What is Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM)?

Solving problems. That’s a large part of what managing a property is all about. But what if you could solve problems before they turn into larger issues? Sounds like a dream. But it can be a reality. Let’s talk about planned preventative maintenance.

Think about your customers. What’s their most valuable asset?

For most, it’s property. Whether residential or commercial, property is their biggest monetary investment. And with so much at stake, it’s essential to ensure that this asset holds its value.

Without proper maintenance, the condition of a property will degrade and this, in turn, will quickly impact value – and not in a good way!

But this can easily be avoided with planned preventative maintenance.

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What is planned preventative maintenance?

Planned preventative maintenance – or PPM, as it’s well known – is maintenance that you take care of regularly in line with a schedule. As the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed – and, put simply, PPM involves taking a proactive approach to maintenance. It helps to preserve a property’s condition, prevent problems from occurring, and avoid future failures or breakages.

Reactive maintenance, on the other hand, takes place after something goes wrong or there is a breakdown, resulting in costly emergency repairs or expensive replacement.

Why is planned preventative maintenance important?

When it comes to maintaining the condition and value of a property, planned preventative maintenance is essential.

The benefits of PPM are obvious. PPM ensures all aspects of a property operate safely and efficiently, and for as long as possible.

More specifically, a well-implemented PPM schedule will inevitably reduce reactive maintenance costs. But it’s not only the financial advantages that make a PPM schedule a ‘must have’. There are a range of other significant benefits, including:

• Added value. A property that has fallen into disrepair will inevitably decline in value, so ensuring the building and its amenities and fixtures are regularly maintained will enhance the asset.
• Increased safety. From mitigating a trip hazard caused by an uneven walkway to averting the potential for absolute disaster if a smoke alarm is not working, planned preventative maintenance can increase safety by resolving a wide range of safety risks.
• Improved efficiency. Planned preventative maintenance can help some appliances, like air-conditioners, hot water systems and lighting, run more efficiently and reduce ongoing running costs.
• Longer life span. Both interior and exterior aspects of the property can benefit from planned preventative maintenance, resulting in an extended life span for fixtures, fittings and the building as a whole.
• Less stress. Emergency repairs are not only time-consuming to deal with, they can also cause angst for everyone involved. Planned preventative maintenance can reduce stress for everyone by lessening the chance that an unexpected problem will pop up.

How does PPM work in real life?

It’s a common misconception that planned preventative maintenance is unnecessarily costly. After all, why spend money on something when nothing is wrong? But, without PPM, a property is at higher risk of degradation of fixtures and fittings and the unforeseen breakdown of appliances.

Here are a few examples of how PPM can save money in the long run.

Roof inspections

When you think about the level of protection a roof provides to a property against everything Mother Nature has to offer, it’s natural to expect that it will experience some wear and tear.

Overhanging tree branches can cause cracks in roof tiles during high winds. Hail can punch holes in roofing materials and cause extensive damage. Heavy rain can seep into roof cavities where flashing or sealing has deteriorated. And ongoing exposure to the elements can lead to a general deterioration of roofing materials.

Ignore any of these problems for too long and a partial or complete roof replacement may be required, costing thousands of dollars – or even tens of thousands of dollars. But by identifying them early through regular roof inspections and maintenance as part of a PPM schedule, the cost reduces substantially. After all, isn’t it preferable to replace a few tiles or seal a few areas than replace the entire roof?

Electrical safety inspection

No one wants an electrical-related incident to happen in their home or at their business, and many things can impact on a property’s electrical circuit, including age, usage, installation of new appliances and more.

Does the electrical panel meet current standards? Are circuit breakers in place? Have all appliances and outlets been checked? When it comes to electricity, you can never be too careful.

A regular electrical safety inspection will identify the electrical hazards that could be lurking in a property, which can reduce the risk of fusion incidents, electrical-related fires and electrocutions – and, ultimately, contribute to the safety of your property.

Fire safety inspections

Fire safety inspections are critical to protecting property from damage and, more importantly, people from severe harm, which is why a regular fire safety inspection is essential.

Building fires can start all to easily. A dropped cigarette butt, candles burning too close to a curtain or a short in electrical wiring. And while some causes of fires may not be able to be prevented, the extent of the resulting damage can be mitigated by ensuring the correct fire safety measures are in place.

Including this inspection in a PPM schedule will ensure that things like smoke alarms, exit signs, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers and access for emergency vehicles are assessed by qualified experts. The cost of ensuring these are maintained and in working order through a regular fire safety inspection is small when compared to the cost of losing a property or, much worse, a life.

Property inspections

The risks that come with property ownership are many and all property owners need to understand the importance of maintenance. From walls, staircases, windows, plumbing and fixtures to paint, doors, carpets and all manner of other fittings, ensuring all aspects of a building are regularly inspected for safety and potential faults is a must and will ensure that everything is in good working condition.

Regular property inspections by a qualified professional will ensure that everything is safe and in good working order. After all, it’s far better to pay a few hundred dollars for regular maintenance than thousands of dollars for repairs or a complete overhaul or replacement.

PPM is a must

So what’s the upshot? It’s simple. A properly implemented and managed PPM schedule will protect the underlying value of a property, reduce unnecessary expense and decrease reactive maintenance costs. It will also ensure that you stay on top of your statutory and compliance obligations.

Can you afford not to implement planned preventative maintenance?

Looking for a solution to make PPM easier?

Try Property Tree – Australia’s leading cloud-based property management software. With the automation of everyday tasks and easy access to all property management data in one place, you can make informed decisions and ensure that planned preventative maintenance is completed on time and within budget.

Property Tree is an easy-to-use, intuitive platform that not only helps you to do your job, but also provides better outcomes for your clients.

Book a Property Tree demo and experience the MRI difference.