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Web Page Condominium News: Frequently Asked Questions

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Web Page Condominium News: Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is WPCN?

    Answer: Web Page Condominium News (WPCN) is a unique and secure web site that provides an on-line service for the storage and retrieval of all documents pertaining to individual Strata or Condominium Corporations. The site basically acts as a library resource for all information related to a particular Condominium Corporation. Each individual Strata or Condominium Corporation is provided with numerous user-friendly features such as a discussion page, bulletin board and notice page.

  2. Are Condominiums and Strata Corporations the same?

    Answer: Both terms describe a form of property ownership in which the homeowner holds title to an individual residential or commercial unit and a proportionate interest in common areas and facilities of a multi-unit project.

  3. What are the benefits of WPCN?

    Answer: One of the primary user benefits is easy and immediate access to information that otherwise may take weeks to obtain. WPCN also provides a communication tool enabling Owners, Councils and Managers to distribute information quickly and efficiently, increasing Owner awareness and empowerment, while reducing costs of distribution.
    1. Evolving benefits - The greater the utilization of the WPCN site the greater the benefits to both the Strata Corporation and the Manager. The WPCN site provides an effective communication tool for Managers while significantly decreasing operating costs for Strata Corporations. Distribution of information electronically on the web-site reduces or eliminates paper distribution of thousands of photocopied documents.
    2. Increased communications - Owners can be contacted quickly with unlimited information.
    3. Increased awareness - Owners become aware of the on-going activities and operations that affect their property.
    4. Owner empowerment - Owners feel that they have a sense of belonging and participating in the process.
    5. Transparency - The resources and documents available make the workings of the Strata Corporation transparent to all Owners. The perception of exclusive information, secret actions and mysterious service contracts disappears, as all information and contracts are posted onto the website.
    6. Cost Savings -
      1. Less photocopying charges
      2. Reduced postage
      3. Reduced labour costs in the distribution of notices, minutes and other documents
    7. Portability - When the time comes for a Council to turn the property over to a new management company, the Strata Corporation simply advises WPCN of the change. At the click of a button WPCN then transfers access to the new management company at no cost to the Strata Corporation. This process results in absolutely no inconvenience to the Owners as there is no visible change on the website.
    8. Stability - Irrespective of current Owners or Council Members, the WPCN site remains a constant, stable and dependable source of historic and current information.
    9. Value Added - The service is comprehensive that all owners whether remaining, buying or selling within the property will reap immediate and significant benefits from the subscription service. The more the Owners use the subscription the greater the benefits.

  4. We already have our own website, should we switch?

    Answer: Yes, a site operated by an individual Owner within a Strata or Condominium Corporation may be here today gone tomorrow. Such a solution does not yield the same stable and dependable source of information as WPCN, incorporated under the Corporations Act of BC in 2001 with Trade Mark Registration in Canada and the USA.

  5. Will our Strata information be shared with others?

    Answer: No. WPCN is a totally independent company offering services on a global basis to all Strata or Condominium Corporations and all management companies. The private information for each individual Corporation remains private, accessible only by the Corporation members and their specific manager. No information for the Corporation is visible, accessible or shared with other management companies or associations, eliminating the concern that outside employees or volunteers could gain access to private Corporation information.

  6. As a Developer how can this service help me?

    Answer: An Owner-Developer can utilize the services of WPCN by becoming a WPCN client on behalf of the Strata or Condominium Corporation. There is no cost to an Owner-Developer to subscribe to the site. By subscribing before turning over the property, a fully portable communications network and website will be in place allowing new Owners immediate access to their documents and administrative functions. All important documents and photos can be uploaded to the site, including warranty information, colour specifications and service call procedures. When the time comes to turn over the property to the newly formed Strata Council, the subscription may continue at the regular posted subscription rates.

  7. How does WPCN work?

    Answer: WPCN uses internet technology to provide a variety of practical resources to enhance Condominium living. Some features include document storage and retrieval, a discussion page, bulletin board and notice page. Internet technology replaces outdated procedures of the past and provides an efficient and effective means to communicate and deliver information in a timely manner, accessible from anywhere in the world.

