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Property management glossary
Maintenance & operations

Preventive maintenance

Plain-English definition

Planned inspections and service intended to reduce failures, hazards, and larger repair costs.

What preventive maintenance means in practice

Preventive work is scheduled by time, season, usage, or equipment guidance rather than waiting for a breakdown. Records should show the asset, due date, work completed, result, and next interval.

Example

The owner schedules HVAC service and smoke-alarm checks before peak season and records the results by unit.

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This glossary is educational and not legal, tax, lending, or accounting advice. Rules and terminology can vary by jurisdiction and professional context.