As a tradie, expanding your business can be tough, but partnering with strata management companies can open up a world of opportunities. With the growing demand for maintenance and repairs across apartment complexes, high-rise buildings, and commercial spaces, strata managers are always on the lookout for reliable tradespeople. This can lead to a steady stream of work, long-term contracts, and the chance to build a reputation as a trusted professional.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the key steps to growing your business by working with strata managers. Whether you’re looking to secure more projects, streamline your workflow, or establish lasting partnerships, the strategies in this guide will help you get there.
Let’s dive in and explore how you can take your tradie business to the next level by tapping into the strata management industry.
Understanding the Strata Management Landscape
Before you dive into working with strata managers, it’s important to understand what they do and why they’re so crucial to your business growth. Strata management companies are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties, particularly those that have shared spaces like apartment buildings, townhouse complexes, and office blocks.
What Strata Managers Do
Strata managers handle the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of common areas, which includes everything from landscaping and cleaning to repairs and renovations. They also manage the budgets for these services, ensuring that everything is completed within the agreed-upon costs and timeframe. Strata managers act as the liaison between the property owners and the tradespeople who carry out the work.
Here are some of the key responsibilities of strata managers:
- Coordinating Maintenance and Repairs: Strata managers organise regular maintenance and repair schedules, ensuring that the property is in good condition and complies with relevant laws.
- Managing Vendor Relationships: They oversee relationships with contractors and service providers, including tradies, to ensure that work is completed to a high standard.
- Budget Management: Strata managers handle the financial side of things, allocating funds for different maintenance tasks and ensuring that all services are within the budget.
- Ensuring Legal and Safety Compliance: They make sure all work meets the necessary regulations and safety standards, which is critical when it comes to strata properties.
Types of Properties Managed by Strata Managers
Strata managers work with a wide variety of property types, each offering different opportunities for tradies:
- Residential Strata Properties: These include apartment buildings, townhouse complexes, and gated communities where maintenance and repairs are often ongoing.
- Commercial Strata Properties: These include office buildings, retail spaces, and business complexes that require maintenance to keep their tenants happy and safe.
- Mixed-Use Strata Properties: These buildings combine residential and commercial spaces, meaning there’s a diverse range of maintenance needs to address, often with complex requirements.
Each of these property types has unique demands and challenges, but they all require tradespeople who can provide reliable, quality service. By understanding the landscape, you’ll be better equipped to meet the needs of strata managers and set yourself up for long-term success.
The Growing Demand for Tradies in Strata Management
With Australia’s population growing and more people living in apartment buildings and shared spaces, the demand for strata management services is increasing. Strata managers are under pressure to keep buildings in top condition while managing budgets, deadlines, and tenant needs. This means there’s a constant flow of work for tradies who can help with everything from routine maintenance to urgent repairs.
As a tradie, this represents a significant opportunity. Partnering with strata managers can mean a steady stream of work, especially if you establish a reputation for being reliable and delivering high-quality results. The more you understand about the strata management landscape, the better positioned you’ll be to tap into this growing market.
Building Trust with Strata Managers
If you want regular work from strata managers, building trust is everything. Strata managers look after multiple properties and tenants, so they need tradies who are reliable, professional, and easy to work with. Show them they can count on you, and you’ll have repeat jobs coming your way.
Why Trust Matters
Strata managers can’t afford surprises; late jobs or poor-quality work can create big headaches. If you want to be their go-to tradie, you need to prove you’re consistent, honest, and dependable.
The key is to do quality work every time, turn up when you say you will, and be upfront about costs and timelines. Honesty goes a long way.
Professionalism Matters
Strata managers are looking for tradies who treat them, their clients, and their properties with respect. It’s not just about the job itself; it’s also how you handle it.
Keep them in the loop about progress, delays, or issues, clean up after yourself, and be friendly and approachable. A good attitude makes people want to work with you again.
Offer Solutions, Not Just a Service
Strata managers deal with all sorts of issues, from leaky taps to faulty wiring. They appreciate tradies who don’t just fix the problem, but also suggest smarter ways to avoid it in the future.
Become the tradies who can spot small problems before they become big ones and recommend fixes. If there’s a quicker, cheaper, or safer way to do a job, let them know. Being proactive makes you stand out.
When you’re reliable, professional, and solution-focused, strata managers start seeing you as more than just a tradie; they see you as a partner.
Mastering the Art of Quoting and Pricing for Strata Work
One of the quickest ways to win more jobs with strata managers is by getting your quotes right. Strata managers often have to compare multiple tradies before awarding a job, so if your quote is clear, accurate, and professional, you instantly stand out.
Be Accurate and Clear
A sloppy or vague quote can cost you work. Strata managers need to know exactly what they’re paying for, so your quote should include a clear breakdown of materials and labour, any additional costs that might come up, and a realistic timeline for completion.
Being transparent shows that you know your stuff and makes it easier for the strata manager to trust you.
Offer Value, Not Just a Low Price
It’s tempting to undercut other tradies to win jobs, but this rarely pays off in the long run. Instead, focus on providing value. High-quality workmanship, reliable service, and solutions that save time or money in the long term are key.
Strata managers are happy to pay a fair price for a tradie who makes their life easier and does the job right.
