Photograph Credit: Flickr (Nutmeg)
As I drove through my subdivision on trash day, I noticed that two more homes had piles of carpet at the curb. Since the summer began, there have been at least 3 other homes that have replaced or substituted the carpeting in their homes. Though some of them may have chosen another flooring choice, e.g. hardwood, tile, etc., some are replacing the original carpet because it is threadbare.
Making the Choices
Looking back at the choices Paul and I made at the time we built our home, I am confident we chose correctly. After selecting our floor plan and elevation choice (essentially, the look of the outside including the slope of the roof), we had 2-3 pages of upgrades to consider. The choices were a bit overwhelming until we agreed on our maximum purchase price and evaluated our options.
In making our selections, we chose quality over convenience or decoration. Our upgrades included:
- Mud sink for the garage,
- Large appliances,
- Extended (tall) cabinets,
- Fireplace with mantel,
- Tier 2 carpet pad and carpet, and
- Microwave with hood over the range.
All the upgrades we chose cost us less than having to remodel our house with these items. By choosing the best quality upgrades, we used our time wisely.
On a side note: One upgrade I really wanted was the matching crown molding for our kitchen cabinets. However, the price was outrageous and would have exceeded our agreed upon price. That choice also could easily be added at a later time. So, I sacrificed my heart’s desire, and by-passed that upgrade.
As the house was being built, Paul and I would stop by to watch the progress. On one occasion, we met our cabinet installer. After talking with him and thanking him for his work, this installer gave us his business card. We informed him that we were interested in the crown molding and might contact him in the future.
A few weeks later, I received a call from our builder asking us to please remove the crown molding left in the house. On our next visit to the house, Paul and I saw our crown molding. Our cabinet installer GAVE us the crown molding for our kitchen cabinets.
I cannot express the emotions I felt realizing that we chose wisely. The crown molding I desired was given to us free of charge saving us $750. What a blessing! I enjoyed writing that thank you note and am still appreciative of that gift.
The Results of the Choices
In the years we have lived in our house, all of these quality choices continue to serve us well. I am thankful we opted for the upgraded carpet pad and carpet. With continued cleaning and care, these carpets will continue to meet our needs. Though we paid more for these choices at the beginning, I am more aware of the benefits to paying a bit more for quality to save money (replacing the carpets), energy (moving everything out of each room), and time (waiting for the project to be completed) in the long run.
Next week in part 2, I will explain how our decisions of quality in other areas continue to save us money, energy, and time.
Question: What is the best quality choice you have made? Please add your answer by clicking the Leave your Comment button below.