Willow Facilities

Good facility managers establish expectations, address problems early, and hold their service providers to appropriate standards. Contractors and vendors play an important role in keeping buildings operating safely and efficiently. From HVAC service companies and plumbers to electricians, cleaning services, and general contractors, facility managers rely on outside professionals to get work done. When you find a good vendor, that relationship can become one of your most valua

Capital budget season shouldn’t be the first time you start thinking about what your facility needs. If you manage a building, now is the time to start building your list. A good capital budget starts with knowing what you have, what condition it’s in, how long it should last, and what it will cost to replace or improve. Start by walking your facility and looking at the major systems and assets: Roofs and building exteriors HVAC equipment Boilers and water heaters Electrical

Close it properly. Document what you find. Fix what needs attention. And give yourself a head start on next season. As summer comes to an end, swimming pool operations begin to wind down. The furniture gets stored, the last swimmers leave, and eventually the pool equipment is shut down. But closing a commercial or community swimming pool properly is more than simply turning off the pumps and putting on the cover. For a facilities manager, the end-of-season shutdown is an impo

Facilities Insight is a new series of short, practical articles designed for busy facility professionals. Each one-minute read focuses on a simple observation, inspection tip, or actionable idea that you can put to use immediately. The goal is simple: read it, take action, and make your facility a little better today. Check out the first one, leave a comment and let us know what you think. End-of-Summer Maintenance: 5 Things to Check Before Fall Summer may not be over yet, bu

No building is perfect. Even facilities with strong maintenance programs can develop safety deficiencies over time due to aging infrastructure, normal wear and tear, deferred maintenance, or simple oversight. The good news is that most safety issues are preventable. Regular inspections and a proactive maintenance program can identify problems before they lead to injuries, regulatory citations, equipment failures, or costly repairs. A strong facility safety program is built on

Creating a Capital Reserve Study for a facilities maintenance department is a crucial step in ensuring that your facility operates efficiently and effectively. What Is a Capital Reserve Study? Every facility contains assets that will eventually need to be repaired, replaced, or upgraded. Roofs wear out, HVAC systems reach the end of their useful life, pumps fail, and building finishes deteriorate over time. A capital reserve study is a planning tool that helps you identify th