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Audit Your Property’s Security Features

The security and safety of your commercial property is an ongoing concern. Not only do you want to ensure your physical building is protected, you also need to make sure its occupants are safe. An audit of your property’s security features can give you a clearer understanding of how well your building is protected and identify areas where you can make improvements.

Review Your Access Control System to enhance property security

Your property’s access control system serves several functions. It allows authorized people to enter and exit your building. It limits occupant access to the parts of your building their job or visit requires. Access control also prevents unauthorized visitors from gaining access to your building and alerts you when someone has entered your building by force.

Some access control systems are as simple as a master key system. But the most effective ones use cutting-edge technologies to keep properties safe. It is common for buildings to use passcodes, keycards and fobs, and even biometrics to manage access and monitor building occupants. Some use Bluetooth technology to allow visitors to open doors from their smart phones.

How does your access control system measure up? Are you still handing out physical keys, or have you upgraded to a more secure system? If you have multiple tenants, a mix of common spaces and private offices, or high occupant turnover, investing in a smarter access control system may pay off for you. Clarity Commercial can help you find the solution that’s right for you.

Take Another Look at Your Video Security and Surveillance

Security cameras and video surveillance technology has improved leaps and bounds over the last decade or so. If you are using an outdated system with fixed cameras and grainy, black-and-white video that’s accessible only on physical tapes, it’s time to upgrade.

Today’s video security systems use state-of-the-art technology to monitor your property. Cameras can rotate and provide crystal-clear HD video with color and night vision. Systems now store videos on the cloud so you can monitor them anytime, anywhere. Cameras are smaller and less conspicuous, so you can install more to cover more area. If you haven’t updated your video surveillance in a few years, it’s time to take another look.

Review Your Building Systems Monitoring and Alerts

While intruders, thieves, and vandals are the top targets of most security systems, your building’s systems can also do some major damage if a failure goes unnoticed. Many fire suppression, HVAC, water, and electrical systems now include monitoring systems that alert you immediately if a failure or outage has occurred. This allows you to take immediate action to remedy the situation and keep your building safe.

Building security and safety is a concern all year long. This summer, take some time to audit your property’s security features to uncover ways you can keep your building and its occupants safer. For help finding the right security solutions, contact the Clarity Commercial team today.

For more information or to request a free estimate, visit their website at https://myclaritycommercial.com/ or give us a call at (952) 370-224-2699.

Affiliations & Credentials: We are proud members of IREM, CCIM and MNCAR along with various professional organizations and hold relevant certifications in the real estate management field. Our affiliations and credentials demonstrate our commitment to excellence and our ongoing efforts to stay up-to-date with industry best practices.

Join Us for These IREM Minnesota Events This Winter

The winter season is an excellent time to brush up on professional development. For commercial property managers, the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) is the best place to pursue continuing education. IREM Minnesota hosts events throughout the year for managers to hone their skills, pursue certification, and give back to their communities.

Here’s a look at the events coming up this winter at IREM Minnesota.

Ethics for the Real Estate Manager Course – January 29

IREM Minnesota starts the year off on a high gear with Ethics for the Real Estate Manager (ETH800), a course required for the ACoM, CPM, ARM, and AMO certifications. It’s taught by our very own Mel Schultz.

The day-long course will cover IREM’s code of ethics and give participants a chance to study real-world ethics cases and the implications they have on commercial property managers and their clients. The course will also cover strategies for overcoming ethical dilemmas and avoiding conflicts of interest.

Ethics for the Real Estate Manager also qualifies for 4 hours of continuing education for property managers. To register, visit iremmn.org.

Volunteering at People Serving People – February 10

IREM Minnesota members volunteer at People Serving People the second Monday of every month. People Serving People is a family-focused shelter that helps break the cycle of homelessness for families. The volunteers serve meals to the shelter’s residents.

This event is open to members and their colleagues, friends, and family members. To register, visit iremmn.org.

Northland Mechanical and IREM Minnesota Present Celebrate IREM! – February 21

Celebrate IREM! is the organization’s opportunity to reflect on the past year and celebrate successes. Attendees will enjoy cocktails, a plated dinner, awards presentation, volunteer recognition, gaming tables, and live music.

IREM members, partners, plus ones, and non-IREM property managers are all welcome. To register or sponsor a gaming table, visit iremmn.org.

Roundtable: Fenestration Field Testing – March 18

Terracon Consultants representatives Allen Witt and Ryan Nierengarten will hold a roundtable discussion on fenestration field testing this March. The discussion will cover ASTM methods for field testing and the differences between ASTM standards and AAMA standards.

By the end of the roundtable, participants will be able to identify different fenestration testing standards and determine when each are appropriate to use. To register, visit iremmn.org.

Virtual CPM Capstone – March 23–March 27

This virtual event allows participants to complete their CPM capstone projects without spending time in a physical classroom. The course is designed for CPM candidates who still need to complete their management plans and the CPM Certification Exams. It offers participants the chance to take the Management Plan Skills Assessment as an alternative to submitting an independent management plan. On the last day, CPM candidates take the CPM Certification Exam.

To register for the virtual CPM capstone, visit iremmn.org.

