Comments on: The Problem With Living in a Small Town http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/ Our Journey to a Debt-Free Life Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:10:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: A Very Expensive Week » Blogging Away Debt http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/comment-page-1/#comment-73443 A Very Expensive Week » Blogging Away Debt Sun, 24 Jun 2007 04:18:41 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/#comment-73443 [...] back when, I’ve discussed how we’ve had a hard time getting a handiman out to our house to do some much needed repairs. That repair has been our doors. At the time, I [...] [...] back when, I’ve discussed how we’ve had a hard time getting a handiman out to our house to do some much needed repairs. That repair has been our doors. At the time, I [...]

]]> By: Steve Heath http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/comment-page-1/#comment-2237 Steve Heath Thu, 19 Oct 2006 19:25:08 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/#comment-2237 Lol, then it sounds like your hubby is in the same boat I'm in with my Dad :) He's so good at those things he doesn't talk about what he does, and he expects you to know how to help him... but I haven't got a clue, he never in my life showed me how to do that kind of stuff. I even put together Ikea furniture wrong :) Lol, then it sounds like your hubby is in the same boat I’m in with my Dad :) He’s so good at those things he doesn’t talk about what he does, and he expects you to know how to help him… but I haven’t got a clue, he never in my life showed me how to do that kind of stuff. I even put together Ikea furniture wrong :)

]]> By: Tricia http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/comment-page-1/#comment-2214 Tricia Thu, 19 Oct 2006 13:39:13 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/#comment-2214 Hi Steve! I do get along with my in-laws, but my father-in-law would need my husband's help for the repair. Unfortunately, home repairs are not my husband's thing. I can just see heads butting and everyone getting upset at each other (it's happened before). Since writing the post above, we found out that my father-in-law is having medical problems and they probably will not be able to visit us for a while. Hi Steve!

I do get along with my in-laws, but my father-in-law would need my husband’s help for the repair. Unfortunately, home repairs are not my husband’s thing. I can just see heads butting and everyone getting upset at each other (it’s happened before).

Since writing the post above, we found out that my father-in-law is having medical problems and they probably will not be able to visit us for a while.

]]> By: Steve Heath http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/comment-page-1/#comment-2211 Steve Heath Thu, 19 Oct 2006 13:24:10 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/#comment-2211 Stepping away from the financial a bit... if you get along well with your father-in-law, and he can do the job, why wouldn't you? It's not just about coming to do the job, I'm sure he'd like to come see his son in person, and this gives an excuse. Why not offer to pay him what you would pay the contractor towards his travel expenses? That way you aren't feeling like you're taking advantage of him, and yet can still get a mini-family vacation/gathering at the same time? That's assuming, of course, that you like your in-laws and would like to visit with them :) Stepping away from the financial a bit… if you get along well with your father-in-law, and he can do the job, why wouldn’t you? It’s not just about coming to do the job, I’m sure he’d like to come see his son in person, and this gives an excuse. Why not offer to pay him what you would pay the contractor towards his travel expenses? That way you aren’t feeling like you’re taking advantage of him, and yet can still get a mini-family vacation/gathering at the same time?

That’s assuming, of course, that you like your in-laws and would like to visit with them :)

]]> By: Tricia http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/comment-page-1/#comment-2189 Tricia Thu, 19 Oct 2006 02:03:42 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/#comment-2189 Thank you everyone for commenting. I will try to write a little more about this later... Thank you everyone for commenting. I will try to write a little more about this later…

]]> By: Matt http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/comment-page-1/#comment-2168 Matt Wed, 18 Oct 2006 17:15:26 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/#comment-2168 I wouldn't worry about it; if you think about it if the company takes you time to get back to you then why wouldn't you start shopping around? As for the handiman; his not calling you back is just as bad as the first companies. Don't stress about who you called when and which company you end up going with. But I have to agree with the previous poster, don't pay upfront when ti comes to a repair job! I wouldn’t worry about it; if you think about it if the company takes you time to get back to you then why wouldn’t you start shopping around? As for the handiman; his not calling you back is just as bad as the first companies. Don’t stress about who you called when and which company you end up going with.

