Why a directory, not just a matching service
Some councils don't want to be matched — they want to read provider profiles, compare credentials, and reach out directly. A transparent directory pays for itself in trust: if you can see why we admitted a firm before you click anything, the matching service that follows is easier to take seriously.
The directory and the matching service share the same provider pool, the same admission criteria, and the same flat referral fee. We don't sort providers by who pays more, and a directory listing is not a paid placement.
What "qualified" means for us
BC doesn't have a single statutory designation for depreciation-report providers, which is part of the problem councils face when choosing one. We admit firms that hold at least one of the recognized provincial / national credentials, carry appropriate professional liability insurance, and have a documented history of producing depreciation reports specifically (not just appraisal or engineering work).
| Designation | Body | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| AACI, P.App. | Appraisal Institute of Canada | Senior real-property appraiser; standard for valuation-side reports |
| CRP | Real Estate Institute of Canada | Certified Reserve Planner — the credential most directly aligned to depreciation reports |
| P.Eng. | EGBC | Professional engineer; common for engineering-led reports on building systems |
| RICS | Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors | International chartered surveyor credential; less common in BC but accepted |
We treat CRP as the most direct fit because the credential is purpose-built for reserve-fund / depreciation planning. AACI and P.Eng. holders are common and welcome — we just want to know what their depreciation-report portfolio looks like, not their appraisal or general engineering portfolio.
What each profile will show
- ✓Firm name + principal with the depreciation-report file (the actual signer)
- ✓Designation(s) with active-status link to the issuing body
- ✓Region(s) served — Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Interior — explicit, not a map of Canada
- ✓Building types — townhouse, low-rise wood, mid-rise concrete, high-rise — they actually report on
- ✓Years preparing depreciation reports specifically (not total professional years)
- ✓Sample anonymized report — at least the table of contents and one component analysis
- ✓Insurance disclosure — limits of professional liability coverage
- ✓How they price — flat / per-unit / hybrid, and whether 5-year refresh is contracted up-front
We don't accept paid placement. We don't run user star ratings (too easy to manipulate for a low-volume professional category). We won't list a firm we haven't done diligence on — even if they ask.
For providers reading this
We're admitting a first wave of firms now ahead of the public directory launch. If you're a BC depreciation-report provider and the criteria above describe you, write to hello@stratanotes.ca with your firm name, designations, regions, and 2–3 sample report tables of contents. We respond to every application within 5 business days.
For councils that need quotes today
The matching service is already running. Two minutes of intake; up to three vetted providers quote your building. The same firms will appear in the public directory when it launches.
Get 3 qualified quotes →