The different demands of managing property vary from scheme to scheme. Indeed, many disputes on a body corporate committee are between one side that wants to invest to secure asset value and the other which wants to keep building costs down.
Ultimately, the majority rules but the committee must, to the best of its ability, act in the best interest of all lot owners. Given the apparent conflicting interests of the people involved how can the committee make decisions without causing an upset? And which side, if any, should they prefer? Or might it be possible to attend to every lot owners’ needs?
Presented in this manner, few lot owners would argue against each of these elements being fundamental to the life of the body corporate. Expressing decisions in relation to these values can help lot owners understand the body corporate committee’s motives and engage them in the process.
An example of how this line of thinkkeying can help is in considering that people often fail to attempt to understand others’ decisions and will make judgements based on their own standpoint. If their interest is in keeping costs down, they will naturally be opposed to large expenditure. If, however, they can see that the chosen route is not only best value in a group of alternatives but also the stitch in time that saves nine, then their perspective can change rapidly. They may not want to spend money now, but they will certainly not want to spend a lot more tomorrow.
So, what does this mean? Communication is the key. Contractors informing building managers – building managers their bodies corporate – and bodies corporate their lot owners. If everyone is aware of the decisions being made and the motivation behind those decisions it might be possible to look after every party’s interests.