But I have to agree with the previous poster, don’t pay upfront when ti comes to a repair job!

]]> By: Karen http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/comment-page-1/#comment-2167 Karen Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:54:06 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/#comment-2167 Home repairs can be painful in more ways than one - it's not just forking over the money, it's trying to decide if the lower bid is the BEST bid. I go with my gut. I have had one company who did an excellent job at a reasonable price, and the next year called him for an estimate on a different house that I had moved to, and he did not show up at the agreed upon time or even call! He called a week later and asked if I was still needing him (NO!). I ended up doing the work myself (painting). Alot of small businesses do not have clerical staff, which allows them to do the job for less, but when they get busy, they are not always good about those administrative details. One thing I can tell you for sure: Get everything in writing and DO NOT PAY until the job is done. If necessary, go with them and buy the supplies and keep them at your house. Home repairs can be painful in more ways than one – it’s not just forking over the money, it’s trying to decide if the lower bid is the BEST bid. I go with my gut. I have had one company who did an excellent job at a reasonable price, and the next year called him for an estimate on a different house that I had moved to, and he did not show up at the agreed upon time or even call! He called a week later and asked if I was still needing him (NO!). I ended up doing the work myself (painting). Alot of small businesses do not have clerical staff, which allows them to do the job for less, but when they get busy, they are not always good about those administrative details. One thing I can tell you for sure: Get everything in writing and DO NOT PAY until the job is done. If necessary, go with them and buy the supplies and keep them at your house.

]]> By: Personal Finance Blogger http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/comment-page-1/#comment-2166 Personal Finance Blogger Wed, 18 Oct 2006 15:39:17 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/#comment-2166 Bad customer service is not unique to small towns... :) Given that you live in a small town and the two guys are related you can be reasonably sure they know you've called them both. But so what? Have them both bid on the work. Have your father in law in your back pocket to do a sanity check on their quotes if you're worried they may try to rip you off. Never forget, you're the customer. It is your hard-earned money these guys are competing for. Bad customer service is not unique to small towns… :)

Given that you live in a small town and the two guys are related you can be reasonably sure they know you’ve called them both. But so what? Have them both bid on the work. Have your father in law in your back pocket to do a sanity check on their quotes if you’re worried they may try to rip you off. Never forget, you’re the customer. It is your hard-earned money these guys are competing for.

]]> By: Sara http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/comment-page-1/#comment-2165 Sara Wed, 18 Oct 2006 15:25:36 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/#comment-2165 Now, I don't live in a small town, but I do own a small business, and I'll be honest - business is business. I don't really care if I give someone a quote and they don't end up doing it, or find someone who the prefer over me - the customer should be looking out for themselves and not worrying about hurting my feelings! That said, you need your work done, and the first company never called you back - why shouldn't you have called someone else??? I agree with the pp, that you should make sure that you get a fair price, but don't feel embarassed about the work or the calls - a good financial decision is getting multiple quotes to do the work - but, you already knew that! I hope your work gets done soon, and that you don't freeze! Now, I don’t live in a small town, but I do own a small business, and I’ll be honest – business is business. I don’t really care if I give someone a quote and they don’t end up doing it, or find someone who the prefer over me – the customer should be looking out for themselves and not worrying about hurting my feelings!

That said, you need your work done, and the first company never called you back – why shouldn’t you have called someone else??? I agree with the pp, that you should make sure that you get a fair price, but don’t feel embarassed about the work or the calls – a good financial decision is getting multiple quotes to do the work – but, you already knew that!

I hope your work gets done soon, and that you don’t freeze!

]]> By: ry http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/comment-page-1/#comment-2162 ry Wed, 18 Oct 2006 14:49:38 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2006/10/the-problem-with-living-in-a-small-town/#comment-2162 just gotta be careful that they both don't come together and try to rip you off by giving you higher than normal estimates just gotta be careful that they both don’t come together and try to rip you off by giving you higher than normal estimates

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