Are You Overpaying for Common Area Services?
Common Area Maintenance (CAM) services are the backbone of commercial property upkeep, covering everything from landscaping and trash to snow removal and common restrooms. But all too often, landlords end up overpaying for services that fall short of expectations. Here’s how to recognize when costs outweigh value and what to do about it.
What Are Common Area Services?
CAM includes maintenance, landscaping, trash, snow removal, security, lighting, and utilities in shared spaces. These services are built into CAM fees and expected to be delivered reliably.
Signs You Might Be Overpaying
Visible neglect is a red flag: overflowing dumpsters, graffiti, stained walkways, and overgrown landscaping signal a mismatch between fees and service performance.
Why Transparency Matters
CAM disputes often stem from vague cost breakdowns, misclassified charges, hidden fees, or poorly reconciled statements. To address this, many landlords are moving toward clearer reporting and even “open-book” practices to build tenant trust.
What’s at Stake Without Oversight
Unmanaged vendor costs lead to tenant dissatisfaction, reduced foot traffic, and potential lease cancellations. Worse, if negligence leads to a slip-and-fall injury or other liability, the legal exposure can be significant.
Simple Steps to Take Control
Walk the property regularly for better expectations and real-time corrections.
Set clear service standards and penalties for underperformance.
Negotiate lease terms that include CAM cost caps, fixed CAM rates, gross-up limits, or audit rights.
Let Us Help
At Jonasvar Inc., we manage your property like it is our own. We help protect tenant satisfaction and owner NOI by ensuring common area services are performed consistently and meet expectations.
Ready to take control of your CAM costs?