The elevator industry is evolving rapidly, and for building owners and property managers, navigating this complex elevator landscape has never been more challenging. Elevators are aging many now over 20 years old and the shortage of skilled technicians makes maintaining and repairing them increasingly difficult. The major OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) elevator companies are also tightening their grip, making it harder for buildings to work with independent service providers or source non-proprietary parts. Smaller independents are popping up everywhere leaving buildings with even more factors to navigate.
The result is costly repairs, unexpected change orders, and long-term financial setbacks for those who don’t have an elevator expert in their corner. Many building owners and managers don’t realize just how essential a professional elevator consulting firm can be until they face a major financial or operational disaster.
Elevator repairs and modernization projects are often more complicated than they initially appear. Without proper oversight, building owners frequently find themselves dealing with incomplete work, surprise costs, and elevator service providers who put their own interests first. Two recent situations illustrate just how damaging it can be to take on elevator projects without expert guidance and how hiring an elevator consultant could have prevented costly mistakes.
The $48,000 Jack Replacement Mistake
A building recently had a jack replacement, a critical repair for hydraulic elevators that should have resolved their long-standing issues. The building’s management team opted to handle the project themselves instead of hiring an elevator consulting firm to oversee the work. Within a few months of the repair, the same elevator started malfunctioning again. When the building contacted its elevator service provider, they were told the problem was unrelated to the previous repair and given a proposal to repair. The building was irate since they just spent a ton of money and now needed more.
After further investigation, it became clear that a crucial and common-sense step in the jack replacement process had been missed. This meant that the initial repair was never fully completed, leading to another issue surfacing and an elevator not working. The building was now facing a $48,000 fix, an expense that could have been avoided entirely if the original work had been properly managed including a scope of work.
Had the building hired an elevator consultant, the consultant would have ensured that the repair scope included all necessary steps. They would have held the service provider accountable for completing the work correctly and performed a final surbey to confirm that the job was done properly. Instead, the building trusted the elevator company to manage itself, and now they are paying for a second round of repairs that never should have been necessary.
This situation is not uncommon. Elevator companies don’t always disclose every detail of their work, and unless you have industry expertise, it’s easy to overlook what’s missing. An elevator
consultant brings that expertise to the table, ensuring that building owners aren’t caught off guard by costly surprises down the road.
A $200,000 Change Order That Could Have Been Avoided
A multibillion-dollar property management firm recently undertook a $700,000 elevator modernization project. The company recognized the value of having a professional elevator consulting firm involved but decided to cut consulting fees to fit within a $15,000 consulting budget. They were fully informed that this decision meant reducing the scope of work, and they agreed to move forward. They were confident they did not need all the steps outlined in the consultants scope of work.
As the project progressed, the firm realized that they had underestimated how much expertise they needed. They began reaching out to the elevator consultant with additional questions and service requests, leading to extra consulting fees that ultimately cost more than the original budgeted amount. However, the bigger issue was that, because the consultant had been excluded from critical areas of oversight, the elevator company failed to complete key tasks. This resulted in a $200,000 change order an entirely preventable expense.
Had the consultant been involved from the start at full scope, they would have identified potential risks early on, ensured the elevator company followed the correct procedures, and helped negotiate better contract terms. Instead, the firm attempted to cut costs in the wrong place and ultimately spent far more than necessary.
Why the Elevator Industry Is Becoming More Difficult to Navigate
The elevator industry is changing, and buildings without expert guidance are increasingly at risk of overpaying for repairs, falling victim to incomplete work, and facing unnecessary downtime. Aging elevator equipment requires specialized knowledge to maintain properly, and the current labor shortage means fewer skilled technicians are available. Many newer technicians also lack experience and training with older elevator systems, leading to poor service quality.
Additionally, major OEMs are making it more difficult for buildings to use independent service providers or source non-proprietary replacement parts. This increased control limits competition and can drive up costs for building owners who are locked into long-term contracts with limited flexibility. As a result, many buildings unknowingly pay more than they should for maintenance, labor and repairs.
With economic pressures mounting, it’s understandable that property managers and building owners are looking for ways to cut costs. However, eliminating professional elevator consulting from the budget is a short-sighted move that often leads to much greater expenses later on.
The True Cost of Not Hiring an Elevator Consultant
A professional elevator consulting firm does more than oversee projects; they protect a building’s financial interests by ensuring fair pricing, preventing unnecessary repairs, and verifying that all work is completed correctly and on time. Without an elevator consultant,
buildings often end up paying for avoidable issues, including unnecessary repairs, surprise change orders, delays, and repeated fixes for the same problem.
Buildings that attempt to navigate the elevator industry on their own frequently find themselves at the mercy of their elevator service providers. While many companies operate with integrity, their ultimate goal is to maximize their own profits, not necessarily to find the most cost effective solutions for their clients. Without an independent elevator expert reviewing contracts, inspecting work, and verifying pricing, building owners have little protection against inflated costs and incomplete service.
Elevator consultants are an investment that pays for itself by eliminating hidden costs, negotiating better terms, and ensuring that projects are done right from the start. Instead of viewing elevator consulting fees as an expense, they should be seen as a safeguard against the much larger financial risks that come with mismanaged elevator projects.
Don’t Let Elevator Companies Take Advantage of You
If you own or manage a building with elevators, hiring an elevator consultant is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make. The Elevator Consultants have helped countless clients avoid costly mistakes, hidden fees, and unnecessary repairs. By ensuring that every aspect of your elevator maintenance, repair, or elevator modernization project is handled correctly from the beginning, we save you time, money, and stress.
Contact us today for a consultation and ensure your next elevator project is done right the first time.
FAQs
What does an elevator consultant do?
An elevator consultant helps building owners and property managers navigate the complexities of all elevator issues whether it is elevator maintenance, elevator invoices, elevator service providers proposals, elevator repairs, and elevator modernizations, they ensure they get fair pricing, quality work, and long-term cost savings.
How can an elevator consultant save my building money?
By preventing unnecessary repairs, reducing unexpected change orders, negotiating better services, identify solutions to all problems, and ensuring service providers are held accountable.
Why are elevators so expensive to maintain?
Aging equipment, a shortage of skilled labor, and major OEMs restricting access to parts and services are all driving up costs. This are just a few.
Can I manage an elevator project without a consultant?
Yes, but it’s risky. Without expert oversight, you may overpay, receive incomplete work, or face surprise expenses later on.
How do I know if my elevator company is overcharging me?
An elevator consultant can audit invoices, compare costs, and identify inflated pricing. A consultant can answer any of your elevator problems.
Should I always go with the cheapest elevator maintenance contract?
Not necessarily—cheaper contracts often have hidden costs that result in more expenses down the road. It really depends on several scenarios.
If you own or manage a building with elevators, you can’t afford to go at it alone. The Elevator Consultants have helped countless clients avoid costly mistakes, hidden fees, and unnecessary repairs.