Condominium managers are responsible for people’s greatest investment – their homes. Because the stakes are high, sometimes condo owners can be demanding, argumentative or hostile, and the condo managers are on the front line. You need strong customer service skills to manage your constituency with excellence.

Service recovery occurs when an organization is able to resolve a client issue and regain his or her trust following a breakdown in service delivery. A service breakdown occurs when the service delivered fails to meet a client’s expectations. In some cases, the product or service functions as it was designed or intended; however, the client has misunderstood how the product or service functions resulting in a service breakdown.

Celebrating 40: Forty years ago, a small group of condominium managers found themselves at the vanguard of a relatively new and exciting industry in Ontario. The time was right in 1977 to mobilize and organize with a formal association to represent the goals of this collective alliance. No one could have foreseen the tremendous growth of condominiums that we’re witnessing today. But the founding members of ACMO did anticipate and establish the RCM designation for professional property managers that is now recognized and requested by corporation boards.

When I was 19 years old starting out in this business I saw the opportunity for growth and a career in this industry. Under the guidance of my mentor I was encouraged to take my RCM courses, and within 1.5 years I had completed all four courses and wrote the RCM exam.

It is clear in this time of urban sprawl that natural green spaces are becoming fewer and farther between. Now, more than ever, we need to maximize on the limited space we have in our urban settings.

Newly installed high-efficiency boilers at a Toronto Community Housing Corporation project financed by The Atmospheric Fund. Project: Trethewey and Kendleton retrofits

The Ontario Building Code is administered by the Building and Development Branch of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and has a place in the operations of every condominium in Ontario.

Considering Window Replacements in the Next Few Years?

Environmental issues are affecting every nation around the globe. By employing innovative practices using technology to drive our business solutions, management companies can use our example and reduce their use of finite resources and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Fats, oils and grease (FOG) are a common problem for many businesses, condominiums/highrise buildings and homeowners. If they are poured down the drain, they will cool in the pipe, harden and eventually cause a blockage. This can be very costly as it can cause sewage to back up into a building, house or business. The easiest way to prevent blockages from forming is to stop FOG from getting into the pipes in the first place.

With energy costs at the forefront of property managers’ thoughts, finding and introducing new energy efficient and green initiatives is becoming imperative. The practice of energy management through a sub-metering system is rapidly growing throughout management sectors of the multi-residential industry, and the results that come from implementing the fair and cost-effective, user-pay system are vast.

Smart building owners and property managers are gradually retrofitting fluorescent lighting systems to LED lighting systems because of the tremendous benefits of the LED solid lighting technology. Its lower energy output reduces the building’s overall energy consumption. 

It's easier to get your residents on board the organics recycling program in your condominium with regular communications and innovative recycling systems.

LED retrofit projects of common element areas are often the first type of energy efficiency project where a condo corporation can see cost savings after initial investment.

2018 has been an exceptionally busy year for condominium managers and directors in Ontario. The first phase of the amendments to the Condominium Act brought widespread change to condominium management and administration. Here’s a quick list of some of the key changes: