A Building Audit Can Cut Costs Over Long Term 24/02/2010 Owners of strata titled properties have much to gain from having their Owners Corporation undertake a periodic building audit.
Mr Richard Tooker, Director of New South Wales Strata Management knows owners do not like to spend money needlessly, and his Company does not perform such audits itself. Yet he still speaks in their favour.
“The reasons are many, but put in their simplest terms; we like to manage healthy buildings. Our Managers hate to see a structure that is wearing poorly due to lack of care. We feel that maintaining good health is significantly better than spending money fixing an illness and we recommend that owners and their Owners Corporation view their corporate health in the same way.”
He knows that building audit reports are not cheap to undertake. And he’s quick to add that they need to be performed only a periodic basis. He suggests that review be done every five years, and if one has not been undertaken in a decade he says the time has definitely come.
“Building audits need to be prepared by a suitably qualified professional. We don’t do audits. We’re professional managers who advise strata scheme management on the does and don’ts pertaining to the ongoing operation of their scheme.
“As would be expected we have access to professionals who do this work. We can suggest auditors for consideration but we stand at arm’s-length from what they do. The assistance we provide comes after, in helping to establish a preventive maintenance programme that will keep the building healthy.”
As a prelude to the establishment of a sound programme for the collection of sinking funds, Mr Tooker says a building audit can pave the way by assessing the present condition of a building and looking ahead at likely repairs or defects that will eventually need attention.
Mr Tooker says that amongst the things that an audit may include are the existence or damage by termites or other vermin, structural, roof and/or guttering problems, rising damp or water seepages, electrical defects/problems, drainage/flood control issues, and illegal works, amongst many others.
Mr Tooker says his managers advise Owners Corporations and their Executive Committee of the false economy that comes with ignoring the need for regular maintenance, annual pest inspections, a regular review of insurance cover and even safety audits.
“Our comprehensive knowledge of the wide range of issues that can confront any Owners Corporation can see that these issues are monitored regularly, with red flags raised when a matter has failed to received attention.
“As I mentioned earlier, keeping a building healthy is much much easier than having to rectify matters after the event. When trouble knocks it all too often knocks rather loudly.”
An Owners Corporation who might wish to discuss the full range of duties undertaken by professional strata managers can contact New South Wales Strata Management direct on 9890 1841 for a confidential consultation.
New South Wales Strata Management (formerly Gilmour Strata Management) commenced business in early 1991, as a member of the highly respected J A Gilmour & Sons group of companies. Licensed solely and specialising only in strata management services, the company has steadily grown to become one of the largest such organisations in New South Wales.
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