Respond Quickly
Timing is everything. Strata managers often need multiple quotes to get approval from owners or boards. If you send your quote late, they might go with someone else. Aim to respond fast and professionally; being prompt can be the difference between winning and losing a job.
Be Flexible When Needed
Sometimes budgets are tight or the job needs adjusting. Being willing to discuss options, suggest alternatives, or tweak your quote shows that you’re easy to work with, and that’s exactly the kind of tradie strata managers love.
Getting your quoting process right isn’t just about numbers; it’s about building trust, showing professionalism, and proving that you understand the needs of strata management. Do that, and you’ll be top of their list when new work comes up.
Streamlining Your Workflow to Stay Competitive
Working with strata managers often means juggling multiple jobs, tight deadlines, and urgent repairs. The tradies who succeed aren’t just the ones who can do the work; they’re the ones who stay organised and on top of everything.
Stay Organised with Smart Tools
Keeping track of multiple jobs, quotes, and client requests can get messy fast. Using tools to manage your workflow helps you know what jobs are coming up and when, keep track of quotes, invoices, and payments, and quickly update strata managers on progress.
Even simple systems, like digital calendars or job lists, can make a huge difference.
Communicate Clearly and Often
Strata managers appreciate tradies who keep them in the loop. Let them know when jobs start and are finished, if you’re running behind schedule, or when unexpected issues come up.
Clear communication avoids misunderstandings and builds trust.
Simplify Invoicing and Payments
Chasing payments is one of the least fun parts of running a business. When your workflow includes clear invoicing and easy payment options, you get paid faster, and strata managers love it too.
Keep Records for Peace of Mind
Documenting your work isn’t just about covering yourself; it helps strata managers feel confident that the job was done properly. Keep records of before and after work photos, compliance, and safety checks, and any warranties or guarantees that you provide.
Having this info ready shows you’re professional and reliable, and it makes repeat work much easier to win.
By keeping your workflow organised, communicating effectively, and making everything easy for the strata manager, you’ll become the tradie they think of first when new jobs arise.
Building Long-Term Relationships for Ongoing Work
Landing a job with a strata manager is just the beginning. The real success comes from turning that one-off job into regular work. Strata managers love tradies they can rely on, so the more you nurture the relationship, the more opportunities you’ll get.
Be Dependable Every Time
Reliability is everything. Show up on time, complete jobs as promised, and maintain the same high-quality work every time. Consistency builds trust, and trust leads to repeat work.
Stay in Touch
Don’t wait for the next job to reach out. Check in occasionally to offer help on upcoming projects, share updates about your services, and provide seasonal maintenance tips.
A quick call or email can keep you top of mind when the next job comes up.
Go the Extra Mile
Strata managers remember tradies who do more than just the job. Small touches like cleaning up thoroughly, leaving helpful notes, or suggesting improvements make you stand out. It shows that you care about their properties and their clients.
Ask for Feedback and Referrals
After completing a job, ask if there’s anything you could improve. This shows you’re committed to getting better and value their opinion. Happy strata managers are also more likely to recommend you to other properties or colleagues.
Be Flexible and Adaptable
Strata management work can be unpredictable. Being willing to adjust your schedule, take on urgent repairs, or adapt to new requirements makes you a trusted partner. Tradies who are flexible and easy to work with are the ones who get repeat jobs.
Building long-term relationships isn’t about doing a single job well; it’s about consistently showing that you’re reliable, professional, and easy to work with.
The tradies who master this approach often see a steady stream of work and a growing reputation in the strata management world.
Grow Your Tradie Business with Strata Managers
Working with strata management companies can be a game-changer for your tradie business. By understanding the strata landscape, building trust, quoting accurately, staying organised, and nurturing long-term relationships, you can secure more work, grow your reputation, and create a steady stream of jobs.
The tradies who succeed are reliable, professional, and proactive. Strata managers notice when you make their life easier, and that’s how you become their go-to tradie.
If you want to make this process even simpler, the i4T Business job management system can help you stay organised, manage quotes and invoices, and keep track of all your jobs in one place. Tools like this make it easier to respond quickly, communicate clearly, and maintain the high standards that strata managers value.
With hundreds of strata managers in our network, i4T Business can help you secure consistent, reliable strata work and become their go-to tradie.
Start building stronger connections with strata managers with i4T Business, and watch your tradie business grow! Trial now!
FAQs
A strata manager oversees the maintenance and management of shared properties like apartment buildings or townhouses. Working with them can provide regular jobs and long-term contracts for tradies.
Build trust by being reliable, professional, and solution-focused. Send accurate quotes, communicate clearly, and complete jobs on time to become their go-to tradie.
Strata managers require help with repairs, maintenance, renovations, compliance checks, and general upkeep of shared spaces like gardens, common areas, and building systems
Provide clear, detailed quotes with a breakdown of costs, timelines, and any materials needed. Be transparent, fair, and respond quickly to stand out from other tradies.
Strata work often involves multiple properties and tight deadlines. Staying organised helps you manage jobs efficiently, communicate clearly, and maintain a professional reputation, leading to more repeat work.
Hot off the press!
With our cutting-edge technology and in-depth knowledge of how the
Field Service Management sector operates, the i4TGlobal Team loves to share industry insights to help streamline your business processes and generate new leads. We are driven by innovation and are passionate about delivering solutions that are transparent, compliant, efficient and safe for all stakeholders and across all touch points.
