While sitting thru a 45 minute presentation about why it was imperative to choose his product for our bathroom, I had time to think about several other things. It was easy to do as he explained page by page not only what his company was prepared to do but what the others who would bid our job would exactly offer.
On of the things that went through my mind as I was being told that his company was the way to go because they had just expanded into Belgium, I thought about my inlaws who were about 10 years older than we are, sat at their dining room table listening to a salesman convince them that they needed a new kitchen. As I explained to the nice man, retirement in a 1 1/2 was a big consideration. We want to go into it with no debt or as little as possible. The second concern was the value of our house and quite frankly, putting in more than lipstick on a pig. The difference between my inlaws and ourselves is we understand the concept of not over compensating the details of our home without going overboard, inlaws did not. Their value came from the remodel. They though it would elevate their home and in turn, them. They had no savings and had to pay for the remodel from their monthly SS benefit. When they passed away a few years later, they owed more on their home than what they originally paid for it.
I have this same feeling about photography. I think everyone should have a nice family photograph every year. One they can afford, watch their kids grow and the know exactly when those gray hairs started showing up. Have noticed that most photographers websites when it comes to talking dollars and sense, the tab is called investment. Here's the deal - every other person has a nice camera now. I know more struggling photographers than ones who can make a living at it because of this. What is the difference between a nice family photo and a FABULOUS one? A few thousand dollars or more. What is good enough? Where do we need to invest in our lives and where do we need to live with good enough?
Finally at about minute 35, the super, duper salesman gets down to the investment part of our bathroom repair. Bottom line, finally, is his is 3 times the amount of our other quote. Does he have a better product? I imagine so. Does he have a better warranty? Yes, if the company is around in 10 years and not just in Belgium. Is this the place to make an investment or to chose good enough? When he sensed our reluctance, he took off all the extras (soap dish - we haven't used bar soap in years) and got his price to just over double and if we signed up on the spot - before he left, we would get an extra 10% off. Not chunk change when you are dealing with remodeling costs.
We told him we would get back to him by Friday and DH will. We have decided to go for good enough this time. To invest in this project doesn't feel right. He must have sensed that good enough would be our choice, his parting shot was, Make the right decision, folks. I am confident, we did that very thing...
