Thank You (and Why It Matters)
Before we switch off for a short break, a heartfelt thank‑you to everyone I acknowledged in last week’s reflection – our team, clients, contractors, trusted colleagues across the industry, and the families and partners who stood shoulder‑to‑shoulder with us all year. Your consistency, week after week, is the difference.
If you missed it, you can read the earlier note here: https://bettrstrata.com.au/thank-you-2025-faith-grit-and-building-bettr-strata/.
Gratitude isn’t just good manners, it’s good governance. It keeps us grounded in what’s real: service, accountability, and outcomes for the owners corporation. When the work is invisible, the results are not. And those results only happen because of people willing to do the hard yards.
Quick Status Update: We Finished What We Started
As we close out the year, here’s where we stand:
(a) All invoicing complete; every contractor paid.
(b) Strata administration wrapped – minutes filed, action items completed, registers tidy.
(c) New business proposals sent, and EGMs booked for incoming Bettr Strata clients in 2026.
(d) Holiday operations set – clear handovers, emergency contacts, and a simple plan for urgent matters.
It’s the unglamorous tasks that build trust: clean ledgers, accurate minutes, closed loops on action items. That’s how you lift the standard, one detail at a time.
Our Approach: Old‑School Values, Progressive Edge
We’re privileged to serve communities right across New South Wales (NSW) – from the coast to the highlands, regional centres to metropolitan hubs. No matter the postcode, our commitment is the same: lift the standard, deliver real service, and make sure no one ever feels like “just a number.”
What we believe:
(a) Trust, accountability, superior service – not just hashtags for social media and marketing. It is the foundations of what we are building.
(b) Transparency over tactics – no hidden fees, no commissions or insurance remuneration. We see those still practising the “smoke and mirrors,” routine. NSW Fair Trading and co. do too. We sleep well at night, a minority in our industry can’t say the same.
(c) People over process – clear communication, respectful engagement, and practical outcomes. It is cliche, but we treat people how we want to be treated.
It turns out there’s demand for an old‑school approach with a progressive nuance. Owners and committees want candid advice, straightforward pricing, and a manager who shows up, especially when things get tough. That’s our lane.
And the real differentiator? We don’t chase volume. We’re intentional about who we work with. Every engagement starts with a deliberate, rigorous process to ensure alignment – because the right fit delivers the best outcomes.
NO BS. JUST BETTR STRATA. That’s the promise.
In the Arena: Calling Out the Spectators
Let me be clear: this isn’t about the thousands of great strata professionals and third-party partners who support our industry every day. They’re the backbone of our industry.
This is about the minority – the ones who deal in negativity. The ones who sit in the shadows, behind keyboards or on the phone, gossiping with their back-slapping colleagues who dare not disagree, saying things like:
“I could do it better than him/her/them. I could run my own business. I could do it from scratch.”
I call BS. You didn’t. You haven’t. You won’t.
Building something isn’t for everyone, and that’s fine. But if you’re going to talk a big game to others while hoping others fail, those doing it, here’s the truth: you’re not a builder. You’re a spectator. Noise without substance. The truth? You’re an imposter, and deep down, you know it. The people you repeat those same stories to know it too.
While others whispered, we worked – day by day, week by week. They thought we’d fade. We didn’t. We turned setbacks into fuel and built momentum that’s impossible to ignore – stronger, sharper, and ready to lead the standard in 2026. Backed by our communities and industry, we’re moving forward – deliberate, confident, and focused.
Proof Points: What “No BS” Looks Like in Practice
No commissions or insurance remuneration.
We don’t “clip tickets” behind the scenes. Removing commissions reduces the base premium and, by extension, stamp duty – owners see the benefit where it counts.
Straight talk, plain English.
We keep owners informed without jargon. Meeting packs that make sense; advice framed around decisions, risks, and next steps.
Action over theatre.
Meetings booked early and treated with the dignity and respect deserved. Maintenance tracked to completion less spamming contractors and strata committees with alleged systems that have no nuance or common sense. Financials that are transparent, reconciled and explained. Transparency over the “smoke and mirrors.”
Shoulder‑to‑shoulder contractors.
We don’t run “preferred relationship” games. We recommend people we trust and stand beside them on site. Performance earns repeat work; nothing else.
This is what owners actually want: a manager who respects their money, uses their time well, and turns meetings into movement.
Momentum for 2026: Raising the Bar (Again)
We’re not chasing volume; we’re building velocity with standards. We want to be the most trusted, not the biggest.
(1) Service discipline: Shorter response cycles, cleaner workflows, ruthless follow‑through on action items.
(2) Transparent pricing: No hidden clauses, no gotchas – contracts you can read once and understand. We work closely with our Treasurers and committees.
(3) Compliance and clarity: Registers current, insurance placed correctly (less any preferences), risks surfaced early, resolutions recorded precisely.
(4) Community‑first: Respectful communication, de‑escalation when tempers flare, and decisions grounded in the long‑term interests of the scheme.
We’ll also continue to publish practical guidance for committees – checklists, meeting prep notes, and plain‑English explainers on common pain points (budgets, maintenance cycles, insurance, and by‑laws). Owners don’t need lectures or strata mangers pretending to be strata lawyers; they need clarity and a path forward.
Leadership (Without the Theatre)
We’re comfortable taking hard calls. Leadership in strata isn’t about a loud voice in the room; it’s about calm judgment, clean process, and the courage to be consistent. When a decision needs to be made, we frame options, explain implications, and help the owners corporation land on the best path for the building – not the path of least resistance.
And yes, there’s an edge here, because we refuse to play the games that waste owners’ time and money. If someone wants theatre, they can look elsewhere. We’re here for clarity, accountability, and results.
Brand Statement: NO BS. JUST BETTR STRATA.
This isn’t a slogan; it’s operational. It shows up in:
-The contracts we write.
-The minutes we file.
-The insurance we place.
-The calls we return.
-The way we speak to people – especially when things are hard.
-The people we work with.
We’ll keep winning trust the old‑fashioned way: by earning it.
Festive Season and Availability
We’re officially closed from Monday, 22 December 2025 and reopen Monday, 5 January 2026. I’ll still check emails daily and I’m available on my mobile for urgent matters. If something comes up, check your building’s notice board for emergency contractor details first, then reach out and we’ll help triage.
This season is for rest, laughter, and time with the people who matter. To our communities: thank you for the good in my life today – my family, our team, our clients, and everyone who backed us in 2025. We’ll see you in 2026 – stronger than ever.
God bless and have a great day.
With gratitude,
JM