Looking to attract tenants to your available rentals? In a competitive market, you need to stand out in a good way. And that starts from the moment your prospective tenant drives up to your property. Overgrown flower beds, faded mulch, cracked pavement edging, and patchy turf are unsightly and likely give the impression that you don’t care to maintain the outdoor area, so naturally, that individual will question what kind of interior maintenance plan you have in place. Just the slightest doubt can lead to a lost prospect, equaling lost income for your business and a possible negative word-of-mouth, because as we all know, people are eager to share their experiences – good or bad.
At New Castle Lawn & Landscape, we’ve been maintaining commercial properties across Berks, Chester and Montgomery Counties since 1994. In that time, we’ve seen what separates properties that command top-tier lease rates from those that struggle. Believe it or not, landscaping is often a deciding variable.
First Impressions are Everything
Research in retail and commercial real estate consistently shows that exterior appearance is one of the top three factors influencing tenant and shopper decisions. Studies from the National Association of Realtors have found that landscaping can contribute between 5 and 12 percent to overall property value, making the investment a no-brainer.
Think of your property’s exterior like the cover of a business proposal. The content inside might be excellent, but if the cover is worn and uninspiring, you’ve already lost credibility before the conversation starts. Rest assured, we can help to ensure your property shines.
The Cost of Delaying Routine Maintenance
But what if your budget is feeling the pinch? The urge scale back on commercial landscape maintenance is understandable when your facing tough times. But when you wait, often landscape maintenance needs pile up in ways that aren’t always visible until the damage is done. Simply put: a small investment in preventative work can really save you a lot of money in the long run.
Consider the domino effect: reduced curb appeal leads to longer vacancy cycles. Longer vacancy cycles reduce your net operating income (NOI). Reduced NOI affects your property’s cap rate valuation. A single percentage point shift in cap rate on a $3M property represents $300,000 in asset value. The math on “saving” a few thousand dollars on mulch and seasonal color starts to add up.
And it isn’t just the dollars you should consider. Overgrown landscaping can lead to liability issues like obscured sight lines, overgrown walkways and inadequate drainage, causing possible slips and falls. Here in Pennsylvania, the thaw from a winter freeze can stress turf and hardscaping. When those surfaces aren’t receiving preventative maintenance, the deterioration rate speeds up, leading to larger expenses in the shorter-term.
Property Aspirations
Consider the properties in your market that you aspire to emulate. Walk the parking lots of the best-performing retail centers and professional office parks in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties. What do they have in common? It’s likely consistent, professional landscaping that’s performed year-round. Take note of crisp edging, fresh seasonal colors, clean, well-maintained beds and cleared parking lots and sidewalks in the winter months.
The property owners of these benchmark locations understand that their landscape is the first and last impression seen by customers and clients. It’s a sign that the area is cared for and about. It, in turn, makes visitors – and tenants – feel like they are cared for as well.
The Cost of “Good Enough”
Rather than struggle with what you’ll pay for landscaping, we would ask you to instead consider the cost of a vacant unit each month. If a single lease renewal or new tenant conversion can be attributed in part to improved curb appeal, the ROI on professional landscaping quickly becomes one of the clearest in your entire operating budget.
At New Castle Lawn & Landscape, our commercial maintenance programs are built around this logic. We design service plans that protect your property’s appearance and value consistently, so that every prospective tenant, client, or visitor arrives at a property that communicates: this is a well-run operation.
Get a Free Assessment
Want to know more about what we can do for you? To have a look at your property’s exterior through fresh, yet experienced, eyes? We’d love to have a conversation with you. Our team offers complimentary commercial property landscape assessments. That includes a no-obligation review of your current program and a clear picture of where targeted investments can have the greatest impact.
Contact New Castle Lawn & Landscape today at 610-796-7818 to schedule your assessment or learn more online at newcastlecommerciallandscape.com/. Serving commercial property owners and managers across southeastern Pennsylvania since 1994.