As the end of the current financial year approaches, it’s time to lock in a date for your strata community’s Annual General Meeting – if you haven’t already. Now is also a great time for committees to consider their working relationship with strata management. Here are some guidelines.
Communication:
It all starts here. As a committee, you should feel as if you’re across where management fees are going. That is, wishes and any resolutions arising from meetings are followed through end-to-end. Excellent communication is key to ensuring your property is being managed effectively. It’s also important to remember that communication is a two-way street. Set some time aside to talk with your strata manager to discuss what’s working, and what’s not. It could be that communication protocols can assist, such as having one point of contact for the committee, or common area matters should first be raised through the committee before contact is made to strata management. With a solutions-focused mindset, you can achieve your communications goals and get the most from your strata manager.
Responsiveness:
Are you getting complaints from residents that your strata manager is a bit tardy returning calls or emails? Are you still waiting on your manager to get back to you about that annoying drainage issue in the basement car park? What is going on with that insurance claim? Check your contract for any response times that have previously been outlined. If you have unresolved issues, it’s time to raise them.
Cost:
It’s simply not true that you get what you pay for when it comes to strata management fees. Some larger strata management companies have higher overheads, and just don’t deliver with properties becoming lost in their system. It’s time to look at your contract and be clear on your strata management’s obligations to you in terms of service delivery. In essence, you should feel like you’re getting value for money.
