11 Tips for Selecting the Right Cleaning Contractor
Building Operating Management, November 2007, Vince Elliott
Ever wonder why the best is the best? Or, better yet, whether there are common traits among the best of the best that can be emulated? A recent inquiry into data collected from 145 facilities representing nearly 40 million square feet of space set out to identify what top-performing facilities do to select cleaning contractors that deliver cleaner facilities at a lower cost than those secured by other facilities....Magazine link. To receive your own copy, use the link at the top of the page.

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A Better Bid Means a Better Business
Contracting Profits, January 2004, Becky Mollenkamp
Vince Elliott is quoted in this article: Contractor and buyers share the blame for bad bidding scenarios. Working together can ensure that bids are ...

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Defining Clean, Ten Attributes: Part 1 *NEW*
Cleaning and Maintenance Management Magazine, May 2008, Vincent Elliott
We set out to conduct a study of the conditions and attributes that might be used to describe something as “clean” or “dirty.” The rule was simply that, at the specific item level, any problem identified must be visually evident and provable. Magazine link. To receive your own copy, use the link at the top of the page.

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Defining Clean, Ten Attributes: Part 2 *NEW*
Cleaning and Maintenance Management Magazine, June 2008, Vincent Elliott
More than 4,300 respondents, representing hundreds of building and tens of millions of square feet have participated in defining the attributes of “clean”. The resulting frequency distribution showed that nine cleaning conditions and one maintenance issue accounted for 94.6 percent of all conditions found by the inspection team. Magazine link. To receive your own copy, use the link at the top of the page.

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Determining Three Metrics for Cleaning Satisfaction
Building Operating Management, November 2007, Vincent Elliott
A national survey conducted by the showed managers and occupants identified 10 specific attributes that determine whether a facility is clean. After some validation and verification, the authors adopted the core of these findings as the metric for measuring cleanliness quality. Magazine link. To receive your own copy, use the link at the top of the page.

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Give Outsourcing a Second "Honeymoon"
Cleaning & Maintenance Management, May 1996, Vincent Elliott & Andrew Spann
Many companies, universities and colleges, government agencies, and retail complexes have recently switched to this alternative approach. See why . . .

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Outsourcing without Risk
Journal of Property Management, Jan/Feb 1995, Vincent Elliott
With the downsizing of corporate America, outsourcing quickly became the strategy of the 1990s. Yet, businesses are facing the reality that...

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Outsourcing: High Roads, Low Roads, and Blazing New Trails
Corporate Real Estate Executive, March 2000, Vincent Elliott
A review of the industry shows there is consistent outsourcing of specific non-core services like janitorial services, food services, security services, etc...

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Outsourcing: Is it Dumbsizing or Outsourcery?
Corporate Real Estate Executive, September 1997, Vincent Elliott
Corporate real estate management has been swept by a rainbow of re-engineering, rightsizing, downsizing, outsourcing, out-tasking, master contracting, strategic partnering and ...

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Performance Comparison: Day Shift vs. Other Cleaning Shifts
Cleaning & Maintenance Management, Oct 2007, Vincent Elliott
There is growing interest in the concept of day shift cleaning strategies, with the underlying question of whether it is really better, or worse, than current cleaning models. A Nationwide Study is being conducted ... http://www.cmmonline.com

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Performance-Based Outsourcing
FMJ, 2000, Vincent Elliott
This article examines the traditional outsourcing approach to buying facility support services, with an eye on understanding why companies are doing it; judging this strategy’s success and exploring the performance-based alternative.

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Taking an Outsourcing Reality Check
Facilities Design & Management, November 2000, Vincent Elliott
In the early explosive growth of internet outsourcing companies, some are becoming early victims of the first wave of B2B Real Estate MRO internet business failures...

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Task Frequency Specs: Time for A Change?
CM Cleaning Management Magazine, October 1991, Vincent Elliott
The value of the task-frequency approach to contracted cleaning must be questioned in view of the clear risks and problems associated with that strategy. Our experience has shown ...

