Elevator Consulting
The Elevator Consultants (TEC) is an independent elevator consulting firm specializing in vertical transportation analysis. Our goal is to provide customized recommendations to meet the building’s needs and the client’s bottom line.
We are The Elevator Consultants, and We Dig Deep
elevator consulting services
Most people believe that elevator management involves simply scheduling standard elevator inspections and counting on them to give the building a clean bill of health. But elevator management has much more depth.
Standard inspections are just the tip of the iceberg and do not provide buildings with the “bigger picture”, such as critical proactive strategies to keep repairs and costs down. Settling for a clean safety and compliance record is a short-sighted strategy in a multi-dimensional system.
At the Elevator Consultants we follow all ASME 17.1 elevator and escalator safety codes, but we don’t stop there. We look at the current and future equipment cost to protect your property. It is our job to dig deep and evaluate your best interests for both the long and short term.
The Elevator Consultants dig deep by:
- Considering how the vertical transportation system affects an entire building – the tenants, your portfolio, your investment, and your business goals.
- Taking your needs into account. An elevator audit addresses the holistic management of specific vertical transportation performance and its costs.
- Addressing specific financial risks. For instance, in a historic office building or a high rise the elevator system could pass inspection, but not offer the best quality option to the public (including your tenants) or address the building’s finances.
- Conducting a full elevator performance analysis that evaluates the current design and maintenance using industry best practices, code compliancy and business expertise.
- Providing you results you need to make informed decisions for the building as a whole.
Our 7 Step Approach to Elevator Consulting Engagements
At The Elevator Consultants, we bring a strategic, data-informed, and technology-enabled approach to every consulting engagement — from modernization planning to maintenance challenges, service provider disputes, repair proposals, and everything in between. Our team is trusted by building owners, managers, engineers, and operations professionals across the country to provide expert, unbiased guidance on all aspects of vertical transportation. Here’s how we typically engage in a consulting assignment:
1. Understanding the Elevator Challenge
Every engagement begins with a conversation. We listen carefully to understand your goals, pain points, and concerns — whether it’s unexplained downtime, parts availability, questionable repair proposals, increasing callbacks, tenant complaints, service provider issues, compliance uncertainty, or long-term capital planning. Every buildings operation needs is unique. We can then determine what the exact needs and goals of our clients. 2. Information & Data Collection
We gather relevant data including service contracts, historical maintenance records, building logs, testing results, proposals, internal notes, and maintenance control plan documentation. Our team builds a comprehensive understanding of your elevator systems and operating environment to ensure no detail is overlooked.
2. Information & Data Collection
We gather relevant data, including service contracts, historical maintenance records, building logs, testing results, proposals, internal notes, and maintenance control plan documentation. Our team builds a comprehensive understanding of your elevator systems and operating environment to ensure no detail is overlooked.
3. Onsite Elevator Evaluation (When Applicable)
Depending on the nature of the engagement, we may conduct a physical elevator site assessment to observe elevator operation, inspect equipment, validate reported issues, and gather real-time insights to support our findings and recommendations. In many cases, solutions can be found with data and operational knowledge.
4. Analysis & Benchmarking
Using elevator industry standards, best practices, and AI-enhanced analytics, we evaluate performance, cost implications, risks, and potential opportunities. We benchmark your systems against comparable equipment, elevator providers, and market conditions to provide you with actionable clarity and context tailored to your specific needs.
5. Strategic Recommendations
We deliver prioritized recommendations tailored to your specific goals, whether you’re looking to improve elevator reliability, reduce elevator costs, ensure code compliance, plan for modernization, or verify elevator service provider performance. Our recommendations are clear, data-supported, and aligned with your budget and timelines.
6. Implementation Support
We don’t stop at the plan. We help you put it into action. This includes guiding elevator vendor discussions, negotiating proposals, supporting the bidding process, managing code upgrades or repairs, and advising on contract compliance all with transparency and your best interests in mind.
7. Ongoing Monitoring & Tools
With our proprietary ElevatorApp and digital reporting, we provide ongoing support and monitoring where needed – ensuring accountability, visibility, and measurable outcomes over time. Technology-Driven. Industry-Informed. Client-Focused.
