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 your premises with low-cost, energy-saving lamps, you can minimize, if not totally prevent, graffiti vandalism. With the prospect of being clearly identified whenever they are out to paint on your wall, vandals will think twice to pursue their end. Well-lighted premises have greater visibility to the police patrolling the area and to people passing by or living nearby.
4. Fence your premises whenever possible.
If graffiti spoils your non-gated building, you can consider the idea of putting up a fence to secure your location and bar free access. Just make sure you are compliant with applicable codes. Vandals will not generally go over the fence just to complete graffiti on an inside building wall. It is a crime that precedes another crime, a situation vandals would not wish to be into.
5. Plant thick ornamentals around walls.
One cost-effective way that makes it doubly difficult for graffiti vandals to degrade your property is to surround your wall with thick ornamental plants. These plants serve as a hurdle against vandals who usually race against time for fear of being caught in the act. Also, plants make your premises more environment-friendly, with enhanced verdant beauty.
6. Lobby for sustained government action against graffiti vandalism.
Graffiti vandalism has reached global proportion. In fact, many governments have declared total war against the social malaise. One proven winning strategy is to superimpose all vandalized walls with cause-oriented, more creative, and highly thematic designs that reinforce the values of education, family solidarity, environment, waste management, and good citizenship. Every time vandals repeat their plot, in less than 24 hours, the same walls are again superimposed with value-based, non-distracting graffiti. As a business owner, be proactive by leading a concerted lobbying effort with your local government to completely stop graffiti. Who knows? Your building could be the next target.