Thank You For Your Comments

A UOAQ member, Greg Marsh, recently commented on our Newsflash #117: Lift Maintenance Contracts: Want Value for Money? Get an Expert.  Greg has kindly allowed us to share his comment with all UOAQ members.

Newsflash #117 obviously struck a chord with several of our members, including Greg.  What is of particular interest with Greg’s comment is that his scheme does not even have a lift.  He does, however, have a committee willing to seek expert advice before making any important decisions.

Moreover, Greg acknowledges the UOAQ’s role in guiding his committee towards several  independent experts over the years, experts who have saved the owners at his scheme a lot of money and helped his committee maintain their sanity in this crazy strata world of ours.  His words speak for themselves…

“Most committee members come to the job with good intentions and many bring very worthwhile skills. But there are many facets to properly managing a residential complex and individual committee members and resident managers can’t be expected to have knowledge of all of the matters they are expected to make wise decisions on.

This is particularly important in matters that may involve ongoing maintenance contracts. i.e. Lift, Fire Protection & Painting contracts. Another major area of probable overspend as a result of lack of knowledge and/or good due diligence, is choice of Insurance broker, Body Corporate Manager and Legal advisor.

The wording of contracts is important, but gaining a full technical understanding of what the work entails, what is reasonable pricing and what is and is not included, should come long before contracts are drafted and signed.

The scheme I am involved in does not have lifts, but in all of the other areas listed above, we have needed expert advice prior to making important decisions. And in all of those areas listed above, the advice of the UOAQ has been invaluable. In some cases where they did not have recommended providers, they have given us details of consultants that can be relied upon to provide honest and independent advice. One such case was finding an independent Fire Protection consultant. We contacted several companies that advertised “consultancy” services only to be told they would come out and evaluate our needs and then provide a quote. No thanks!
The consultant recommended by the UOAQ was indeed a consultant and helped us to come to a far better understanding of what we needed and the best way to get it without spending more of our owners’ money than was necessary.

Thanks UOAQ, your assistance and advice has saved our owners a lot of money over the past few years, not to mention helping to save the sanity of our volunteer committee members who are charged with the responsibility to “get it right.”

Greg Marsh”

It is nice to be told by the people who matter, ie you the members of the UOAQ, that we are making a contribution.  It makes everything worthwhile.