Definition: Thermal imaging is simply the process of converting infrared (IR) radiation (heat) into visible images that depict the spatial distribution of temperature differences in a scene viewed by a thermal camera. In layman’s terms, and at CSFTS, we use a thermal Imaging camera to pinpoint where undrained water is lying in wait to cause damage […]
Building Maintenance & Repairs
We Help You See The Future: Using Predictive Analysis to Protect Stakeholders
We Help You See the Future Predictive Analysis! Never heard that term before? Maybe that’s because we invented it as a means of demonstrating cost and effort savings in the Management of your multi-family property. And we did that based on our experience watching Property stakeholders (Owners, Managers, Council Members) scramble to do repairs AFTER […]
Your Time, Your Life: Sometimes That’s not the Case in a Strata or Condo Home
So, you’re the proud owner of a Strata dwelling; or you’re responsible for managing a Strata dwelling; or perhaps you sit on Council for one. Regardless of your role, you have a vested interest in wanting maintenance and repair to be a natural and stress-free part of your day-to-day life. You might think that maintenance […]
Eyes Wide Shut
Ever bought a used car? Remember that moment of intense hesitation as the salesman went on about how the car was only driven by an elderly lady on Sundays to church and back? And was that the same car that eventually cost you both arms and one leg to keep it running? What did you […]
Your Time Machine: Reducing Your Time Commitment While Bridging Today’s Strata to its Desired Tomorrow.
The Work of a Strata and Home Owner Associations (HOA) Manager, Board or Council member, or Strata owner (the Stakeholders) ranges from (a) rewarding & satisfying to (z) a chaotic, time hogging, stress inducing, physical & psychological nightmare. The villains who seek to introduce chaos to Stakeholder’s lives are weather, wear/age, and unexpected events. How, […]
Simple Things: Understanding the Not So Hidden Costs of Strata/Condo Ownership
Many things in life are complex. Too complex. Some things in life are simple, while other things COULD be simpler with a different perspective. Many times, getting the different perspective just needs a little help. For example, did you know that the cost of ownership in a multi-family building typically breaks down as follows: If […]
Peace of Mind Part 2: What’s the Remaining Useful Life of the Major Systems in Your Home?
That’s quite a topic for a blog these days. We hear of bad news, sad news, and outright mad news, but unfortunately, we don’t hear lots of good news. That’s when each of us needs to dig down deep (the 3 D’s) to find ways we can let the general news tone run past us, missing us in its sweep to […]
Peace of Mind Part 3: What is Strata’s Plan to Prevent Negative Surprises That Can Steal Peace of Mind?
What is your Strata’s plan to prevent negative surprises that will steal peace of mind? Based on our 2 previous posts on this topic, we know we need to understand, as a path towards peace of mind with your home, the true condition of your Strata/Condo. We also have a better idea as to why […]
You May Outlive Your Strata, But Not By Much: Maintaining Building Good Health
Our experience helping strata protect the value of their buildings shows that residential multi-units tend to have a much longer life expectancy than other types of buildings, about the same lifespan as humans. This similar longevity invites an interesting comparison between humans and buildings. It helps to start with good genes, a quality construction and […]
Taking the “?” Out of the “What if?” for Strata Owners
The news over the years hasn’t been kind to Strata owners. In British Columbia, the leaky condo crisis of the late 90’s and early 2000’s continues to leave its mark. “By 2003, the B.C. Homeowner Protection Office had identified about 65,000 leaky condos across the province.” Damages and repair costs ran into the billions of […]
Avoiding Negative Surprises: Out of Control Condo Fee Increases Can Be Avoided
Our hearts go out to these Condo owners and board members. Such types of negative surprises, either for new buildings, or older buildings with insufficient reserves, damage the harmony that should be the norm when you live or work in a communal building. In this case the increase might have been unavoidable, but for most condo situations […]
The Calm After the Storm?: Don’t Wait Till After the Storm to Reflect on Risk Planning
November 12 – 15, 2021 will go down in this writer’s mind as the dates when he wished he’d built an ark! Many people are in “the same boat” according to the many news sources, mainstream and local, reporting stranded people and vehicles, plumbers run off their feet with busyness, restoration companies that can only […]