Clarity Commercial a proud, active member of IREM Minnesota. Our founder Mel Schultz serves as a senior vice president of the Minnesota IREM chapter. For more information on IREM or commercial property management, contact the Clarity team.

Upcoming IREM Minnesota Events to Fill Your 2019 Calendar

Clarity Commercial is an active member of IREM Minnesota. Our local chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management hosts events throughout the year to help real estate managers hone their skills (and have a little fun). Mark your calendars for these upcoming IREM events.

June 7: Property Management Summit at Golden Valley Country Club

On June 7, IREM Minnesota will host the Property Management Summit at Golden Valley Country Club. Real estate managers can earn four hours of CE credit for participating in the summit. The event will give an overview of the state of the real estate management industry, then offer four one-hour sessions that will cover business development, asset management, marketing, leasing, maintenance, and tenant improvements.

June 10: IREM 2019 Golf Tournament at Minnesota Valley Country Club

IREM members work hard, and they play hard, too! Register today for the IREM 2019 Golf Tournament in Minnesota Valley Country Club in Bloomington. Put together a foursome, win the beanbag tournament and best-dressed (and worst-dressed!) competition, and take a shot at $5,000 in the long putt contest. Look forward to seeing you on the course!

September 24: Roundtable on Construction Management & Tenant Improvement at The Harrington Company

The next IREM roundtable will cover construction management and tenant improvements. The members-only event will be held at the IREM Minnesota chapter office in Minneapolis on September 24. Participants will learn how to oversee tenant improvement and construction projects on smaller residential buildings and earn one hour of CE.

November 11–15: Asset Management Track Courses at Atria Corporate Center

IREM Minnesota will offer the Asset Management Track of courses November 11–15. Participants will complete three courses: Financing and Loan Analysis for Investment Real Estate, Performance and Valuation of Investment Real Estate, and Asset Analysis of Investment Real Estate. The Asset Management Track meets CPM program requirements.

This track of courses will build participants’ knowledge of financing as well as the valuation of real estate assets. IREM recommends that participants complete Budgeting, Cash Flow, and Reporting for Investment Real Estate before embarking on the Asset Management Track.

Clarity Commercial never takes time off from professional development. IREM events help us stay on top of changes in the real estate management industry so we can provide you with the best property management service possible. To learn more about how we can serve you, contact the Clarity Commercial team today.

Keep Guests and Employees Safe This Winter with These Snow & Ice Tips for Commercial Properties

Last month, Clarity Commercial shared three common winter challenges commercial property owners face and how to solve them. This month, we’re taking a closer look at the first challenge: snow and ice removal.

Tips for Clear and Safe Parking Lots  for Commercial Properties

In Minnesota, mountains appear seasonally. They tend to show up around the end of January in parking lots across the Twin Cities, then disappear sometime in May. Snow mountains are a fact of life for commercial property owners with parking lots. Not only do these piles of snow take up parking spaces, they can make it hazardous for your employees and visitors to navigate your lot.

Regular plowing and deicing will keep your parking lot surface clear and safe. But all that snow needs to go somewhere. In winters with below-average snowfall, you might be able to get away with allowing your snow mountain to accumulate. But in average or above-average snowfall, you will want to contract with a company to haul away some of your snow. Clarity Commercial has the resources to help you plow your snow, deice your lot, and reduce your snow mountain to Minnesota prairie.

The Best Way to Keep Outdoor Walkways Safe

Slip-and-fall accidents increase in the wintertime, which means out-of-work employees and even lawsuits if injuries are serious. What’s the best way to prevent slip-and-falls? Staying on top of the snow and ice on your walkways.

Most municipalities require owners to clear the walkways around their properties. Clarity can help you understand your city’s requirements. Our snow removal crews use snow blowers and shovels to clear snow from our clients’ walkways. We follow up snow removal with deicing, including salt and sand, if necessary. If snow is in the forecast, you may see our crews out before the weather hits to throw down a layer of salt, too.

Don’t Forget to Keep Interior Flooring Dry

Snow and ice removal doesn’t end once employees and visitors walk through your front door. Snow and salt on boots can muck up your floors and cause people to slip. Clarity recommends placing a few heavy-duty mats in your vestibule and lobby areas to catch water and salt. Our vendors also stop by at least once a week to replace wet and dirty mats.

Keep an eye on hardwood and tile flooring, both of which can get slick from melted snow. Mop up wet floors regularly and consider using an industrial blower fan to dry floors on stormy days. Carpets can get gummy with melted snow and salt. Schedule one or two carpet cleaning appointments throughout the winter to keep your floors looking nice.

Don’t let Old Man Winter get you down this year. Keep employees and visitors safe and dry as they come and go from your building. Clarity Commercial can help you stay on top of the snow this season. Contact us today to get started.

For more information or to request a free estimate, visit their website at https://myclaritycommercial.com/ or give us a call at (952) 370-224-2699.

Affiliations & Credentials: We are proud members of IREM, CCIM and MNCAR along with various professional organizations and hold relevant certifications in the real estate management field. Our affiliations and credentials demonstrate our commitment to excellence and our ongoing efforts to stay up-to-date with industry best practices.