A better way to manage strata

Why strata?

I spent seven years running a fire protection company, working in and around strata buildings. I kept seeing good buildings let down by slow decisions and poor communication. In January 2015 I moved across to strata management to do something about it from the inside.

What happens when you take on a new building?

I go through the handover records: finances, insurance, compliance, contracts and recent meetings. The committee then gets an executive summary and action list showing what’s in order, what’s overdue and what needs a decision. Safety and compliance come first, then money, then everything else. Nobody should have to guess where their building stands.

How do you charge, and does it affect your advice?

You pay an agreed management fee for the work we do, and that’s our income. Because we don’t take commissions, the insurer or contractor you choose doesn’t change what we earn. When we set out options for insurance, contractors or quotes, the only question is what suits your building.

Do you accept gifts from contractors?

No. We politely decline and suggest they reinvest in their team or give to a charity instead.

We’re only a small building. Will we matter?

Yes. A ten-lot building gets the same process as a large one: the same onboarding review, the same reporting to the committee, and the same attention to calls and emails. Most of our clients came to us because they felt like an afterthought somewhere else, and we don’t want anyone to feel that way with us.

Is Bettr Strata a sole trader business?

No. Bettr Strata Pty Ltd operates under its own corporation licence (Licence No. 10146025), with its own trust account and insurance arrangements. The business is regulated by NSW Fair Trading and has trust account audit obligations.

Small is deliberate. I limit how many schemes we take on so I can know each building and stay involved in its management. We’re growing carefully, with the needs of our existing clients coming first.

What happens if you’re sick or on leave?

I’m the licensee in charge and remain closely involved in every scheme we manage. When I take leave, I plan the handover and cover in advance. If illness means I can’t work, an experienced, appropriately licensed strata manager provides cover so urgent matters can be dealt with and ongoing work can continue.

We also have accounting, legal and administrative support. Everyone I bring into the business is someone I’d trust with my own property. As we grow, I want to keep the personal service and family business feel.

What happens if you disagree with the committee?

I’ll tell you plainly, explain why, and put any real risk in writing so everyone understands it. Where the decision is the committee’s to make, I carry out its instructions within the authority of our appointment. Disagreeing well is part of the job. Agreeing with everything isn’t good management.

How do you handle bad news?

Early, in writing, and with options. A leak, a shortfall or a failed inspection doesn’t get better by waiting. You’ll hear what’s happened, what it’s likely to cost, and what the choices are, so the committee can decide while there’s still time to act.

How do you treat contractors?

I’ve been one, so I know cash flow matters to a small business as much as to any other. We process invoices promptly. Once the owners corporation authorises payment, it’s paid without delay. Good contractors go above and beyond for our buildings, and they shouldn’t be left waiting.

What do you need from a committee?

Timely decisions, one main point of contact, and honesty about the building’s history, including the awkward parts. In return, you get clear information, honest advice and follow-through. The best buildings are the ones where the committee and the manager work as a team.

Is Bettr Strata right for every building?

No, and that’s deliberate. We work best with committees who want clear information and are prepared to make decisions. We take on new schemes only when it makes sense for the clients already with us. If we’re not the right fit, we’ll say so.

Thinking of changing managers. Where do we start?

Check when your current agreement ends and what notice it needs. Then fill in our enquiry form and I’ll walk you through the rest.

What does a good day look like?

Seeing the kids off to school, getting through the day’s work, and a good afternoon with the family.

If not strata, what would you be doing?

Sports administration, probably running a professional sporting club at some level. It isn’t far from strata: members, money, facilities and a committee that wants answers. Longer term, I’d love to own and help run a club, most likely in football. That’s an ambition alongside Bettr Strata, not instead of it.