28 • Te x t Kika Samsom • Photography Davien Hulsman • 29
SAV ILL S
AMSTERDAM
Claude Debussylaan 48
+ 31 (0)20 301 20 00
http://www.savills.nlMelissa. ‘We help the owners of properties we
manage make their buildings more efficient, through
measures which range from energy-saving systems
to green roofs. Tenants also have an important role
to play because no matter how energy-efficient a
building may be, what matters is how efficiently
tenants make use of it. We’re happy to advise them.
Tenants themselves are also increasingly interested
in investing in energy-efficient systems, which they
earn back on their energy consumption.’‘Because we’re located in
Zuidas, I can be on a tenant’s
doorstep in just five minutes’HOSPITALITY
Another important pillar of property management is
hospitality. According to Femke, the office market is
trending towards offering a hotel experience. ‘These
days, we can work anywhere, but we come to the
office for the environment and interaction. Ever yone
contributes to that experience, from the security
guards to the reception staff and cleaners. It starts
with a warm welcome by the receptionist when you
arrive in the common lobby, but it’s also enhanced
by things like a nice coffee bar, where you can meet
with colleagues.’SAVILLS WANTS TO MEET YOU!
Do you work in a building managed by Savills? Femke
would love to meet you. ‘You can find me visiting our
properties almost ever y day. So if you’ve got questions
or ideas, please be sure to let me know!’According to Melissa Raap, communication is key.
‘Good communication with the owners and tenants
of the buildings we manage is our number one
priority. Property management really is all about
people. Direct contact, personal ser vice and serious
engagement are all ver y important to us. Because of
that, we also invest in good IT systems, so as to give
us more time to visit the buildings and tenants in
person. At the moment, we’re designing an IT system
that will let tenants check the status of their pending
requests in real time. We want to ensure they always
know where they stand.’GOING THE EXTRA MILE
Facility Manger Femke Boon is the first point of
contact for tenants of properties managed by Savills.
‘Tenants can come to me with their questions and
requests. Apart from forwarding incoming notifica-
tions and technical malfunctions, I also tr y to go the
extra mile. If tenants want a dr y cleaning ser vice, for
example, I look into how we can make that happen.’AT HOME IN ZUIDAS
As an added benefit for tenants in Zuidas, Savills’
office is practically next door. ‘Because we’re located
in Zuidas, I can be on a tenant’s doorstep in just five
minutes’, says Femke. ‘Plus, we know what’s going
on in Zuidas, are well-connected with the municipal
authorities and involved in local developments. Our
tenants see that as an added value.’SUSTAINABILITY
Aside from communication, sustainability is another
important facet of property management, saysPROPERT Y
MANAGEMENT
BY S AV ILL S
‘Property starts with people’
FEMKE BOON AND MELISSA RA APSavills portfolio includes many prominent buildings in Zuidas: from AkzoNobel’s head offices to the
ITO and SOM complex. Tenants know they may count on Savills for a safe, clean and pleasant building
environment. And Savills knows these services hinge on sound communication. That’s why they have
‘Property starts with people’ as their motto. Savills Property Management’s Commercial Manager
Melissa Raap and Facility Manager Femke Boon explain.