Whether you’re facing urgent repair concerns, navigating modernization decisions, or simply want to ensure you’re getting what you’re paying for, The Elevator Consultants brings clarity, strategy, and confidence to every engagement- powered by industry expertise, objective data, and AI-enhanced tools.
Any building, whether owned by a REIT portfolio, investor, condo association, hospital, major company, campus, hotel, mall, and so forth, can have escalating vertical transportation equipment costs that can quickly affect the bottom line. On the flip side, taking the appropriate proactive measures to protect your investment is critical for a building’s operational costs and safety.
Elevators are a critical asset, but if not properly evaluated and maintained, they can become a liability.
Elevator Consulting – Next Steps
Smart organizations are always searching for ways to manage the cost of doing business. Large investors, developers, and REITS (Real Estate Trusts) often own or manage multiple buildings in different cities or countries and may struggle to get a handle on their elevator contracts, service providers, and repair costs.
We at The Elevator Consultants are advocates for owners, managers, and investors. We work for you to ensure safe elevators and escalators by recommending proactive maintenance practices and holding service providers to their contractual obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an elevator consultant do?
An elevator consultant provides independent expertise to evaluate, audit, and optimize elevator maintenance, modernization, repairs, and overall vertical transportation operations. Unlike elevator service providers who profit from selling parts and repairs, consultants work solely in the building interest.
Our consulting services include auditing elevator performance and maintenance practices, reviewing contracts and invoices for accuracy, advising on modernization and new installations, ensuring compliance with safety codes like ASME A17.1, and acting as a liaison between building owners and service providers. We do not carry tools or perform repairs. Instead, we provide unbiased professional guidance that protects your interests and reduces costs while improving elevator reliability and safety.
Why should I hire an elevator consultant instead of relying on my elevator service provider?
Your elevator service provider has a financial interest in selling elevator parts, elevator repairs, and elevator services. An independent elevator consultant works exclusively for you and has no incentive to recommend unnecessary work or overlook substandard maintenance.
Most elevator service contracts are written to benefit the service provider, not the building. Without independent oversight, buildings often pay for maintenance they never receive, approve repairs that are already covered under contract, or accept proposals for repairs covered in the contract and potential premature modernizations. An elevator consultant reviews your elevator service records, audits actual equipment condition, and verifies that you are getting what you pay for. Think of it like having an accountant review your books or an attorney review a contract. The expertise pays for itself by preventing costly mistakes and holding service providers accountable.
How much does elevator consulting cost?
Elevator consulting fees vary based on the scope of work, number of elevators, building complexity, and geographic location. Hourly rates typically range from $125 to $200 while flat fees for specific projects such as audits, repair reviews, or modernization specifications may range from $1,000 to $50,000 depending on complexity, service and building requirements.
For ongoing consulting services, monthly fees typically range from $500 to $10,000 depending on portfolio size and service level. Most clients see a return on investment of 10 to 150 times their elevator consulting fee in the first year through cost savings, prevented overcharges, and improved elevator performance. The investment in professional consulting often pays for itself many times over by avoiding unnecessary repairs, negotiating better contracts, and ensuring maintenance is actually performed.
When do I need an elevator consultant?
The best time to engage an elevator consultant is before problems escalate into expensive emergencies. Key moments include contract renewal periods, elevator parts issues, modernization planning, property acquisition due diligence, persistent service issues, questionable invoices or proposals, and when maintenance costs seem out of control.
We recommend engaging a consultant at least three to six months before your elevator maintenance contract expires to allow time for proper bidding and negotiation. If you are considering a modernization project, consulting early in the planning phase prevents costly mistakes in equipment selection and contractor procurement. Buildings experiencing frequent callbacks, extended downtime, or tenant complaints about elevator performance should seek independent evaluation. Even if your elevators seem to be running fine, a periodic audit can uncover deferred maintenance or contract compliance issues before they become major problems. Engage a consultant when you feel you made need additional information about your elevators. An elevator consulting firm will always inform you about your current situation and provide guidance.
What is the difference between an elevator consultant and an elevator inspector?
An elevator inspector verifies minimum safety code compliance through periodic regulatory inspections required by the authority having jurisdiction. An elevator consultant provides comprehensive evaluation of equipment condition, maintenance quality, service provider performance, and contract compliance that goes far beyond what an inspection covers.
