by Ronald Manalastas

Created on: August 01, 2009   Last Updated: August 03, 2009

Once a perimeter or building wall is tainted with vandal-made graffiti, your building depreciates in commercial value because it ceases to be at par with the aesthetic and cleanliness standards befitting decent business premises. Graffiti creates unfavorable customer impression. It projects unsafe business address, ill-managed company, and unsupportive local community. As a reality test, if you are interested in buying a property corrupted with graffiti, will you not have second thoughts on buying it? Will you not entertain negative impressions about the property's location? If you are buying, will you not ask for an appreciable price discount to offset the adverse financial and image impact of the graffiti?

The following presents success-proven tips on how to fight graffiti and protect your commercial property:

1. Waste no time, remove graffiti immediately.

If your property was debased by vandals with graffiti, the first and best reactive measure for protection is to quickly remove it. Be prepared to do it every time the vandals come back for the same irresponsible act. As a business entity, you have much bigger war chest than the vandals. Beat them by attrition. They are mostly out-of-school youth with not much money to sustain their liking. Be ready with standby paints to restore your property to its original aesthetic value so that you can minimize customer churn and avoid business valuation losses.

Repetitive and tireless counter restoration measures will reduce the vandals to frustration and submission to your gallant stand. Your persistence will send a strong signal of an all-out war against graffiti, something for the vandals to be afraid of lest they end up in jail. You should not let any graffiti stay on your wall for an extended period because it will invite more perpetrators to post more exasperating graffiti signs. Of course, your neighbors will not also like any inaction on your part.

2. Install perimeter sensors or CCTV cameras.

Graffiti vandals usually operate at night when practically no one can see them. Be technology-based against this stealth and cleverness. Install electronic sensors or CCTV cameras if your budget will allow. Post a warning sign that your property is security-protected. The gadget will deter the commission of the crime, give added protection against other property intruders, and yield solid evidence for more effective police coordination and action.

3. Keep your premises well-lighted.

By strategically lighting

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