  8. What does WPCN do?

    Answer: WPCN provides clients with a method to:
    1. reduce operating costs
    2. store and retrieve documents electronically
    3. educate members by circulating information over the website
    4. regain control over their own documents
    5. quickly review specifications, quotes and service contracts
    6. exchange ideas via the Discussion Forum

  9. What is the Subscription Fee for?

    Answer: The annual subscription fee includes:
    1. on-going maintenance, research and development of the site by WPCN
    2. full use of all facilities of the site, including document storage and retrieval

  10. When was WPCN started?

    Answer: WPCN was incorporated as a British Columbia company in 1998. Federal Trade-mark registration has been obtained both in Canada and the USA.

  11. What areas does WPCN serve?

    Answer: WPCN has a global reach serving all of Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Cayman Islands and Singapore.

  12. What is the Publisher's background?

    Answer: The Publisher and President of Web Page Condominium News (WPCN) Inc. is Ben G. Larsson, B.A., CPM, RPA, FRI, CMOC, with the following industry background and qualifications:
    1. is a Member of the International Affairs Committee - Institute of Real Estate Management, USA
    2. is a Past Chairman, Institute of Real Estate Management, Canada
    3. has served on the Board of Directors, Real Estate Institute of Canada,
    4. has served on the Governing Council, Regional Vice Presidents Committee & Executive Committee, Institute Real Estate Management, USA
    5. has been directly involved in the property management industry in Canada since 1975.
    6. in addition a Bachelor of Arts degree and many diversified credentials, also holds the prestigious, RPA, Real property Administrator, CPM, Certified Property Manager and the CMOC, Certified Manager of Condominiums designations

  13. Why was WPCN launched?

    Answer: Property Management is results driven for investor-owned properties. This same property management function becomes more process driven as one examines the nature of Condominium Management. Variables such as statutory requirements, changing Councils, and multiple owners increase the "process" nature of this service industry. Unfortunately a manager's ability to fulfill this process requirement has not changed over time but has remained inefficient and stuck in the pre-internet era.

    Traditionally, access to much information was restricted to Council Members or not readily available at all. When required, distribution of documents such as reports and minutes to Owners is achieved by costly photocopying and manual distribution, or even more costly mailings. As an example, if one specific property is currently producing approximately 3,000 copies per month at 10 cents per page; that is $300 per month. The WPCN subscription package for this same property would be only $600 per year, and several trees would be saved.

  14. Is there any competition for WPCN?

    Answer: No, there is no service equal or close to that offered by WPCN.
    1. WPCN has a four-year proven track record on the development and maintenance of the on-line service. Given the Founder and President of Web Page Condominium News (WPCN) Inc. is a nationally recognized Property Manager, we also have the benefit of a full understanding of the entire nature of Condominium Management.
    2. While some management agencies may have their own website capable of posting minutes, this is only a small part of the WPCN subscription package. WPCN immediately connects a user corporation with a global, regional and local condominium communications network, enabling ongoing discussion with other Councils or Owners on a multi-level basis.
    3. Additionally, a website tied to a specific management company would not be portable but would remain proprietary to that particular management company. Condominium Corporations require the ability to change management companies as their management needs change. With WPCN, transferring from one management agency to another takes only a few minutes and involves no costs or disruption to the Condominium Corporation.

  15. Do you sell or share mailing lists?

    Answer: No, and this is a very important and permanent feature. We do not sell or trade the information on our site nor do we allow access to your proprietary areas to third parties or associations. We do not have any so called "strategic partners" in the trades or professions or with any particular associations that control, operate or fund the site in order to gain marketing or other advantages. All our clients' information remains private to each individual Strata or Condominium Corporation.

