Who this article is for
Buyers using Cohabit to assess a building
Owners and committee members reviewing Expert Insights
Advisors who want to understand how insights are formed
Anyone curious about what sits behind a Cohabit Health Score or Insight
What are Expert Insights?
Expert Insights are written interpretations created by Cohabit Experts to help you understand what the building’s records actually mean in practice.
They’re designed to:
Replace the need to read a traditional strata report end-to-end
Translate complex records into plain English
Highlight risks, strengths, and patterns that matter for decisions
Insights sit inside the Expert Insights section of a building profile and are always tied to a specific building and review.
Step 1 — A request triggers expert review
Expert Insights are only created after:
A Building Health Score request is made, and
An expert is assigned to the building
This ensures insights are always based on an intentional, authorised review — not assumptions or scraped data.
Once assigned, the expert gains access to the building’s authorised records.
Step 2 — Records are gathered and reviewed
Cohabit Experts review the strata records available for the building, which may include:
Financial statements and budgets
AGM and committee minutes
Insurance certificates
Maintenance and capital works reports
Compliance documents (fire, lift, safety, etc.)
Historical records where available
The depth of insight depends on what records are available at the time of review.
If certain records are missing or incomplete, the expert will call this out explicitly in their insights.
Step 3 — Patterns and risks are identified
Rather than summarising documents one by one, experts look for:
Trends over time (e.g. rising levies, repeated issues)
Red flags (e.g. funding gaps, deferred maintenance)
Positive signals (e.g. strong reserves, proactive management)
Inconsistencies or unknowns in the records
This is where expert judgement matters — the focus is on what a buyer or owner should actually care about, not just what exists on paper.
Step 4 — Insights are written in plain English
Each insight is written to be:
Clear and non-technical
Easy to scan and understand
Grounded in the records reviewed
Focused on decision-making
Insights typically include:
A short explanation of what was observed
Why it matters
Any risks, implications, or things to watch
Where relevant, insights link back to the underlying records used in the assessment.
Step 5 — Insights are organised by topic
Insights are grouped into logical areas such as:
Building profile and structure
Financial health
Maintenance and works
Compliance and insurance
Governance and meetings
Issues or disputes (if applicable)
This makes it easy to:
Jump to areas of concern
Share specific insights with advisors or committees
Compare different buildings more consistently
Step 6 — Health Score and insights work together
Expert Insights don’t replace the Building Health Score — they explain it.
The Health Score gives you a high-level signal
The Expert Insights explain why the building looks the way it does
Together, they provide a clearer picture than a traditional strata report alone.
Why some buildings have fewer insights
If a building has limited insights, it’s usually because:
Fewer records were available at the time of review
The building is new or has limited history
Certain documents haven’t been provided yet
Experts will always note these gaps so you understand the limits of the assessment.
A snapshot in time
Expert Insights reflect the records available at the time of review.
They:
Do not auto-update when new records appear
Are refreshed when a new Health Score is requested or
When Building Intelligence is active (where supported)
This is why insights are best used alongside ongoing updates when available.