Comments on: Subjective Group Decision Making and Carpeting

By: Seth Thomas Rasmussen

Seth Thomas Rasmussen — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Geezus. All I know is that if the process were more complicated than a single meeting lasting, at most, an hour(at most), I'd probably find my urge toward homicide rising.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hire a decorator to figure out what works best. If you start polling people you get people whose opinion you took who are happy but you orphan a (most likely) larger number of people who may take it as an indictment of their style choices.

Don’t be dictatorial because that could haunt you as well.

Go third party, make sure at least you agree with it, and go with it.

By: Chad Edge

Chad Edge — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Present residents with a 1-page, 3-option color scheme (photoshop a floor-wall photo w/ the color change). Checkbox for each (big, non-florida style voting boxes).

Anyone not returning their slip in time doesn’t get their vote counted.

The end.

By: Nathan Logan

Nathan Logan — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

As a board (or president), pick several we would be comfortable installing (taking cost, quality, color, etc. into account). Then present those choices to all condo owners to vote upon democratic-style.

Everybody’s happy.

By: Dave Metcalf

Dave Metcalf — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I would call a bunch of carpet places and have them come out to give a quote. Then try to get a good balance of quality carpet and low price. Not to mention using the size of the job as leverage to get a discount.
But the fact that you are asking is a bad omen.

Hopefully the person responsible for Comic Sans had no input in the decision…

By: Adam Farnsworth

Adam Farnsworth — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Yeah, I’m going to go with the Third Party options too, but I agree with Nathan give options. I agree that dictatorial will come back to bite you, but if you have a limited democratic process, one where you still have quality control somewhat, you’re bound to have better results.

Plus, I’m guessing that most people won’t care all that much in the end, and would welcome a succinct choice.

Good luck!

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Good stuff so far. Just so we’re clear, I’m most interested in exact procedures you’d go through to resolve the problem of the subjective selection of carpet. Chad Edge’s response is a good example.

By: Chris Griffin

Chris Griffin — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hire an interior decorator……we all know the outcome of design decisions made by non-designers.

By: David Robarts

David Robarts — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I vote for the 3 choices mentod – perhaps having a profesional provide the choices.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This is definitely not the place to be democratic. Hire an interior decorator, have them make suggestions/decisions, then work with contractors to get the best price.

Residents shouldn’t have any say in this. Involving them will just create hurt-feelings and take way too much time. If the decision is just made and implemented, the residents will notice it/talk about it for a day or so.

If they are involved in the process, they will forever talk about how ‘no one listened to me…”

By: Rich

Rich — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Take Chad’s above and put the samples (REAL SAMPLES 12″ x 12″) of the top three on presentation boards in the lobby.

Maybe paint the foamcore to match the walls.

By: brian warren

brian warren — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

1. Schedule a meeting where interested parties can come to give input. At that meeting tell of the plan to get a few respected carpet installers to give quotes. Mention a follow up meeting where people who have any bent toward design or interior decorating can discuss colors and carpet types.
2. Meet with carpet installers to get quotes and sample books or whatever they give you there.
3. Have aforementioned follow-up meeting. If only 40 units, I’d imagine less than 10 people would show. There you can discuss prices and whatnot. Among the 10 of you pick out 3 or 4 styles.
4. Design and distribute vote cards that Chad Edge suggested. Include info about deadline.
5. Choose most voted style and get it installed, distribute a follow up flyer with info about votes, which one was chosen, install date, info about paying the bill, etc.

WIth doing two meetings, while it takes longer, people have no excuse for getting upset, because it was a) democratic, and b) they could get their say in the subject if they wanted to. The only issue that could crop up is if someone was in the minority about their tastes, and they get all bent out of shape about their precious designs not being chosen and you get bad karma from neighbors about it. Then again, they’d probably get bent out of shape anyway.

By: Naomi D.

Naomi D. — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

To save some money, you could have the building’s residents elect a design dictator. Candidates for dictator must be nominated, and could demonstrate their taste/prowess by showing their own condo as an example.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I would put up a three carpet samples that my designer chose would be good choices. Underneath each would be a box (locked) where tenant deposit their rent checks, so people literally “vote with their money”.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I think I agree with Chad…..You pay fees, right? Then you should be part of the process.