The importance of grounds maintenance for businesses

Here’s why grounds maintenance is so important.

First impressions are important. In the business world, even more so. Rock up to an office with overflowing bins, unkempt flower beds and graffiti on the wall, and you’re not going to think very highly of the business. Turn up somewhere with well-pruned lawns, clean windows and a couple of wooden benches, and you’ll know the company cares about its reputation.

Throughout the year, your grounds will face new challenges due to the weather, with each season bringing a new list of maintenance tasks. From painting windows and doors in the summer to planting bulbs and flowers in the spring, there are lots of things that you need to take into consideration if you want to create an impressive view when customers and staff arrive at your premises. The good news is, companies like Precision Facilities Management can help you. We’ve rounded up some of the reasons to invest in grounds maintenance…. 

Access to the experts

Taking on a permanent member of staff to maintain your grounds can be expensive, and you will also need to invest in the machinery they’ll need to do their job. Outsourcing to a facilities management company allows you to access a professional crew who can help you maintain an attractive landscape, without you having to worry about the ins and outs. A good grounds maintenance team will plan ahead to maximise the life expectancy of your greenery, and use time-served techniques such as weed control to reduce your overall maintenance costs.

Improve wellbeing and reduce stress

Open, green spaces not only look great and improve your company’s reputation, but they are proven to improve the health and wellbeing of your staff. If employees know they can relax in bright, natural spaces on their breaks, they’ll spend more time on-site destressing. Green spaces also improve creativity and cognitive function, and you could even consider the option of allowing staff to work outdoors during the warmer months. It pays to invest.

Increase curb appeal

Maintaining your company’s landscape is not only aesthetically pleasing but it makes a lasting impression on customers and passersby. Litter is one of the most common problems businesses face, with cigarettes, confectionary packets and soft drinks bottles coming out on top. Although installing recycling bins and encouraging staff to litter pick in their way into work is one solution, having a team to maintain your car park and entranceways once a week will give you added confidence and peace of mind that your premises look their best.

Reduce liability

By keeping your business grounds well-maintained and litter-free, you’ll reduce your liability. Obstructions to walkways from leaves and litter could pose an injury risk, which could even result in a lawsuit against your organisation. Trees and shrubs can also be maintained to reduce the likelihood of branches falling, which could damage property, cars, or passersby.  

Protecting your investment

Though landscaping and grounds maintenance may seem frivolous in times of a global recession, you should think of it as an investment. If you don’t take good care of your grounds, your premises will quickly become messy and overgrown, and garden installations may need to be removed entirely. It’s better to invest month-to-month than to spend thousands of pounds in a couple of years’ time. What’s more, if you’re planning on selling your business premises in the years ahead, well-maintained grounds could increase its value. If you’re renting your premises, you may have a contractual upkeep obligation.

Improve indoor spaces

Finally, grounds maintenance has an added benefit of improving your indoor spaces. Litter can fly into your reception foyer and mud can travel from the paths onto your office and retail carpets, which is bad news for your cleaners. Keeping your grounds in a mud and litter-free condition will make your cleaners’ lives easier, and your indoor spaces looking their best. A good facilities management company will also offer services such as window cleaning on a weekly or monthly basis to ensure that your office or retail space is bright, open, and airy.

We’re proud to be an FM provider that offers grounds maintenance and other services that can help your business premises look its best. To find out more and arrange a consultation, call us on 0843 289 9085 or click here for more details on our grounds maintenance service.