In many ways, your Strata Agent is like your General Practitioner.
I’m not saying that obtaining your Strata license is anything like becoming a licensed Doctor. 6 months- 1 year of training vs. 7 or 8 years doesn’t even come close, so please don’t get your feathers ruffled if this is you! The reason I make this comparison is that, similar to your family Doctor, your Strata Agent is a “generalist”.
Your family Doctor will refer you to an ophthalmologist if you have an eye issue, a cardiologist if you have a heart issue, a physiotherapist if you have a banged up knee, etc. Your family doctor knows about all of these things on the surface but will refer you to a specialist when there is a more complex issue.
A Strata Agent’s role is very similar in this regard. Your Strata Manager, depending on his or hers years of experience, will know about Accounting, Insurance, Strata Law, Plumbing, HVAC, roofing, electrical, etc, but will refer you to a specialist when the situation calls for it.
The role of the Strata Agent is to communicate, and to use their resources to achieve your Strata Corporation’s desired results. A Good Strata Manager will have accountants, insurance agents, Lawyers, Plumbers, Roofers, Electricians etc at their disposal, but does not need to be an expert in any of these areas!
Very often, the Strata Agent is called upon to dispense advice and provide answers for questions that he or she is not qualified to answer. Being comfortable with saying “I don’t know, let me find someone who does” is not a sign of ignorance, but a key trait of a good Strata Agent!
Looking for some Strata Management guidance? Reach out to us here!