Any complex trustees on here? Please help.

Foxhound5366 said:
So today I was elected as a trustee of my complex.

I am a bit overwhelmed because it’s a whole new swimming pool, but I’d appreciate being able to network with other trustees to share ideas and best practises.

If you’re a trustee of your complex, please send me a private message and we can connect.
Click to expand...


Any complex trustees on here?

I think you the only one here.
 
Brieuse said:
from my experience, biggest headache items are pools and painting. Try to invest in a complex that doesn't have a pool and requires minimal painting.

edit: Rather spend that pool money on a decent managing agent.
edit2, whatever you decide to do, do not employ someone to look after the pool, rather bring in a pool company to look after it.
Click to expand...
Yes we have a big painting job due on the exterior of all the units. Due to the height of the units, there’s apparently significant scaffolding required … or so I heard. Some quotes are astronomical, not because of the cost of paint, but actually getting workers safely up to the height required.
 
My advice,

1. Get meters audited! Get all owners to pay for their water and lights. Owners dont really raise their hands when they get R0 water or lights. It suites them

2. Get into arrears! Dont settle for “lets punish arrears owners”! We had 2 units at R1250 000 in arrears! Dont let any unit past R10 000! (Seriously)

3. Dont get a managing agent, that does 5 different things, under different names! It’s a recipe for disaster!

4. Act for all owners! (Big or small requests).
 
Last edited:
Foxhound5366 said:
Yes we have a big painting job due on the exterior of all the units. Due to the height of the units, there’s apparently significant scaffolding required … or so I heard. Some quotes are astronomical, not because of the cost of paint, but actually getting workers safely up to the height required.
Click to expand...
If there's any anchor points they'll be using you might want to check they've been tested in the past year or so. But most companies doing rope work should request that from you.

Another suggestion for major renovation work is to hire someone to project manage for you. So they scope the work and get quotes from various contractors & then liase with whichever contractor you go ahead with and do regular checks to ensure the work is being carried out to spec. Yeah it costs more but at least you've got someone experienced with this kind of thing managing the contractors.

We've used https://www.qualysure.co.za/ but there's plenty other such companies.
 
zerocool2009 said:
2. Get into arrears! Dont settle for “lets punish arrears owners”! We had 2 units at R1250 000 in arrears! Dont let any unit past R10 000! (Seriously)
Click to expand...
how did you manage to do that?

First month already you should be speaking to the managing agent lawyers, it should take no more than 3 to 4 months to get their levy's paid in
 
Brieuse said:
how did you manage to do that?

First month already you should be speaking to the managing agent lawyers, it should take no more than 3 to 4 months to get their levy's paid in
Click to expand...

Very easily! 2 units… just stop paying levies for years. Even lawyer’s hands was tied! So for every single court appearance, they lawyers bills gets added.

The managing agents wording was: dont worry, the estate would get every single sent when it gets sold

The bottom line, the estate had to wrote off 80% on that, just to get it sold! Dont subsidize other owners, who are like leaches!

So the question: who did we enrich as owners?
 
Last edited:
saor said:
If there's any anchor points they'll be using you might want to check they've been tested in the past year or so. But most companies doing rope work should request that from you.

Another suggestion for major renovation work is to hire someone to project manage for you. So they scope the work and get quotes from various contractors & then liase with whichever contractor you go ahead with and do regular checks to ensure the work is being carried out to spec. Yeah it costs more but at least you've got someone experienced with this kind of thing managing the contractors.

We've used https://www.qualysure.co.za/ but there's plenty other such companies.
Click to expand...
Yesss, now this is the sort of practical, useful info I was hoping for. This is amazing, thanks!
 
zerocool2009 said:
Very easily! 2 units… just stop paying levies for years. Even lawyer’s hands was tied! So for every single court appearance, they lawyers bills gets added.

The managing agents wording was: dont worry, the estate would get every single sent when it gets sold

The bottom line, the estate had to wrote off 80% on that, just to get it sold! Dont subsidize other owners, who are like leaches!

So the question: who did we enrich as owners?
Click to expand...
wow ok,
saor said:
If there's any anchor points they'll be using you might want to check they've been tested in the past year or so. But most companies doing rope work should request that from you.

Another suggestion for major renovation work is to hire someone to project manage for you. So they scope the work and get quotes from various contractors & then liase with whichever contractor you go ahead with and do regular checks to ensure the work is being carried out to spec. Yeah it costs more but at least you've got someone experienced with this kind of thing managing the contractors.

