I originally wanted to write a short post introducing Revive Commercial Services and talking about our team. But after reading through public reviews about properties across the Lehigh Valley, I went down a bit of a rabbit hole.
I was surprised by how many reviews formed an opinion of a property based on what people saw before they ever walked inside. The entrance. The sidewalks. The dumpster area. The building exterior. The windows. The overall first impression.
I’m not sharing these to call out any specific property. I’m sharing them because they show a pattern that comes up often in public reviews. A lot of the things mentioned are easy to overlook when you are managing a property, dealing with tenants, handling vendors, working through budgets, responding to complaints, and trying to keep everything moving. (I know I am probably missing a few things).
Most people do not see how much property managers, facility teams, and maintenance staff are responsible for every day. But the public still notices what is right in front of them. And sometimes, those small exterior maintenance issues become the things people remember most.
Entrances & First Impressions
Neglected Doorways: Reviews frequently highlight a “shabby first impression,” pointing out doorways caked in dust and walkways thick with discarded cigarette butts and windblown trash.
Filthy and Unwelcoming: “The first thing you see walking into the hotel is overflowing cigarette ashtrays and a dirty sliding door covered in fingerprints. It didn’t make a good first impression.”
Stained Concrete: Customers complain about “sticky, stained sidewalks” leading into facilities, noting that gum and old liquid spills look like they “haven’t been power-washed in years.”
Sometimes when I meet with hotel managers and property managers, I wonder if what I am saying really resonates. There are times when I see buildup,or neglected areas and the response is something like:
“It’s not that bad.”
Or:
“We just want to handle this one section for now.”
I understand that. Budgets are real. Priorities are real. There is always something else that needs attention. But seeing reviews like these is exactly why exterior cleaning should be part of the yearly property plan, not just something handled once it becomes obvious.
Waiting a year, or even two years, can make the work more expensive and make the property look reactive instead of proactive.
A quarterly or seasonal maintenance cleaning can make a major difference in how customers, residents, guests, and clients view the property. It also helps keep the budget more predictable throughout the year.
I wonder how many of these complaints would never have been written if the property was cleaned even twice a year.
Dumpster Pads & Sanitation
Foul Odors & Runoff: Severe reviews emphasize the “disgusting stench” coming from commercial trash enclosures, with visitors noting dark, greasy liquid leaking from the gates and staining the main driving lanes.
Pest Concerns: A common point of anger is the visual presence of flies, rodents, or birds swarming unwashed concrete pads, which reviewers call a “major health hazard.”
Growing up in NYC, I am very familiar with everything mentioned above. But this is not just a city issue. I see it around job sites here too. Dumpster areas are easy to forget. Honestly, even when I walk properties, they can be one of those areas that gets overlooked at first.
But guests notice them. Tenants notice them. Residents notice them. Employees notice them. And when someone connects a dirty dumpster area to their overall experience of a property, it becomes hard to ignore.
It is also not just about appearance. Grease, runoff, and buildup can create slippery surfaces and potential safety concerns for both visitors and employees.
Building Exteriors & Infrastructure
Organic Growth: Complaints target the structural appearance, specifically noting “heavy green algae and dark mold streaks” climbing up shaded brick and siding.
Road Grime & Soot: For properties near heavy transit corridors in the Lehigh Valley, reviewers point out buildings that look “completely black from truck exhaust and road grime.”
There are quite a few places along 222, Route 22, and other busy corridors where this type of buildup is easy to see. Parking garages. Sides of buildings facing traffic. Retail centers. Hotels. Office properties. High-traffic concrete areas.
The buildup and grime are right in front of people before they ever walk inside. That is the main point.
Commercial properties get judged fast. That first impression can become the lasting impression.
And once people start putting those impressions online, it is already part of the property’s reputation.
The Good Reviews Matter Too
I’ll end with a few positive reviews, because it is not all bad. These stood out because they show the other side of the same issue: when a property is clean, maintained, and cared for, people notice that too.
“Amazing company and they don’t play about their properties getting the work done right. Never hesitate to call them, they will show up.”
“Very clean and modern hotel in a nice and up-and-coming area of Allentown.”
“Beautiful architecture, perfectly maintained charm.”
“Their service is outstanding. In addition to janitorial duties… the management team makes frequent visits to guarantee quality service. The floors and main areas always look fantastic when complete.”
“They leave the complex neat and sparkling… the process is convenient and the work is flawless.”
That is the difference a clean, maintained property can make. The outside of a property speaks before anyone at the property gets a chance to.
At Revive Commercial Services, our goal is to help property managers& facility teams, stay ahead of these issues before they turn into complaints.
Protect the first impression. Maintain the property image. Revive the exterior.
If your property could use a walkthrough, I’d be happy to take a look.
Doug Sliss Revive Commercial Services 484-705-5389
doug@revivecommercialservices.com
