Every strata manager will tell you they’re great. The brochure says so. The pitch says so. But once you’ve signed? That’s when you find out the truth.
A strata manager is supposed to keep your finances accurate, run meetings properly, give honest professional advice, recommend contractors without a conflict of interest, and be genuinely accessible — to owners and your committee — without making you wait a week for a reply. Fees should be fair, and extras should reflect actual extra work. That’s not a high bar. It’s just the job. The problem is that plenty of managers clear it in the sales process and fall short the moment you’re a client.
Getting quotes is a start — but read them carefully. The oldest trick is a low base fee with the real costs hidden as extras. Make sure every company quotes on exactly the same scope of work, or the comparison is meaningless.
Ask for references, but go in with your eyes open. No manager hands you the number of a committee that hates them. References confirm capability — they won’t tell you how a manager performs when things get difficult, which is exactly when it matters most.
For the unfiltered version, go to the Strata Management Review site. Reviews are written by committee members and owners — the people who deal with strata managers week in, week out. Filter by buildings similar to yours in age, size and complexity. Ratings are broken down by category so you can see where a firm is strong and where the cracks appear. Check how long each reviewer has been with their manager: that tells you whether the honeymoon has worn off.
The pitch is easy. Delivery is everything. Know the difference before you sign.
Read real reviews from committee members on Strata Management Review — filtered by building age, size and complexity — and go into your next interview already knowing the right questions.