We've used https://www.qualysure.co.za/ but there's plenty other such companies.
Click to expand...
as with anything like that would need a riggers licence, work at heights trainings, ppe inspection etc etc
 
Gosh, I like technical stuff but one can get lost in the weeds. Trying to decide between two new Centurion gate motors: the D6 or the D10. Anyone got practical experience? I know the D10 is bigger and rated for more cycles, but the D6 is cheaper … and should still be better than our older D5 Evo.
 
Foxhound5366 said:
Gosh, I like technical stuff but one can get lost in the weeds. Trying to decide between two new Centurion gate motors: the D6 or the D10. Anyone got practical experience? I know the D10 is bigger and rated for more cycles, but the D6 is cheaper … and should still be better than our older D5 Evo.
Click to expand...
D10 definitely, the Smart. D5 evo is for a house.

It is also fantastically fast to open and close, has an app to add remotes etc. So convenient.
 
Last edited:
Brieuse said:
D10 definitely, the Smart. D5 evo is for a house.

It is also fantastically fast to open and close, has an app to add remotes etc. So convenient.
Click to expand...
D6 SMART looks like it also has an app, and is only rated for a slightly lighter gate.

Trust me, I’ve even been watching VIDEOS … on gate motors. This is my life now:


 
Foxhound5366 said:
D6 SMART looks like it also has an app, and is only rated for a slightly lighter gate.

Trust me, I’ve even been watching VIDEOS … on gate motors. This is my life now:


Click to expand...
D10 for complexes. I have a D6 smart for my house.
 
Last edited:
Foxhound5366 said:
Gosh, I like technical stuff but one can get lost in the weeds. Trying to decide between two new Centurion gate motors: the D6 or the D10. Anyone got practical experience? I know the D10 is bigger and rated for more cycles, but the D6 is cheaper … and should still be better than our older D5 Evo.
Click to expand...

I am sure the motors should be insured. Let the insurance handle it ? Or do you need a spare one ? (for backup)
 
zerocool2009 said:
I am sure the motors should be insured. Let the insurance handle it ? Or do you need a spare one ? (for backup)
Click to expand...
Not sure, can one even insure gate motors against standard wear and tear? In this instance, the current gate motor just died and we were tasked with purchasing a new one, and doing other upgrades at the same time. That process is ongoing but we have basically settled on the D10, now we’re just considering quotes from a few suppliers and discussing the pros and cons. So you know THAT is going peacefully.
 
I’m happy to share that my gate saga is over: new gate track installed (ask for an I-Beam support bar for more durability) and the amazing Centurion D10 SMART (secret lesson: you have to buy a Centurion Nova remote to link it via the Centurion mobile app - but if you’ve got ET remotes like we have, then the old receiver can be taken out of the old motor and plugged into the new motor and all the current remotes work as-is). The supplier we went with was Gate Repair Services, www.gates.co.za, which we chose due to their high number of positive Google Reviews and 40 year track record.

Now listening to our owners activating the gate is like the finest music … I just hope it stays that way, but GRS says we could have 15+ years of hassle-free service.
 
Last edited:
Ok sooooo I’ve emailed https://www.qualysure.co.za/ and https://www.projectlab.co.za/ (both mentioned on this thread) to check if they can assist with sourcing quotes and formulating proposals for some major maintenance projects we need to execute at my estate … if anyone else has a trusted supplier in that space, let me know please.

Our managing agents assist with quote sourcing, but due to the scale of this work I’d prefer to get a professional project manager or someone used to running maintenance projects to drive this process for our trustees. Not sure if that’s even a thing, but asking doesn’t hurt.
 
Foxhound5366 said:
Ok sooooo I’ve emailed https://www.qualysure.co.za/ and https://www.projectlab.co.za/ (both mentioned on this thread) to check if they can assist with sourcing quotes and formulating proposals for some major maintenance projects we need to execute at my estate … if anyone else has a trusted supplier in that space, let me know please.

Our managing agents assist with quote sourcing, but due to the scale of this work I’d prefer to get a professional project manager or someone used to running maintenance projects to drive this process for our trustees. Not sure if that’s even a thing, but asking doesn’t hurt.
Click to expand...

ProjectLab aint bad. They managed our paint project, which was R8 000 000 ... but their fee aint cheap! And make sure you check the snaglists! (Its very important to have happy owners/residents). Doesnt help you get something signed off (with complaints)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter