How a Complex Manager Can Keep Parking Lots Clean and Safe

Posted on: 24 March 2017

When you own or manage an apartment or condominium complex of any sort, you need to ensure the parking lots are clean and safe and also attractive, as they're usually the first thing to be seen by a potential tenant or buyer. There is also the legal liability of the complex if someone were to get injured or cause an accident on the property's parking lot, so it should always be in good repair. Note a few tips for keeping that lot clean and safe and looking its best, if you're a complex manager.

Walk it, don't drive it

Many complex managers will drive around the property on a regular basis, to give the buildings and grounds a visual inspection. However, it can be good to get out and actually walk around the parking lot, so you can check for safety hazards and needed maintenance that is easy to miss from your car. Be sure you have a good checklist of items to visually inspect, including the paint of parking lines and handicapped markings, the stop signs, drains, and walkways. By actually walking the lot rather than driving, you can more easily see if a traffic sign is coming loose from its base, note chipped areas in the walkways, and consider if traffic lines need a fresh coat of paint so they're visible at night.

Look for early signs of damage

You should know the signs of water damage for the surface of the lot in particular; for concrete, it will usually show in spalling or cracking on the surface, and for asphalt, it might be worn spots under car engines, where oil tends to leak. If you can treat damaged areas quickly, this can keep large chunks of concrete from splitting or having sinkholes appear under asphalt that gets worn away.

Remove cars as needed

Abandoned or illegally parked cars should be addressed as soon as possible; you can have local law enforcement ticket these cars so that owners have a chance to remove them before they get towed. It's also good to keep a record of when such tickets were issued so you can prove that you gave the owners ample time to deal with the vehicle. As the manager, ensure you have a written policy about what cars cannot be kept on the lot, such as those in obvious need of repairs; this will also limit your liability if someone were to try to fight the towing charges for removing their car from the lot.

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