Have you ever felt so clueless about a decision or purchase that you have to do a Google search just to figure out what questions you need to be asking or considering?
And, then, after armed with the best questions that Google can supply, you realize that even if you get the answers to your “7 Best Questions to Ask a Fencing Contractor”, you still don’t know what the answer means or why you should be asking it.
I know nothing about fences. I know that I’d like a fence to keep my kids safe from the unattended pools of my neighbors. I know that I’d like to keep my dog from occasionally wandering off our property. I know that I don’t want the fence to look cheap.
So, I did what Google said. I interviewed two contractors. I went in cluelessly prepared with the “7 Best Questions to Ask a Fencing Contractor”. As a result, we surprisingly picked the one that cost 20% more…and it was the right decision.
Fencing Contractor #1: “300 linear feet at $9 per foot…it’ll run about $3,100. Call us when you’re ready.”
Fencing Contractor #2: “The area measures 300 linear feet. It’ll run about $3,700. We’re going to cost more than most because we set every post in concrete where most others drive them in…this will prevent the posts from leaning and needing to be reset 4-5 years from now, and we add a tension wire at the bottom of the fence that makes it easier to trim the grass under the fence. Another thing we need to consider is the positioning of the gates…”
I asked questions not even knowing what answers I needed or wanted to hear, but it was how my questions were answered and the answers to questions not asked that made the choice clear.
Did I make the best financial decision? Maybe, maybe not…it depends on your priorities, but I’m good with it. I feel confident that the questions and concerns that I still don’t know to ask have already been answered and accounted for, and I’m less concerned about the future issues that may pop up and the additional costs to fix them.
Sometimes the price isn’t the real cost. Sometimes it’s worth paying more now to avoid paying more later. Sometimes it’s worth paying for quality and paying the “peace of mind” premium.
Here are the stories that caught my eye this week:
MONEY: Wealth Is The Stuff You Can’t See (A Wealth of Common Sense)
“It may not feel like it to everyone, but the developed world now has more money to spend but less time to do it. The problem is these numbers are averages which helps explain why so many people have a hard time ever saving money. Trying to keep up with people that make more money than you is a never-ending game because there will always be people willing to outspend you.”
LIFE: At 98, D-Day Veteran Medic Returns To Normandy To Remember A Generation’s Sacrifice(NPR)
“For much of his life, Ray Lambert wouldn’t talk about World War II. But then the 98-year-old veteran army medic began returning to Normandy, where, on June 6, 1944, he led a unit of medics as a 24-year-old staff sergeant in the Allied invasion of western Europe.”