Chief Engineer Playbook to Success
• Always verify findings; do not approve on the spot unless life-safety and emergency guest impact. o For emergency events – Contact RDOF by email with a brief justification statement on the scenario. o Start the CAPEX process • Require photos and diagnostic data with every vendor report. • When reviewing proposals, skim for: o Labor rate o Trip fees o Material markup (usually 20–35%—anything above 35% should be challenged). • Build a “Preferred Vendor List” with performance scores. • Use template emails for proposal requests to ensure consistency. • Negotiate multi-year contracts for elevators, fire systems, HVAC PMs. – Contact RDOF • Use second opinions strategically to control major expenses. • Keep a running Excel sheet with historical costs and service for quick comparison. • Train your team to ask “ why ” for every recommendation. • You should understand the technical basics behind all vendor findings. o If you don’t have the full understanding of the equipment, utilize your RDOF and other Chiefs for advice. • Negotiation Trick - Ask vendors directly - “What can you do on the price if we schedule this together with another property or another service?” Often, you’ll get a discount. 6. Checklists Vendor Vetting & Verification Checklist
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