What first-time condo buyers should know

Few buyers of residential condominium units realize that the value of their investment is very much dependent on how well the elevators, security and other systems of the entire development is maintained.

First-time condo buyers, according to Chris Maglanoc, project manager of One Aeropolis on Dr. A Santos Drive in Parañaque, are naturally focused on the unit they will be acquiring and the amenities of the complex like the swimming pool and play area. Few take into consideration how water, physical security and other infrastructure will be maintained even if the management of those systems will greatly affect their quality of life in the condo complex.

"The security of a homeowner’s investment over the long term is likewise very much dependent on the upkeep of the project over the years – in addition to location, building construction and other fundamental elements," he says.

To avoid the experience of other condo projects that have deteriorated because of poor property management, Laguna Properties Holdings, a subsidiary of Ayala Land and developer of One Aeropolis, is drawing from the long experience of sister company Ayala Property Management Corporation (APMC). Among condo developments offering affordable units, One Aeropolis will be the only one that will be backed up by APMC’s solid history of condominium maintenance and upkeep.

Twenty-seven years of managing condominium developments mostly in Makati has taught APMC how many managers, janitors and technical staff are needed to keep a condo secure, safe and running efficiently says Ann Margret Marie Castillo, assistant vice president of the company’s Facilities Management Division. She discloses that a lean but well-trained team backs up Engineer Demet Kasiban, APMC facility administrator of One Aeropolis.

The efficiency of the property management team depends a lot on the training they receive, she notes. A manager, for instance, undergoes an average of 40 hours of training per year on the main aspects of property management. These include: securing a property, safety at work, customer service, housekeeping, solid waste management, technical maintenance. Janitors, security guards and other staff undergo a similar program on their areas of competence.

The property management team headed by a facility administrator ensures that community life in a multi-building development like One Aeropolis is smooth and problem-free. Since a lot of condo unit owners are young couples, single professionals or students, the units are occupied mostly only at night. "The property management team serves as the taong-bahay for the unit owners," says Castillo. They monitor visitors and deliveries, keep systems going, while constantly looking out for smoke, leaks and other signs of emergency to provide owners peace of mind.

Castillo notes that a property management team should particularly know how to deal with emergencies. Castillo recalls an APMC crew’s response to a serious water leak at 2 a.m. in a Makati condo it managed. The team assessed the flooded lobby and realized they would need the help of more crew. They called APMC headquarters and in less than three hours, the leak was repaired, the overflow in the lobby pumped out and the vicinity mopped and dried. Residents who woke up early that day did not even know that the lobby had been flooded.

Once a year, she adds One Aeropolis, like all other APMC-managed buildings, will be subjected to a building audit. This means an independent team of experts will observe how systems and machines are maintained at the complex. Drawing from best practices, they then make recommendations for the benefit of homeowners.

Strict management standards result in a high quality of life and peace of mind for all who live in a residential condominium, notes Maglanoc. Moreoever, satisfied unit owners assure that a residential project will remain an attractive place to live in for a long time to come. For inquiries on One Aeropolis, call 864-5744 or 788-0951.