[Happy Strata]

Hi Jimmy,

We have been using BuildingLink https://www.buildinglinkau.com.au/ for the past few months successfully. Our building manager, strata manager and more active EC members have found that it is significantly improved our processes and especially helped with interactions with residents, owners and tradespeople. We have standardised all our processes so the work is captured and coordinated through the product, which should help with the corporate memory of the complex.

As per http://www.flatchat.com.au/forum/strata-managers/building-maintenance-software/ we investigated and considered a number of options but found BuildingLink to probably have the most complete and mature offering for a strata complex, and had staff based in Australia. 

Like any system though, the truism of garbage in – garbage out applies. As such we have spent significant time taking a rather incomplete strata roll and contacting by letter / note under door / email / SMS,  all the owners / tenants / real estate agents, to track down the missing information and even more. This job is now 95% complete, which has allowed us to automate the emailing of residents with update or outages in real time. 

Pricing in our complex is $2 per lot per month. Our complex has over 100 lots, but I am not sure if the pricing is the same regardless of complex size. 

[Happy Strata]

It appears that the interpretation of the rules varies from building to building, and I presume would differ based upon state. In our complex of over 100 units in NSW we have to have 100% of units inspected by the fire services contractor before they will sign off. This commonly results in multiple repeat visits, which we then struggle to have the individual unit owners/residents repay the fees for.

A couple of years ago I was in another building with just under a hundred units (also in NSW) and the fire services contractor there had an unofficial 80% rule. So long as 80% of units were checked, they would certify, but the following year, the missing (up to) 20% had to be included in those checked. 

[Happy Strata]

An update to the above. As well as Jimmy’s two recommendations (thanks Jimmy) we received three other recommendations from other sources. We spoke to each, ended up meeting four of them face to face and eventually selected Michael Baird of Transparent Facilities Management.

Why did we pick him? – he was very knowledgeable, up front, passionate, and his company was a mid-sized firm where we knew we wouldn’t just be one of the numbers. 

[Happy Strata]

Hi Donjoz,

Our building is also currently looking at using software for this purpose. 

Options we have looked at are buildinglink.com.au, mybos.com.au, buildingmanager.com.au and cybercommunity.com.au

The first and second of these have been highly recommended to us by existing users of the software. 

We use a professional Strata Manager who uses a web based software package that we have access to, but it does not do the items you have stated above except the storage of documents. We are planning for the OC to directly pay for the software and then have our Building Manager / Strata Manager / EC / owners / residents use it, so that way the OC keeps control rather than being beholden to our Strata Manager for ongoing access. 

Hope this helps. 

[Author]

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