The Five Issues Keeping Committee Members Awake At Night

Most body corporate committee members didn’t sign up to become property experts.

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They’re volunteers. They have jobs, families and their own responsibilities, yet they find themselves helping make decisions that affect their neighbours, their community and often millions of dollars’ worth of property. These are the types of issues the team at BCS Strata Mackay works through every day with body corporate committees across the region.

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After more than 15 years in the strata industry, BCS Strata Mackay strata manager Rachel Blaxland says the challenges may vary from building to building, but the same issues come across her desk time and again.

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Insurance costs are high on the list. Rising premiums continue to put pressure on committee budgets, leaving owners questioning why costs keep increasing. Rachel says helping owners understand where those costs come from is often just as important as finding ways to manage them.

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Maintenance planning is another common challenge.

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‘Too often, maintenance is addressed after an issue arises rather than through a planned, preventative approach,’ Rachel said.

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She believes too many communities are forced into reactive maintenance when earlier planning could have saved both money and stress.

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Then there’s contractor management. Committees are regularly asked to choose between repairs, upgrades and replacement works, often with competing advice and quotes on the table.

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‘Sometimes a repair quote looks attractive because it’s cheaper, but it’s important to understand whether it’s actually the best long-term solution,’ she said.

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Budget pressure continues to be a balancing act. Committees are trying to keep levies affordable while also ensuring enough money is being set aside for future works. Putting off difficult decisions might provide short-term relief, but it can create bigger financial challenges later.

The fifth issue is one Rachel believes can make or break a community: communication.

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Owners are more likely to support decisions when they understand what’s happening and why.

‘Even if we’re still working through the details, it’s better to let people know something is coming,’ she said. ’Keeping owners informed helps everyone make better decisions.’

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While none of these challenges are new, Rachel says the most successful committees she works with through BCS Strata Mackay share one thing in common. They don’t wait for problems to become crises.

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‘Most problems don’t appear overnight. Usually, there are early warning signs that can be addressed before they become expensive.’

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For Mackay’s volunteer committee members, that may be the best advice of all. The earlier an issue is tackled, the easier it is for everyone to sleep at night.

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