05 Jun 2013
Words Tim Admin

SSKB - Resident Unit Managers

It takes a dedicated individual to take on the enormous role of resident unit manager (RUM). It’s a time consuming responsibility to say the least. Within most buildings you have a collaboration of tourists, owners and renters. Finding a way to cater for the varied needs of each can prove to be quite challenging. The role requires a thorough understanding of management rights, body corporate legislation, finance, letting and leasing, facilities management and human psychology. Add to that a strong grasp of the tourism/real estate industry as a whole and you’re half way there. It takes effective management strategies and consistency to find an appropriate balance. All too often we see onsite managers bombarded with tasks associated with the job. Being on the front line they’re often considered to be mediators and the Mr Fix-it for everything. The role does vary, yet there is one common certainty; the RUM and their community can benefit from connecting with a strata management company to assist and support in productive community management. One of the critical success factors for a body corporate is the relationship between the RUM, the strata manager and the owners of the building. The glue that binds both the committee and RUM together is good project management, accountability and reaching milestones. Being specialists in this field, this is where a strata management company can help. Professional strata managers will understand that all stakeholders within a community have an important role to play. Respectful of these roles, they will take it in their stride to ensure communication remains open and clear. Attending meetings, they will promote harmony, overseeing proceedings and working with the committee to build and maintain positive relationships. They will alleviate the sole pressure being on the RUM. By taking on secretarial and treasurer duties, they can ensure invoices are paid quickly and help with financial forecasts and reports. Providing expertise, innovation, education and advice to the community they can prevent small, resolvable issues from escalating. As the industry continues to grow, choosing the right strata managers for your scheme can seem overwhelming. When looking for a high-quality strata management company, you should undertake the same due diligence as you would entering any contract, do lots of research. But ultimately, a partnership is what you’re looking for. Evaluate and compare the services on offer and make sure the company you choose is going to be beneficial to the needs of your community. For example, if a community has an issue with debt collection then it would be wise to seek out a strata management company that has proactive steps in place to be able to combat this issue. Beyond being minute takers and invoice issuers, you need a strata management company that will offer advice, strategies and guidance to maintain and enhance your community’s reputation and value. Communication, dispute resolution and quality assurance systems must be of highest priority. By undertaking a good amount of research and focusing on the points above, you will be able to make informed decisions when choosing a strata manager and end up with a proactive and harmonious community with increasing value. For almost 20 years, the team at SSKB has been building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders with a united mission statement at the forefront of all proceedings, making a positive difference in the lives of lot owners. Between having tertiary qualified staff, experience managing a variety of schemes and a client care support network, we believe in building and maintaining quality working relationships with all clients. The SSKB team is dedicated to finding and implementing unique ways of adding convenience, accessibility and access to more information for their clients For an obligation free meeting we invite you to contact SSKB so we can demonstrate how we can assist with your community. Mark Brady mbrady@sskb.com.au 0417 706 542.