And What We Actually Need Instead
There’s a widespread misconception in our community:
“If someone knows how to fix a leaky faucet, replace a window, or install drywall, they’ll be a great condo board member.”
It sounds logical – but it’s completely wrong.
Condo boards are not about fixing things with your own two hands.
They’re about managing millions of dollars and making strategic decisions that impact everyone’s property values and financial future.
1. The Board’s Role Is Governance, Not Repairs
A board member’s job isn’t to crawl into boiler rooms or change hallway lightbulbs.
That’s why we hire licensed trades, contractors, engineers, and property managers.
The board’s responsibility is to:
- Approve budgets and financial forecasts
- Oversee reserve fund planning and ensure sustainability
- Make informed, data-driven decisions about major projects
- Hire and manage qualified professionals – not do their jobs
When board members confuse managing with doing, we get chaos, overspending, and bad priorities.
2. What Skills the Board Actually Needs
If you want a financially stable, well-managed corporation, you need people who can:
- Understand budgets and forecasts – not just numbers, but trends and impacts
- Read engineering and financial reports – and know what questions to ask
- Negotiate with contractors and property managers effectively
- Influence and persuade – because consensus-building is key
- Think strategically – beyond next month, looking 5, 10, 30 years ahead
These are leadership roles, not trade jobs.
3. The Risk of Getting It Wrong
When the board lacks the right expertise, we see exactly what’s happening now:
- Multi-million-dollar projects pushed forward without financial planning
- Professional engineering advice ignored in favor of “gut feelings”
- Reserve funds drained and owners hit with skyrocketing fees
- Reactive decisions made in panic instead of proactive, strategic planning
This isn’t about effort or good intentions.
It’s about capability.
4. Hire the Trades. Elect the Leaders.
Handymen, electricians, plumbers, and contractors are essential – but their role is execution, not governance.
We pay professionals to:
- Assess
- Recommend
- Build
- Repair
The board’s job is to evaluate options, approve plans, and ensure financial stability.
Bottom Line
Good governance requires:
- Financial literacy
- Strategic thinking
- Influence and leadership
We need board members who can manage budgets, contracts, and people – not fix drywall.
If we want lower fees, stable reserves, and smart planning, we need leaders who understand the business of running a condo, not the manual labour of maintaining one.
