We seldom meet trainers from far away to conduct CPD classes. We not only have one but 3 of them today: Prof Jeevan D’Mello from Dubai, Mr Pepe Gutierrez from Spain and Mr Tom Skiba from the United States. This full day session was conducted by the Association of Strata Managers (ASM) in conjunction with Community Associations Institute (CAI). More than 120 Accredited Strata Managers attended these classes.
Having an accredited status is good. But to keep abreast with the latest trend of the real estate market and especially strata matters, is important. One of the requirements for the ASM accreditation scheme requires Accredited Strata Managers to attend and to secure at least 8 hours of CPD training each year. 8 hours of CPD training are not many. The Council of Estate Agents (CEA) has announced that CPD training for Salespersons for real estate agency will be increased from the current 6 hours to 16 hours, almost 3 times, starting next year, 2025.
ASM has conducted more than 25 topics of CPD training spread over 50 classes in the past 2 years. Some of these CPD classes are now conducted virtually. With virtual CPD classes, Accredited Strata Managers will find the classes easier for attendance.
Among the 8 attributes taught in:” Strategies to deliver great customer experience and manage complaints”, Prof Jeevan D’Mello found that to be “Thick Skin” is an attribute required from anyone professing to be a Strata Manager. Meeting difficult people is expected in the nature of strata management. If this is unacceptable, then strata management may not be suitable for that person.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is likely to take the market by storm. It is applicable in all industries, and certainly in strata management. In his lesson “Using Technology and AI to drive “Business and Teams in Property Management”,Pepe Gutierrez demonstrated the use of Chat GPT for strata management. If correctly used, these tools could among others, assist strata managers to complete minutes of meetings very quickly.
Tom Skiba shared about the collapse of Champlain Towers in Florrida (US) in one early morning of 2021 when 98 residents were killed. The Florrida authority has since legislated reserve studies for structural related requirements. In Singapore, the Building Control Act requires a structural inspection once every 5 years for a non- residential building and once every 10 years for a residential building. All strata managers should take structural inspection seriously and to report or escalate, whenever there is any doubtful structural defect. Safety of occupants is paramount.
I want to thank Prof Jeevan D’Mello, Tom Skiba and Pepe Gutierrez again for flying to Singapore to conduct these CPD classes.Thank you.
