Key Takeaways
- Full insurance — Public Liability and Workers Compensation — should be a baseline requirement, not a bonus feature.
- In-house technicians tend to deliver more consistent quality and accountability than teams that subcontract every job out.
- A single provider covering multiple services can simplify scheduling and reduce the number of vendors your building has to manage.
- Ask for evidence of recent, similar commercial work — not just residential reviews.
Choosing a maintenance contractor for a commercial property is a different decision to hiring someone for a single home job. The stakes are higher — tenants, staff and visitors all rely on the building looking and functioning properly — so it’s worth checking a few things before signing on.
What Should You Check Before Signing a Contract?
Start with the basics: current Public Liability and Workers Compensation insurance, a clear scope of work, and a written quote rather than a verbal estimate. It’s also worth asking how long the company has operated commercially, and whether they can provide references from other commercial or strata clients specifically.
Why Does In-House vs Subcontracted Work Matter?
Some maintenance companies subcontract most or all of their actual jobs out to third parties, which can mean less consistency in quality, less accountability if something goes wrong, and a different technician showing up each visit. An in-house team generally means more consistent standards and a single point of contact who actually knows your building.
Is It Better to Use One Provider for Multiple Services?
For a commercial property, consolidating services like pressure washing, aircon cleaning, gutter cleaning and window cleaning under one provider usually means less time spent coordinating separate vendors, fewer site visits to schedule around, and one company that’s accountable for the exterior maintenance picture as a whole — rather than gaps falling between providers.
What Questions Should You Ask About Insurance and Compliance?
Ask to see a current certificate of currency for both Public Liability and Workers Compensation, not just a verbal confirmation. For larger commercial sites, it’s also reasonable to ask about safe work method statements (SWMS) for higher-risk tasks like roof or height access work.
How Can The Guys Group Help?
We work with commercial property managers and business owners across Sydney, with an in-house team, full Public Liability and Workers Compensation insurance, and a full range of exterior maintenance services under one roof. Explore our commercial property maintenance service, or get in touch to discuss your building’s needs.
