While the civil composition of the Riverina region continues to evolve, so too does the nature of our housing. From acreage and large suburban blocks to townhomes and apartment living, each contains the abode that we call home.
If you are one of Wagga’s many townhouse or apartment owners, the nature of a community or strata title will be familiar ground. With many contributors and the wishes of both owners and occupants to consider, many owners’ corporations and executive committees employ the services of a strata manager.
Strata management teams provide specialised services that aid in legal and insurance compliance, finances, maintenance, common property matters and more. As licensed property professionals, they have a wide range of responsibilities and must also meet obligations under relevant federal and state legislation.
If you’re a member of a strata or community title owners’ corporation, you will know just how valuable a great strata management team can be. Whether you are starting from scratch or looking for potential candidates ahead of your annual general meeting, you have come to the right place for advice.
What makes a great strata manager?
Great strata managers effectively orchestrate the day-to-day requirements of strata and community title properties. If you’re looking for a strata management team for your property, it may be helpful to keep the following in mind:
- Professionally qualified. The professional standing of any prospective strata manager is always worth investigating. At a minimum, strata managers must be the bearers of a strata management licence as issued by Service NSW. Highly experienced teams are likely to hold multiple real estate licences, which is of course advantageous. Finally, look for evidence of specific training, along with industry memberships of the Strata Community Association or Real Estate Institute. Membership of such bodies indicates the adoption and support of ethical business practices and codes of conduct.
- Highly experienced. By their nature, strata properties are inherently more challenging to manage. Seeking the services of an experienced team will help to ensure they are adequately equipped to manage day-to-day activities. Moreover, familiarity with the property’s location and nature of the strata title is another huge plus. Not only can this indicate a thorough knowledge of governing laws, it can also ensure issues are mitigated quickly. Ultimately, seeking a management team solely dedicated to strata and community management schemes is ideal. Finally, ensure any potential candidates are adequately insured.
- Clear communicators. In a setting with a multitude of stakeholders, top-notch communication skills are imperative. The best strata management teams are known for being clear communicators who consistently deliver concise, accurate and timely information. Equally, communication is a two-way street – with accepting and actioning feedback being just as important. Finally, consider a strata team’s service level agreement, opting for swift response and turnaround times.
- Resolution resolve. With many fingers in the pot, reaching a consensus within a group of strata members can prove challenging. For many strata managers, a crucial role is ensuring harmony among owners and residents alike. To achieve this, skills in persuasion and negotiation are critical. Therefore, look for providers with the systems readily in place to ensure all parties are acknowledged while reaching an agreement.
- Financially sound. Given the large sums deposited by numerous owners within a strata complex, strata accounts can be easy to misappropriate. Consequently, selecting a strata management provider with a financially sound reputation is paramount. Inquire around checks and balances for the strata trust, looking for things sch as regular independent auditing to ensure levies are being handled appropriately.
The best strata managers in Wagga
Region Riverina has combed through online reviews and recommendations to compile a list of the most recommended businesses according to you.
To be listed in our Best of Wagga series, each business needs to have consistently received positive feedback on Region Riverina and Facebook as well as maintained a minimum average of 4/5 stars on Google.
PRD Wagga
Real estate powerhouse, PRD Wagga, are an award-winning agency who have been serving the Riverina for over twenty-five years. This market leading team boast a reputation of excellence for their client first approach across strata management, commercial and residential sales, along with project development and management.
With such a wealth of knowledge and a team of some of the best agents in the region, PRD Wagga are an excellent choice for strata and community title management. Their growing portfolio of over 65 local properties places them as on the of most experienced teams in the region.
As Pilgrim Fortescue states on Google, “In the time I've been dealing with PRD I've only had positive experiences. They are professional and efficient. Highly recommend.”
Smyth Strata Management
Newcomer Smyth Strata are a boutique strata management agency who are all about a localised presence and a highly specialised level of care. Managing director Michelle Smyth, is a licensed real estate agent and strata manager with over a decade’s experience in the local property industry.
Offering highly specialised residential and commercial strata management services, the team pride themselves on the provision of genuine service and getting things done, whilst always remaining approachable, polite, and professional. If you are looking for a team dedicated solely to strata management, Smyth Strata are a great choice.
Your experience with strata managers in Wagga
Thanks to our commenters who have provided insightful feedback. If you believe we have got it wrong, please let us know.
Have you had experience with any of the commercial real estate agents listed above? If so, share your feedback in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between strata managers and property managers?
Strata managers take care of multiple units in a “strata” or “unit title” complex. They do so on behalf of the owners of those units often working closely with an Owner’s Corporation or Executive Committee. Property managers handle individual, stand-alone properties on behalf of individual property owners.
What services do strata managers provide?
They provide a wide range of services, including handling legal and insurance compliance, building maintenance, common property matters and finances.
How do I choose a strata manager?
Do your research. Check out strata management company websites to see if they present professionally. Look for sound experience, expertise and qualifications. Interview a few strata managers and ask about the efficiency measures they have in place and ask them to describe how they are forward thinking and innovative. You can also check online reviews to see what others say.
Should our complex have a strata management agreement?
Definitely and the agreement should be detailed, clear and outline what your strata manager will do, how much their fees are and how they’ll be paid. The agreement should cover service levels, such as business operating hours and how the strata manager will handle out-of-hours emergencies. It should also specify if additional fees will be charged and, if so, for what. All owners should have a copy of the agreement.
Things fall through the cracks with our strata manager. How should we handle?
Review your management agreement and then talk and/or write to your strata management outlining all concerns and seeking a resolution for each. Don’t let things drag. If you continue to be unhappy, it could be time to change strata management companies.