My Story

We searched for a year or more to find a unit in our part of Sydney which could be stuffed between our budget and what we could compromise.

The strata report was very long. In what it was not telling us over it’s 300 pages we appreciated there must be some issues with this building. But it was too dense to put our finger on exactly what. A call to the man to whom we paid money for the strata report revealed no insights; he seemed a little suprised to get a call from a customer, was guarded, and ultimately could not be coaxed into offering any more useful opinions or judgements. I was still trying to read between the lines. In the end, exhausted from search fatigue, we told ourselves “how bad could it be” and bought it.

After taking possession, I sought to attend a committee meeting. It took a little doing as the time and place was privately pushed around amongst the sitting members as the date approached.

My first committee meeting, immediately, the situation was concerning. In my opinion, it was chaos. The strata manager chaired the meeting yet had no control over the members. They talked over each other, made personal attacks, strayed off topic, hogged the floor, and generally exhausted each other in an environment of hostility and unproductive distraction from any clear purpose. One member dialled in by phone and talked over a tinny speakerphone without pause, ignoring calls to yield the floor to others, all whilst the sitting members rolled their eyes at each other and held private discussions dismissingly awaiting for the ranting to end.

My second meeting as a spectator was even worse. The first forty-five minutes were two committee members swearing at each other in a tirade of insults and accusations. The strata manager let it run, later justifying that, even as the elected meeting chairman, it was not his job to inhibit the free expression of his clients. The meeting offically started an hour later with the two combatants glaring at each under near-visible fumes of hostility.

Next, an AGM was held. Appalled by what I’d seen so far I offered myself to chair the meeting. I regretted that immediately I was accepted. I do not claim to have done a better job. I don’t bring any special skills or experience. I put forward that the measure of improvement in behaviour was simply due to the novelty of the change. I could not control them either, but was focused on dragging discussion back onto the issue at hand and push the agenda along whenever an break in the noise presented. We got through it.

When it came to electing committee for the next year, I found myself thrust into the role of committee chair. I figured I could not do a worse job and, right in character for me, figured I was the only one I could trust to get us out of this mess. Little did I know that this role was going to take over my life.

And it has. There is barely a day goes by which does not include some task, chore, call, or conversation which involves managing the strata owners. It is random and chaotic and massively inefficient. I think technology is the solution: to communicate, share, prioritize, document, and get stuff done.

This software and site is my attempt to build something useful for myself and others.

Disclaimer

This blog represents my personal opinions and experiences as a strata chairperson. Nothing written here constitutes legal, financial, or professional advice.

All views expressed are my own and do not represent the owners corporation, any strata management company, or any other person or organisation associated with the scheme.

While I make every effort to ensure accuracy, I give no warranty as to the correctness or completeness of any information published here. Readers should seek independent professional advice before acting on anything they read on this site.

Names of individuals are omitted or changed where necessary to protect privacy.

This site is protected by the implied freedom of political communication recognised in the Australian Constitution, and by the general right to freedom of expression. Opinion is not defamation. Honest commentary on matters of public interest is not actionable.