Inspections are conducted by state or city certified inspectors to ensure elevators meet legal safety requirements. Passing an inspection means your elevator will not injure someone today, but it does not tell you whether your equipment is operating efficiently, whether your maintenance provider is doing the work you pay for, whether your control system is approaching obsolescence, or whether your building is vulnerable to unexpected breakdowns. An elevator consultant evaluates true performance, maintenance delivery, cost efficiency, and long-term planning. Inspections verify minimum standards while audits verify optimal performance and contract fulfillment.
Are elevator consultants affiliated with elevator manufacturers or service providers?
Reputable elevator consultants are completely independent and accept no commissions, incentives, or compensation from elevator manufacturers, service providers, or OEMs. We work solely for building owners and have no financial ties to any elevator company.
Independence is the foundation of credible elevator consulting. If a consultant receives referral fees or has financial relationships with service providers, their recommendations may be influenced by factors other than your best interest. When evaluating any elevator consulting firm, ask for written confirmation that they receive no compensation from elevator companies, request references from current clients, and verify they work with multiple service providers. At The Elevator Consultants, we are your advocate and work exclusively in your interest, all our employees follow a code of conduct.
Can an elevator consultant review my existing elevator maintenance contract?
Yes. Contract review and negotiation is one of the most valuable services an elevator consultant provides. We analyze your current agreement to identify gaps, ambiguous language, hidden exclusions, and terms that favor the service provider over your building.
Elevator maintenance contracts are often dense, technical, and filled with industry jargon that makes it difficult to assess whether you are getting the services you pay for. Common issues we uncover include vague maintenance schedules, broad exclusion clauses that leave you responsible for expensive components, unclear overtime and callback billing, and inadequate performance standards. We rewrite contract language to improve clarity, enforce service level agreements, eliminate ambiguous terms, and ensure protections for building owners. A thorough contract review often reveals cost-saving opportunities and prevents future disputes with service providers.
What industries or building types do elevator consultants work with?
Elevator consultants serve all commercial building types with elevators, including office buildings, hospitals, hotels, condominiums, universities, retail centers, industrial facilities, and mixed-use developments. We work with buildings that have one elevator or portfolios with hundreds of units.
Each industry has unique elevator requirements. Hospitals must meet Joint Commission and Department of Public Health standards while maintaining critical uptime for patient transport and emergency response. Hotels require reliable, quiet elevators that enhance guest experience. Condominiums face reserve fund planning challenges and board governance considerations. Universities manage dispersed campus portfolios with multiple service providers. Retail centers balance customer convenience with freight elevator needs. We understand these industry-specific nuances and tailor our consulting approach accordingly.
How can an elevator consultant save my building money?
Elevator consultants identify overcharges, prevent unnecessary repairs, negotiate better contracts, and ensure you receive the maintenance services you pay for. Clients routinely save thousands of dollars, and in some cases hundreds of thousands, by avoiding duplicate billing, premature modernizations, and inflated repair proposals.
Cost savings come from multiple sources. We audit invoices to uncover billing errors and charges for work that should be covered under your maintenance agreement. We review repair proposals to determine whether work is actually necessary and whether pricing is fair compared to industry benchmarks. We negotiate contract terms that reduce exclusions and improve accountability. We identify deferred maintenance issues before they escalate into expensive emergency repairs. We help buildings avoid premature modernization by extending equipment life through proper maintenance oversight. In one recent case, a client avoided a $30,000 charge for a part that had already been replaced and was still under warranty.
How do I get started with The Elevator Consultants?
Yes. The Elevator Consultants serves clients nationwide, from New York to Los Angeles, Portland to Miami, and everywhere in between. We also work with clients internationally who need independent elevator expertise.
Our national presence allows us to bring best practices from every market to your building, along with negotiating leverage from our collective experience with service providers across the country. Elevator codes and standards like ASME A17.1 apply throughout the United States, though local jurisdictions may have additional requirements. Our consultants understand both national standards and regional variations. For clients with multi-site portfolios spread across different cities or states, we provide consistent oversight and standardized contract management regardless of location.