Facility Management Contract: Your Complete Negotiation Guide

Facility management (FM) contracts are the backbone of how companies maintain clean, secure, and operational spaces — whether it’s a single building or an international real estate portfolio. While templates and standard clauses are helpful, the best way to make these contracts work is by figuring out the right rules and details that fit exactly […]
Emergency Planning: What It Is and Why It Is Crucial

Emergency Preparedness Plans for places of work are required legally. Emergency Preparedness Plans for places of work are required operationally. Every business has a duty of care to keep personnel and visitors safe in ANY emergency. Following is the Ten Commandments of workplace emergency planning as required by law for EVERY employer in the U.S. […]
Your Straightforward Guide to Choosing the Right Facility Manager

Facility management (FM) isn’t just about fixing broken equipment—it’s a crucial factor in your company’s operational efficiency, employee satisfaction, and long-term cost savings. The right FM provider can reduce expenses, enhance workplace productivity, and ensure your business remains resilient in the face of unexpected disruptions. This guide will help you navigate the key aspects of […]
The Hidden Costs of Non-Compliance: Fire Safety and Your Bottom Line

Fires cost businesses billions of dollars annually, not just in direct damage, but also in lost revenue, legal fees, food security, and reputational harm. Consider the devastating fire that ripped through a food processing plant in Moses Lake, Washington in 2023. The blaze, which took dozens of firefighters to battle, not only destroyed the facility […]
OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENTS
Operational Assessments are an oft ignored necessary metric. The problem is so many of us FMs inherited an organization and are keeping it going as is, maybe making some changes, but as the fresh eyes in the organization, did you make notes of the deficiencies to improve them, or are things just continuing ‘as […]
THERE IS A LOT OF NOISE OUT THERE, WHAT DO I LISTEN TO?
Circular Economy, ESG, Sustainability, Net Zero, BIM, IWMS, CMMS, IOT, Sensors, IEQ, Data to name a few. My budget is short, manpower is stretched what do I do!?!? STEP 1: What are the goals of your companies Strategic Plan? Aligning with those goals is the only way to succeed. Create your plan with the Strategic […]
Washington’s Clean Building Performance Standard: What Property Owners Need To Know

With its robust Clean Buildings legislation, Washington State has emerged as a frontrunner in sustainable building practices, which establishes stringent energy efficiency standards for commercial buildings. This legislation requires you and other commercial property owners to adopt measures aimed at reducing your environmental footprint, which may involve strategic capital expenditure projects for energy-efficient upgrades. By […]
FM is Changing
Once upon a time in a building not so far away a custodian with an office in the dark, dusty, hot basement next to the boiler, managed everything to do with the building which wasn’t much. Minimal training required, no ongoing training because nothing changed. There was no concern with IEQ, lighting, cooling, inspections, preventative […]
A Simple Guide to Creating a Winning Facility Management Plan

A strategic approach to facilities management focuses on optimizing resource utilization and maximizing asset value. This article will explore how this involves meticulous planning, informed decision-making, and proactive measures to identify cost-saving opportunities, adopt sustainable practices, and leverage technology for operational efficiency. By anticipating and adapting to changing business needs, your organization can position itself […]
LEARN FROM THE PAST, ACTION THE PRESENT, PREDICT THE FUTURE
Maintenance in a Facility has almost become as critical as on a jetliner. People’s schedules, lives, business meetings, are being affected. Now granted, failure to repair the closer on the front door of your building won’t shut the building down like it could a jetliner. But it still affects our customers, they might not miss […]