Budgeting for Inaccessible Areas in Strata Buildings

It's tough to plan for things that you can't see. Particularly when it comes to things like roofs, underground pipe work, etc. Nevertheless, any maintenance plan and any proposed funding needs to consider those items. It pays to get a roofer up there every few years to have a look around and see what we can't see.

You can see the paint, you can see the windows, but you can't see the roof. As part of our maintenance inspection, we conduct a rudimentary site-wide inspection to identify potential problems and suggest solutions for areas that may be overlooked.

If a contractor is attending the site, say fixing the gutter, pay them extra to have a look around the roof while they're there and give you some advice. Small problems, such as minor leaks, can be an indicator of bigger issues down the track.

It's really about taking notice. The building ages incrementally, so you think everything's fine. Somebody else with fresh eyes may say, "Well, that's not what it's supposed to be doing right now".