I think it’s helpful to get all stakeholders to agree on what constitutes a ‘reasonable’ level of maintenance and presentation. I now lean towards s a definition of about ‘80% of new’. If you can measure it to that it becomes easier to assess if it needs attention now and we should address it, or it doesn’t so don’t worry about it. That should also help overspending by those just never satisfied, and others who say ‘it’s always been that way’.
A great reference book compiled by building and strata managers I highly recommend is the ABMA Building Management Code which is current best practice guide. It goes into all this stuff and if adopted by your complex allows all to use it as their measure without getting personal or political.