THE LOOK
Visions: BOMA of Metropolitan Detroit
by Troy R. Clogg, Troy Clogg Landscape Associates

Do you have "the look"? That first impression that separates your building from your competition? The Friedman Mid-Year Market Report states that the current leasing and, subleasing of vacant buildings has risen to 21.5%. How can you achieve an edge on the market and attract prospective clients and customers? The answer is simple: curb appeal. You have an opportunity to change the way your building appears to the community and those interested in your property. Improving your landscape design provides you the advantage of making a statement about the establishment you own or manage. After all, first impressions are vital to the success of maintaining "the look" needed to survive in today's market.

The first two noticeable aspects of commercial property are the building and its landscape. It is a well known fact that well-groomed landscape increases property value, tenant retention, and promotes quality relationships within the community. Budgeting to maintain landscape is essential to preserve the original intentions of your building investment.

The diversity of landscape styles available sets the mood for the area. Formal or informal designs of planting and hardscape designs, including retaining walls, brick pavers, and even waterfalls, will provide years of compliment to the building if designed and installed professionally in the beginning. Design Is dependent upon several key elements: topography of the location, proportion and color to the building structure as an aesthetic value for the tenants, employees and the visitors of the site. Providing a well-landscaped office building allows all who enter to “take time to smell the roses," a much-needed moment in our busy lives, and a lasting memory.

Many cities and neighboring communities have now established “environmental codes'” for landscape, in an effort to further beautify their neighborhoods. Owners and property managers who maintain sites with this

in mind, show efforts to be part of the neighborhood. Several communities around the Metro Detroit Area have honored businesses with "Beautification Awards," for representing the best effort to improve aesthetics within the community and for providing places where people desire to work, shop, or visit. Your landscape professional, supports not only the annual maintenance of your property, but they possess the ability and knowledge of landscape materials to assist you with a long-range plan to keep the site fresh, colorful, safe, and within your budget plan.

An additional service most landscape providers perform is snow removal. Southeastem Michigan is an extremely litigious area. It is imperative that property managers partner with a landscaping/snow removal firm that understands the importance of timely, quality snow removal, that will meet the individual needs of each property. The expectations for all sites to be snow and ice free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, creates a demanding role for the snow professional. When selecting which company to perform your snow removal needs, choose carefully. As spectacular office buildings exist, which stand out head and shoulders above the rest, so exists landscape and snow removal professionals who shine like few others.

To ensure your building has "the look" year round, choose a landscape and snow removal company well to enjoy a long relationship built on trust, supported by consistent quality actions.

Visions: BOMA Business Owners and Managers Association of Metropolitan Detroit
by Troy R. Clogg, Troy Clogg Landscape Associates

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