The Value of Pre-Approving a Service 

By Ben Twitchell

Summary: Article at a Glance

Introduction

Being a manager of a multifamily property means juggling many responsibilities across the community. With limited time and countless demands competing for attention, efficient processes, wherever possible, become essential. If there were a way to further reduce your administrative time, would you take it? That’s where our service pre-approval option comes in.

Pre-approval of trash services gives Strategic the green light to complete tasks like removal of commercial large items renovation, trash chute repairs, feces removals and more automatically. Pre-approval helps us maintain the appearance of your community without delays, which is especially important during months with higher waste volume or when you have upcoming site inspections, management walkthroughs or ownership visits.

What Does it Mean to Pre-approve a Service?

Authorizing pre-approval of a service allows community management to designate certain services as pre-approved, so when an issue arises, it can be addressed automatically. The ability to pre-approve a service is unique to Strategic Sanitation Services. Picture this: Imagine you get a message for the second time in a week about a contaminated mattress at one of your trash enclosures. Since it is contaminated, it cannot be removed as a standard large item. It requires extra safety precautions and comes with a higher disposal cost. Because of that, the removal needs your approval before it can be completed. If you pre-approve contaminated item removal, the next time a contaminated mattress shows up, we can take of it during the next scheduled pick-up with no delay or extra coordination needed. Pre-approving a service means that each time our team encounters an issue like this, we can take care of it right away, without needing to wait for additional approval.

The benefits of pre-approving services supports smoother trash service to keep your community consistently beautiful. Pre-approving services:

• Saves time by removing the need for repeated approvals
• Reduces stress ahead of inspections, walkthroughs and events
• Keeps the community inspection-ready year-round
• Ensures consistent, timely service from vendors
• Prevents issues from escalating or being overlooked
• Improves curb appeal and resident satisfaction

What Services Can be Pre-approved?

The services that can be pre-approved are those that require additional authorization before they can be completed. By identifying these in advance, they can be completed automatically, avoiding delays and helping maintain the property’s appearance. These services include:

• Removal of remodeling waste: When units are renovated, they often generate construction-related debris such as wood scraps, drywall, cabinets, flooring, packaging materials and even paint. This type of waste is not included in regular bulky item removal because it comes with higher disposal fees. As a result, it requires separate approval before it can be hauled away. With pre-approved services in place, our team can remove remodeling waste during the next scheduled bulky item pick-up, avoiding delays and saving management the time and effort of reviewing each request.
• Special removal of contaminated items: Items that have been soiled, exposed to pests or a health hazard, such as bedbugs or bodily fluids, require special handling and cannot be collected through standard bulky item removal. These items must be wrapped and disposed of according to specific safety guidelines, which involves additional labor and cost. Normally, this means that you must request additional approval before proceeding. With pre-approval, contaminated items can be removed promptly and safely, thereby minimizing health risks and maintaining a clean community.
• Feces clean-ups: Some communities encounter incidents involving human feces in or near the trash enclosures. These situations require immediate attention to protect community health and reduce resident complaints. Without pre-approval, our team must wait for formal authorization before performing the clean-up. By pre-approving this service, you allow us to address the issue on the spot, ensuring your property remains sanitary and preventing a minor issue from becoming a larger concern.
• Chute & compactor repair: Trash chutes and compactors are critical for maintaining smooth trash flow in podium communities. When they break down, it can lead to trash pile-ups, pest activity and safety concerns. In many cases, our team can perform basic repairs quickly and efficiently. However, without pre-approval, we must wait for authorization before proceeding, which prolongs the issue. Pre-approving these basic repairs makes sure that your systems remain operational with minimal disruption and no added communication burden.

Why is this helpful?

Pre-approval becomes especially beneficial when your community has ownership walks or site inspections because you can rest assured that your community does not have any outstanding issues. It also supports leasing efforts;  if potential tenants are visiting, you want the property to reflect its best condition. With key services pre-approved, you can maintain a clean, safe and presentable community year-round, with little to no additional coordination required from you or your team. Pre-approval is also particularly helpful for recurring issues. If your property regularly experiences the same types of problems,  such as illegal dumping, feces or compactor malfunctions, having those services pre-approved ensures they are addressed consistently and promptly, keeping your community in top shape at all times.

Pre-approving services reduces stress by eliminating recurring administrative tasks, and it allows your trash management provider to solve issues quickly. In short, reducing individual approvals for services is less than you have to worry about, freeing up your time to focus on the bigger picture in your community.

Conclusion

Pre-approving services is a simple but effective way to stay ahead of issues and ensure your community always looks its best. By eliminating delays and allowing trusted vendors to act quickly, you remove unnecessary tasks and take a proactive approach to management. Whether you’re preparing for a site-walk visit, a leasing event or simply maintaining high standards year-round, pre-approving services brings peace of mind, consistency and efficiency to your operations. Contact us today if you are looking to pre-approve some of your existing services with us!