I bought a property to live in many years ago in Coffs Harbour. As is the case with the majority of residential properties in this town, it is covered by a strata arrangement. My home was, and continues to be "managed" by SMS Strata Management Services. They have NEVER behaved in a professional manner. Rather, they BULLY us customers, attempt to stand over owners in order to extract unjustifiable fees and repeatedly LIE to cover their lack of actual knowledge regarding strata legislation and their total ineptitude.
Lazy, poorly trained, inexperienced, and expensive - but always with a sweet little smile. YUK

Being new to the Coffs Coast and strata living, I have found SMS Coffs Harbour to be competent and most helpful. SMS played a leading role in assisting our body corporate end the unlawful activities of short term holiday letting activities in our townhouse complex. At times, SMS seems to be somewhat understaffed however, to date I have enjoyed our communications and dealings with them.

Don't sign them up! Beware!
Their contract allows them to charge ridiculously for everything from faxes to emails to phone calls to archiving to storage and they even charge $20 for every single work order / request they send to contractors. Their charges do not equal the delivery of strata services. You would be better off to find a company that delivers a great service and does not bleach you for every cent.
Do not sign up SMS Parramatta as they are money pits!

We have used SMS at Coffs harbour and I became aware of several charges that we received that should never have been paid then when I looked into the Financials as I am a registered accountant and tax agent I found we were being charged for tax returns that are not necessary and also an EBIT charge that we didn't need to pay and WHS was always on the agenda too when no-one works from the premises. The tax returns merely need to have a no longer necessary lodged with the ATO and then if necessary later on re establish them. So the charge of $95 each year by a local accounting firm is not only not necessary but excessive for a NIL return.

Normally one can find at least one positive no matter how bad an organisation is, but not in the case of SMS, unresponsive, uncommunicative, no follow up, no reporting procedure, little or no knowledge of Strata Law.
Never mind the worst strata management company imaginable, just the worst company I have ever encountered.

I have never dealt with any company that is so unprofessional.
Please check your financial statements as I have found numerous errors in their annual statements. I always thought they were just completely incompetent but I have my doubts and wonder if there is broader unethical practices at play within SMS Strata.
If using SMS Strata I would suggest changing. I have recently moved to EC Strata and have found them very helpful. ecstrata.com.au

I have had the misfortune to deal with SMS Coffs Harbour for the last 8+ years when managing my apartment complex at Emerald Beach. Their service has been terrible; they simply ignore emails, and their staff are passive aggressive and rude and they make decisions without consulting owners. I am responsible for initiating the move to another strata manager, and my early experience is they are vastly superior in virtually every way that counts. Avoid SMS like the plague.

Unresponsive. Rude. Expensive. Overly eager to spend their clients money with zero consultation.

I have nothing positive to say about SMS Strata. They are utterly incompetent to the point where my apartment is now inhabitable due to their negligence. [name removed] the person I dealt with is rude, defensive and unhelpful. If they spent a fraction of their time dealing with the issues rather than trying to cover their in ability to manage anything they may not have such an awful reputation.
Don't use them!

Incompetent

I am merely a tenant in a building administered by SMS in Coffs Harbour, even though the property has been flooded four times in the past two and a half years no representative from SMS has bothered to view the drainage problems let alone consider addressing them. They appear to be purposely running the building into the ground.
Absolutely NOTHING
Zero communication, constantly using meetings as excuse for zero communication

As it seems to be impossible to contact this company, Hopeless is how I feel and I am looking for a way to change management.
nothing and I would like to make the star rating minus.
We have tried repeatedly to contact SMS as I am part owner of a property in Coffs Harbour. We even WENT there, to no avail. They are ALWAYS "in a meeting or at lunch" I fear that all management fees paid to these people go into admin. However, Unfortunately, there seems to be no admin taking place on our building.

We have dealt with SMS in excess of 2 years, as they have managed a property for us in Coffs Harbour. During this time, the service has rapidly deteriorated - to a point where they are now displaying total neglect. We have been trying to address urgent repairs and issues with the property, and they are simply not responding to any emails that have been sent. How is this property management?
I would not reccommend their services to anyone, even to the point that I would not purchase another strata-based property that was associated with them.
Currently none.
The main issues regarding SMS are communication and inexperienced staff.

Over the years as a property manager I had numerous dealings with SMS over various body corporate issues and properties. During this time I am pleased to say they handled most matters quickly and efficiently. This included insurance claims and account paying for items associated with common areas. Now SMS manage a property for me and I would recommend them as being professional to deal with.
Business is owned by an ex-real estate agent, they physically inspected my property prior to our first body corporate meeting, prompt with insurance/account enquiries.
Change of staff - but that comes with the territory.