Resolving ideology issues with your current elevator company

Any working relationship can be trying between building owners and any contractors.  The service provider believes they are going above and beyond and the building owner believes they are not getting what they are paying for.   My recommendation is to have an open line of communication if there are any issues, do not wait until they build up and you have a theoretical laundry list of items which you as the building owner may believe you have been done wrong.  Contact the service provider quickly and request items be addressed[make a list].  We as service providers should address them in a timely manner or let you know what it will cost to address the issues.  Our relationships will never be perfect; however, if we can make the building owners complaints or requests constructive we can resolve the issues before they become significant.  This takes work on both sides[customer and service provider].  I have been a part of meetings where the customer will “let me have it” and if we [customer and service provider] do not take the information and turn into a plan for resolution there is really no point to the meeting.  Many years ago I had been a part of meetings where we take our complicated trade and confuse the customer; this again will not be constructive.  As a elevator maintenance provider we are in the buildings for a short period of time each month, quarterly, etc we may need your help[with communicating what you would like completed] to obtain the end goal of having your elevators run as safely and reliably as possible as the building owner may be in the building daily.   We can each blame each other; Building owner “You should know what you are doing you are the service provider” and service provider “You have old junk equipment, what do you expect?” or we can work together.  Collaboration over conflict will bring both parties to a more successful and desirable outcome.   On most occasions both the building owner and the service provider have good talking points, let’s make the most of these so the issues can get resolved, capital planning can be planed for and we both get the most out of our working relationship.

 

If you have an questions or would like information from Colley Elevator you can go to www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.