Little by Little: How Bettr Builds Stronger Strata Communities
On Saturday night, Lauren surprised me with tickets to the Oasis concert, a gift that meant more than she probably realised. I’ve been a lifelong fan, and in the midst of everything going on, welcoming our beautiful daughter Charlie, building a new company from the ground up, and recovering from three intense years of legal […]
Four Years Sober: From Numbing the Week to Building Bettr
This one’s personal. I’ve sat with it for a while. It’s not easy to share, and I know this kind of vulnerability isn’t for everyone. Some people – and some businesses – prefer to keep this stuff private. I get it. But this is exactly why Bettr was formed. I believe in honesty, and I […]
Transparency: Championing a Better Standard After the SCA (NSW) Convention
This perspective comes not from first-hand attendance, but from my regular morning ring-around with colleagues I respect and admire. As we caught up, the topic of the Strata Community Association (NSW) Convention naturally came up – several of them had attended, while I had not as I am not a current Strata Community Association (SCA) […]
Surprise! Our Family (and Bettr) Just Got Bigger
On 19 September 2025 at 12:46 p.m., we welcomed Charlotte “Charlie” Ava Martin into the world – 3.6 kg, 54 cm, and already keeping us on our toes. This isn’t just a birth announcement. It’s a celebration of our wonderfully blended family: Lauren, Liam (10), Emma (8), Ollie (7), Tom (5), and now little Charlie. […]
At the Crossroads: Why Strata Management Needs Real Reform
I recently read Nicole Johnston’s landmark report, At the Crossroads: Addressing Pervasive Conflicts of Interest in Strata Management, and I believe it’s essential reading for anyone involved in strata, whether you’re an owner, committee member, or industry professional. The Heart of the Problem The report lays bare what many of us have suspected for years: […]
NSW Strata Law Reforms: What changes on 27 October 2025, and how your scheme can get ahead
The NSW Government’s next wave of strata reforms begins 27 October 2025. These changes sharpen accountability for building managers, standardise support for owners in financial hardship, expand NSW Fair Trading’s compliance toolkit, and give schemes clearer levers to fix underperforming management agreements. If you sit on a strata committee – or you manage one – […]
The Backbone of Your Building: Why Strata Committees Are Your Owners Corporation’s Greatest Asset
Note: This blog is a general reflection on the role and value of strata committees. It’s not a commentary on any specific building or client relationship. At Bettr, we work with a wide range of committees, each with their own dynamics, strengths, and challenges. The examples shared here are intended to educate and inspire, not […]
Beyond Commissions: A Call for True Transparency in Strata Management
The strata industry is undergoing a long-overdue transformation. With SCA NSW announcing that member agencies will phase out insurance commissions by January 2026, many are celebrating this shift as a win for transparency. And it is, but only if the messaging matches the reality. Some businesses are now publicly declaring they’ve never taken insurance commissions. […]
After a Night of Reflection: Leading with Courage, Grace, and Unity
Preface As a business owner, I hesitated to share this. I even posted briefly yesterday morning, then took it down after 11 minutes. Not because I didn’t mean what I wrote, but because I wasn’t ready. The emotions were raw, and I needed time to reflect. I understand that sharing something personal, especially in a […]
The Cost of Delay: Why Deferred Maintenance is Strata’s Silent Crisis
In strata management, deferred maintenance is the quiet saboteur. It’s not dramatic like a fire or flood, but it’s just as destructive. It creeps in slowly, eroding buildings, budgets, and trust. And in our experience at Bettr Strata, it’s alarmingly common. What Is Deferred Maintenance? Deferred maintenance is the postponement of necessary repairs or upkeep, […]