  16. What service does WPCN perform?

    Answer: WPCN provides the capabilities for any Strata or Condominium Corporation to store and retrieve all their corporate documents on a dedicated and proprietary web page for their particular property, in order that any one of their Owners with access to the internet may review minutes, contracts or participate in discussion groups. As the years go by the documents remain in place and Owners, Lawyers, Realtors and future Councils may refer to the database as required.

  17. Who "runs" the site?

    Answer: There is no need for a Strata Manager or Strata Recorder to "run or operate" the site or create log-in codes as these are automatically generated by the system. Confirmation that an Owner is in fact an Owner is all that is required. For privacy purposes, individual Owners may select their own level of confidentially. A Strata/Condominium Manager would typically use the site the same way as any other management tool such as e-mail, fax machine, telephone or photocopier. Instead of faxing a document to a Council Members, it would be posted on the site.

  18. How does our Corporation sign up?

    Answer: By completing the coupon on the web page, a Condominium Corporation or their manager may request a subscription. A subscription agreement would then be forwarded to the Council for execution similar to any other contract entered into by the Corporation. The Agreement would then be administered by the manager or Council, the same as any other service agreement such as elevator maintenance or landscaping.

  19. Is there a size requirement?

    Answer: Absolutely not. The WPCN system is ideal for the smallest to the largest Strata or Condominium Corporation and the subscription fee is based on a sliding scale.

  20. How does the information get on to the site?

    Answer: Uploading information may be administered in several ways -
    1. by the Council by appointing a Strata Recorder from the Owners
    2. delegating the task to the Property Manager for the property
    3. retaining WPCN Inc. to input the data. Saving a Word document, such as a Council Minute, as an Acrobat file ready for input into the database, takes only a few seconds.

  21. Can anyone access the Site?

    Answer: Yes, but the site is segregated into two areas, public and private.
    1. The public area for all properties is universally accessible and contains photos and a description of the property in addition to providing an area where Realtors and Property Managers may list (at no charge) any units for sale or rent.
    2. The private area for all properties requires a secure password to gain access. All Owners of subscribing Corporations may obtain a password to view all information on the site pertaining to their property.
    3. Individual managers within a management agency having multiple properties on WPCN will be issued their own password for adding and maintaining information.
    4. The senior official within a management agency would have the ability to add or delete their own managers.
    5. Only a WPCN official would have the ability to delete or transfer a Condominium Corporation.

  22. Does using WPCN conserve trees?

    Answer: Yes, by using less paper, trees are conserved. Some interesting data based on information obtained from Conservatree, a nonprofit organization:

    If the present cost of photocopying minutes and other documents for circulation to Owners for a typical Strata or Condominium Corporation is say, $6,000 per year and the cost per sheet of paper photocopied is 11 cents this represents approximately 55,000 sheets of paper. This average volume equates to the cutting down of 6 or 7 trees annually. These trees would be 40 feet tall and 6 to 8 inches in diameter.

    While 6 or 7 trees may not seem like much, expanding this number to include all the Strata or Condominium Corporations in North America will result in an overwhelming number of trees.

  23. Do you have a support feature?

    Answer: Yes, we provide initial support to enable each Client to get properly set up. Due to the site's simple design, anyone familiar with using the internet will have no difficulty navigating the site.

  24. Will our Owners have to upgrade their computers to use WPCN?

    Answer: Not at all. As long as they are able to surf the Internet, they can access the WPCN site. The speed at which information is received is a function of your Internet Service Provider.

  25. How does WPCN benefit a property manager?

    Answer: WPCN provides a tool for managers which will:
    1. save time in the preparation and distribution of minutes, quotes, contracts
    2. facilitate discussion with council members
    3. provide immediate on-line access to all current and historical records. No more going into storage to spend hours looking for that old contract or minutes of a committee meeting.
    4. increase effectiveness in distributing emergency notices

  26. What about Privacy?

    Answer: WPCN is committed to protecting our viewer's privacy and developing technology that yields the most powerful and safe online experience. Our Privacy Statement shown within our website governs data collection and usage. By subscribing or using the WPCN website, a viewer consents to the data practices described in the published Privacy Statement statement.

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