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Strata report resources to make your property journey simple

Whether you’re a first time buyer or a seasoned investor, we understand strata schemes can be complex and confusing. We have compiled a range of resources, guides and FAQs to simplify your property journey.

Buying an apartment?

Australian Property Investment Podcast

Strata expert Craig Baylis, from Coastal Strata (a property investor himself who has also delivered over 10,000 strata reports to his clients) joined the podcast to share valuable insights from over two decades of experience, helping you avoid costly mistakes.

Watch now or listen on Spotify

  • 02:54 Breaking Down a Strata Report

  • 03:48 Predicting Potential Risk Factors

  • 6:38 Roadmap to a Strata Report

  • 10:19 Craig’s Encounter with Cladding Issues

  • 12:35 Distinguishing Common Property

  • 17:00 By-Laws + Other Sneaky Technicalities

  • 20:04 Strata Reports Vary Based on Buildings/Facilities

  • 21:47 What Makes a Good Strata Manager?

Strata tips

#1 Where do your levies go?

Low levies are not necessarily a good thing. Ideally a strata scheme should be raising sufficient funds into the Administrative fund to cover the recurring expenses each year, plus keeping the Capital Works Fund balance in line with the recommendations in their Capital Works Fund plan.

#2 Check the rules

By-laws are rules that all residents living in a strata scheme must follow.

There can be by-laws restricting pets, holiday letting and parking amongst others so you need to check the rules to see how they could affect you.

There can also be positive bylaws allowing the exclusive use of a common property area like for a courtyard or a car space.

Some properties will have friendly by-laws already allowing renovations. Some won’t. All strata schemes have their own unique by-laws so make sure to check.

#3 Have your say

When you become an owner make sure you pay attention to the meetings so you can have your say.

Consider volunteering a little time to be on the strata committee.

In most cases you simply have a bit more control on how money is spent and what projects should be worked on.

The strata manager will do most of the work and the committee keeps things moving in between the AGMs.

Decisions (mostly) are made by majority vote. So speak up!

#4 Timing is crucial

The ideal time to obtain a strata report is between an offer accepted and signing.

The further along you go the less options you’ll have.

If you are just looking, start learning the strata basics now. You don’t want to be stuck on general questions when you need to move fast later.

If your offer is accepted but you haven't signed yet, our report can give you the confidence to proceed, negotiate or withdraw from the deal if there's something you're not comfortable with.*

If you are in cooling off and there's something you're not comfortable with you may lose part of your deposit if you want to withdraw.*

*Not legal advice

FAQS

  • Essentially strata is a title that allows individual ownership of part of a property, such as an apartment or townhouse. You’ll own the apartment and also own a share in the remainder of the property called common property.

    Then there's also the Community or Neighbourhood title. It's not as common as strata, but we are experts in explaining these properties as well. Likely to be houses and everyone maintains their own.

  • A strata report is a thorough review of the operational, financial and structural aspects of a strata scheme. It covers the scheme’s financial health, maintenance plans, and any potential issues or liabilities.

  • Strata reports help you make informed decisions by revealing crucial information about the strata scheme, such as bylaws, insurance details, and financial stability.

    This information provides clarity so you can purchase with confidence.

  • Coastal Strata have spent the last 10+ years providing insights and advice to many wonderful clients purchasing and living in strata titled properties throughout NSW.

    We're all about in-house operations. No outsourcing here. Our Admin & Report Teams handle it all, ensuring quality for every strata report we provide.

    We're not just a platform; we're hands-on creators, writing a report especially for you. And best of all, you can speak to us if you need.

  • In most cases we need 1-2 days. We’ll keep you informed along the way. If you need it sooner just let us know and we’ll try to accommodate.

    We strive to deliver our strata reports as promptly as possible while maintaining the thoroughness and accuracy our clients choose us for.

  • Our strata reports cover all the key information such as:

    • Financial health assessment

    • Maintenance and condition of common property

    • By-Laws review

    • Insurance information

    • Recent meeting minutes and relevant correspondence

    • Work Health & Safety Report

    • Litigation and legal issues

  • Yes, we offer vendor strata reports that provide all the necessary information upfront to ensure a smooth sales process.

  • We understand that you may have questions about certain aspects in your report and are always happy to talk you through it - please feel free to reach out to us on (02) 4297 2555.

  • After you've placed your order, our team will start the process of compiling your strata report.

    You'll receive a confirmation email with the details of your order and the expected delivery date of your report.

  • While the last AGM minutes can provide useful insights, they often do not give the full picture.

    A comprehensive strata report includes a review of several years of meeting minutes, financial statements, maintenance plans, and other critical documents to identify any issues.

  • Yes, even if the property is self-managed, ordering a strata report is crucial.

    Self-managed schemes might not always follow best practices in financial management or maintenance planning, and a strata report can help identify any issues or concerns that could affect you as a future owner.

  • It's best to order your strata report as soon as possible after you've found a property you're interested in purchasing.

    This ensures you have enough time to review the report and address any issues before moving forward with the purchase.

  • Both you and your conveyancer can order the strata report. Some buyers prefer to manage this process themselves to directly communicate with the strata report provider, while others prefer their conveyancer to handle it. It's entirely up to you.

  • It's not typically necessary to share the full report with the agent. However, if the report uncovers significant issues that might affect your decision to purchase, or if you're negotiating on price, you might choose to discuss these findings with the agent.

  • f you're interested in another property, you'll need to order a new strata report for that specific property. For an additional property you will receive a $50 rebate off your next Strata Inspection Report under our Client Due Diligence Rebate.

  • Choosing Coastal Strata means you're getting a team of experts dedicated to providing detailed, accurate, and easy-to-understand strata reports.

    Our comprehensive analysis helps you make informed decisions, and we're always here to answer any questions you have.

  • A strata report gives you a clear picture of the property’s management, financial health, and any potential issues that could cost you in the future.

    It's an essential tool for risk assessment and ensuring you're making a sound investment.

  • We request a copy of the contract to verify the details of the property and ensure we access the correct strata records.

    This helps in providing an accurate and relevant report.

    If you have a draft contract just send it through and we’ll find what we need.

  • The vendor's authority is a form that grants us permission to access the strata records on behalf of the seller.

    This is often necessary for us to obtain all the documents needed for a thorough report.

  • Building defects are issues found within the property's common areas or individual units that may require repair.

    These can range from minor cosmetic issues to major structural problems. Identifying these defects is crucial as they can affect the property's value and your future liability for repairs.

    A 2023 Strata Defects Survey found that an average of 53% of buildings in the survey have had serious defects in common property.

    There’s such a range of situations and potential outcomes when defects are mentioned. It’s best to get in touch with our Report Team for a chat about your specific situation.

  • Yes, they serve different purposes. A strata report focuses on the management and financial health of the strata scheme, while a building inspection report assesses the physical condition of the building and any defects.

    Both are important for a comprehensive understanding of the property you're considering.