    1. Discuss the benefits of new windows and doors
      1. Fewer drafts in cold months
      2. Lower utility bills
      3. Greater occupant safety
  1. High Level Schedule
    1. How the project will be phased
    2. How individual units will be notified
    3. When the project will start
    4. When the project will end
  2. The replacement process
    1. What will the process look like in “their” residence
    2. How many days will they be inconvenienced
    3. Any responsibilities of the resident

At the same time, don’t hide the potential inconveniences for your tenant. No one likes surprises. Be upfront about your tenant expectations, such as pet control, and clarify potential inconveniences to the tenant, such as windows and doors being uninstalled while heat or air conditioning is on.  Let your tenants know upfront how long these may last.

Work with Your Tenants Individually

Most renovations happen during the day. However, not everyone works by day. Healthcare workers, police, and many others may have night schedules. Some are trying to sleep during business hours. Add to that the fact that these days, many of your tenants may work from home.  It is important to take these things into account while still keeping the project moving forward.  In the past, we have noticed that some of the most successful property management teams have provided a “renovation room” where they would have water and snacks, in addition to a place to rest and work while construction is taking place in their unit.

Don’t hesitate to work with your tenants and adjust renovation timelines from one unit to the next, though it is important to do this in advance.  A few tenants may have special considerations related to work or sleep and most property management teams know exactly who these tenants are.  Notify them early in the process.  Early notification, as mentioned above, provides an opportunity to work with them to ensure the best times your contractors arrive. You might even find that a seemingly “difficult” tenant has a vacation planned that provides the perfect opportunity to do their work.

What to Do if Tenant Relocation is Necessary

By following the steps provided, the need for tenant relocation should be rare, and most will appreciate and enjoy the improvements to their home. But in some cases of major renovation, short-term relocation of your tenant may become necessary.

In these cases, know the relocation assistance laws and statutes of your state and county first. If relocation is necessary, it does not have to be a major inconvenience for anyone. For instance, many tenants of an apartment complex will enjoy the luxury of a furnished or show unit for a few nights. It can actually feel like a vacation! Room changes at senior living centers or dormitories can also be quite simple, with only minor inconvenience to your tenants.

Contact Aeroseal

Aeroseal Windows & Storefront provides renovation solutions for commercial property owners, managers, and general contractors including windows and doors, commercial storefronts, siding and metal panels, curtain walls and more. What’s more, we work with you to ensure the best experience for your tenants. For a free consultation, contact Aeroseal online now, or call 1-888-380-2376.