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Team vs. Zone Cleaning: Part 1
Cleaning and Maintenance Management Magazine, January 2008, Vincent Elliott
There has been a growing interest in the concept of Team vs. Zone cleaning strategies, with the underlying question about whether these strategies are really better, or worse, than current cleaning practices. Which cleaning system would you trust and which system would you offer? Magazine link. To receive your own copy, use the link at the top of the page.

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Team vs. Zone Cleaning: Part 2
Cleaning and Maintenance Management Magazine, February 2008, Vincent Elliott
Last month, we set up the criteria and goals for our study of Team vs. Zone Cleaning. Now, we will uncover the profile of the facilities we surveyed as well as the findings. Magazine link. To receive your own copy, use the link at the top of the page.

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Search for the best of the best: Part 1
Cleaning and Maintenance Management Magazine, March 2008, Vincent Elliott
Previously, I have examined the impact of the cleaning shift, such as Day, Night or Mixed, and cleaning strategies, such as Team and Zone. I concluded that on average Day cleaning and on average Team cleaning delivered better performance for building cleanliness, occupant satisfaction, productivity and cost. But, what happens when you ignore the averages and ask about what shift and strategy works best? Magazine link. To receive your own copy, use the link at the top of the page.

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Search for the best of the best: Part 2
Cleaning and Maintenance Management Magazine, April 2008, Vincent Elliott
Last month, we started our search for the best of the best cleaning strategies. We set the groundwork and also presented some findings. Let us pick up right where we left off. Magazine link. To receive your own copy, use the link at the top of the page.

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What are Best Outsourcing Practices?
Cleaning and Maitenance Management Magazine, November 2007, Vincent Elliott
Top facilities score cleaning contracts that deliver superior service at lower cost. The key is preparation. Here’s the roadmap they follow ... Magazine link. To receive your own copy, use the link at the top of the page.

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White Paper: A National Benchmark of Cleaning Performance
Vincent Elliott
I can’t tell you how often a VP of Facilities, National Purchasing Director, or even Property Manager asks me to recommend a “good” cleaning company. Beyond subjective opinions and self interest advocacy, we could find little practical and objective...

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White Paper: High Customer Satisfaction Discussion
Vincent Elliott
“My customers are satisfied. Why should I continue to worry about improving cleaning quality if my customers are so happy?” Are the customers really happy, or is the satisfaction rating a reflection of low expectations? Why are low customer expectations bad? Won’t my buildings look the same either way? If I raise my customers’ expectations, won’t I have to spend more for cleaning to meet those expectations?

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White Paper: Outsourcing or Performance-Based Outsourcing
Vincent Elliott
This discussion examines the traditional outsourcing approach to buying facility support services, with an eye on understanding why companies are doing it; judging this strategy's success and exploring the performance-based alternative ...

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White Paper: Real Estate E-Commerce: A Reality Check
Vincent Elliott
Written for the 2000 Facilities Management Outsourcing Conference, New York, NY, December 2000. <br> The results of a study of the state of e-commerce in Real Estate conducted by Elliott Affiliates in the fourth quarter of 2000.

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White Paper: The Importance of Complete Accuracy when Bidding
Vincent Elliott
What we will discuss in this newsletter you will not find anywhere else. By the end of this newsletter my hope is that you will understand the importance of accuracy when bidding janitorial services. Guesswork can be very costly...

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White Paper: The Quality-Savings Relationship
Vincent Elliott
Maximizing value is the ability to strike the best balance between achieving the most savings and the greatest quality ...

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White Paper: What Do You Mean By Clean?
Vincent Elliott
More than 4,300 respondents, representing hundreds of building and tens of millions of square feet have participated in defining the attributes that define something as “clean”. These people participated in both client-based, on-site small groups, as well as national on-line surveys. Time after time, the fundamental results produced by these efforts have been very nearly the same...