Select OwnersCorp Management consultative approach with developers ensure better owner experience

September 2009

As Melbourne-based Select OwnersCorp Management expands its operations to all parts of the state, the company observes changes to developer thinking and approaches to construction.

Select manager Kevin O’Neill says owners corporation managers have an important role to play with developers to provide a long term owners perspective on the consequence of design and construction decision-making.

“Over the last decade, we’ve seen estate development continue to evolve based on the nature of how land is bought and developed, how construction techniques have changed, and the preferences of home owners,” says Mr. O’Neill.

“Developers don’t always understand the long term implications for costs to these owners and it’s our job to make sure these ongoing costs are feasible for home owners.”

O’Neill uses the example of recent developments in Epping, Maidstone, and Point Cook, where the size of development has moved from a developer building four to eight units on a quarter-acre to buying a two acre block and building 14 homes.  Due to the increased size of the development, the owners corporation is now responsible for a private road with common street lighting, gutters and drainage, footpaths and nature strips, and gated entry systems.

“It’s a much larger proposition for an owners corp.  Select is now working with developers 15-18 months ahead of construction to ensure that all owners corp regulations are satisfied and most importantly that there has been some thinking about owners corp fees ahead of time to ensure they are kept at a reasonable level,” says O’Neill.

“For example, we’re aware that developers are trying to keep costs down, but we look to play a constructive role in having them invest a little more to buy quality products that we know through experience will deliver superior performance and require lower maintenance costs over time.  There are a whole series of recommendations that we make like this that together result in a far better owners experience.”