The first year of a new scheme is critical in this regard. This is when you see exactly how a strata manager operates. But then you need a couple of nitpickers on the committee to pull all the extraneous expenses apart. After that, you have a three-year cycle in which to decide if you are getting value for money.
The Strata Community Association (SCA), basically the strata managers’ trade union, is getting way too big for its boots, with strata managers now telling committees to ditch the Owners Corporation Network (OCN), because the SCA can provide owners training for free. I wonder if that training includes a section on how to spot a strata management rort.
Any scheme that dumps independent advice from other experienced owners in favour of free, pro-strata manager “training” deserves the dubious service they are almost certain to get.
Oh, and for the record, I am not and never have been a member of the OCN.