Living in an apartment is complex, ask Commercial Facility Services a question

Inside every building is a story that is told from many different perspectives. Apartment living is complex, join us as we answer your questions so we can understand that world a little better.

Nimantha asked us: Who do I call if I drop something into the lift shaft? 

A: Firstly, do not attempt to retrieve it yourself as this can be dangerous. Instead, contact your building manager who will arrange or guide you on the process to have the building’s lift contractor safely recover your items. This will come at a cost which varies from contractor to contractor and its urgency. 

If retrieving your items isn’t urgent, some lift contractors may be able to retrieve them at no additional cost during their next maintenance visit, facilitated through your building manager.

It is advised to consider keeping a spare set of keys in a secure location offsite or with a trusted neighbour as a backup. Depending on what you’ve lost, such as keys, sometimes it’s more cost-effective to replace them rather than trying to recover them. 

Jessica asked us: I have rented an apartment through a real estate agent. Whatshould I do next? 

A: Before moving into the apartment building, we recommend contacting your building manager at the first instance. They should provide you with the following:

• A move-in procedure to ensure a smooth transition to your new property
• A detailed handover manual which should include information to connect utilities and services, information about the communal facilities, building rules and regulations to be aware of any induction procedures to familiarise you with the property’s amenities and safety protocols.
• Guidelines to obtain access to the residents’ portal to log common property maintenance requests, book facilities or moves and receive important building updates.

Being equipped with all the relevant information from your building manager will ensure a seamless and enjoyable start to your new home.

Sam asked us: We are a building seeking tenders on our building management contractor, what should we look for? 

A: Undertaking a building management tender is no easy task but a task worth completing if you feel the incumbent isn’t performing and providing you with the value and service as intended.  

We would recommend considering the following factors:

• Experience and track record: look at the companies’ reviews, ask for reference checks with stakeholders like committee members and meet with their team.
• Services offered: Is the company able to provide a comprehensive range of services like maintenance, common property renovations, garden and landscaping maintenance, caretaking, and emergency response.
• Communication: communication and guaranteed response times is key. building manager’s plays an important role as they are your eyes and ears when it comes to the upkeep of the common areas, security issues, reporting breaches.
• Building compliance: Ask the company about their processes to stay on top of building compliance like essential services, anchor point certifications, swimming pools, lifts.
• Insurance: confirm the companies carries appropriate insurance coverage to protect both your property and themselves from potential liabilities

If you’re looking for a capable building manager with over 17 years of experience in building management, developer consultancy, caretaking, and strata management, contact the undersigned (CFS!). 

Have a question that you want answered? Submit yours to [email protected] and stay tuned to future editions. •