Models for estimating costs of public buildings maintaining – review and assessment

Abstract

Planning maintenance costs is not an easy task. The amount of costs depends on many factors, such as value, age, condition of the property, availability of necessary resources and adopted maintenance strategy. The paper presents a selection of models which allow to estimate the costs of building maintenance, which are then applied to an exemplary office building. The two of the models allow a quick estimation of the budget for the maintenance of the building, following only indicative values. Two other methods take into account the change in the value of money over time and allow to estimate, assuming the adopted strategy and assumed costs, the value of the current amount allocated to the maintenance of the building. The final model is based on the assumptions provided for in Polish legislation. Due to significant simplifications in the models, the obtained results are characterized by a considerable discrepancy. However, they may form the basis for the initial budget planning related to the maintenance of the building. The choice of the method is left to the decision makers, but it is important what input data the decision maker has and the purpose for which he performs the cost calculation.Planning maintenance costs is not an easy task. The amount of costs depends on many factors, such as value, age, condition of the property, availability of necessary resources and adopted maintenance strategy. The paper presents a selection of models which allow to estimate the costs of building maintenance, which are then applied to an exemplary office building. The two of the models allow a quick estimation of the budget for the maintenance of the building, following only indicative values. Two other methods take into account the change in the value of money over time and allow to estimate, assuming the adopted strategy and assumed costs, the value of the current amount allocated to the maintenance of the building. The final model is based on the assumptions provided for in Polish legislation. Due to significant simplifications in the models, the obtained results are characterized by a considerable discrepancy. However, they may form the basis for the initial budget planning related to the maintenance of the building. The choice of the method is left to the decision makers, but it is important what input data the decision maker has and the purpose for which he performs the cost calculation.