Want the Best Price for Spray Foam Installation? Don't Choose the Cheapest Contractor (Part 5)

If you're been tuning in, you know we've been discussing how choosing the cheapest spray foam installer could actually cost you more in the long run. Our first lesson: Don't sacrifice quality for convenience sake. Our second lesson: Cheaper up-front may be more expensive long-term. Our third lesson: Be prepared when your contractor goes belly up. And now our fourth -- and final -- lesson...

LESSON #4 – Spending more upfront can sometimes equal long-term gain

All you want to do is buy a pair of sneakers, but you've struck out on your first three attempts. You’re hoping the fourth time’s the charm, because you’re almost out of options. You decide to go to Department Store B, the store offering the shoes at $52.99. That’s a little more than you’re willing to pay, but you figure, why not? Maybe they’ll be on sale this week. As you approach the door, a young man, apparently an employee, opens the door from the inside and welcomes you to the store. He asks if you’re looking for something in particular or if you’re just browsing. You tell him you’re looking for sneakers. He smiles and points you in the direction of the shoe department, then tells you there’s a store clerk in that department if you need help or have any questions. You thank him and make your way to the shoe department.

When you get there, you notice the shoes are clearly labeled and laid out according to men’s, women’s and youth. You find the women’s shoes and almost right away find the sneakers you wanted. The shelves are neatly lined with boxes and organized by size, the smaller sizes on top. You scan the shelves and find several pair in your size. Just as you’re trying the shoes on, an attendant comes over and asks if you’re doing okay and need any help. You say no, but ask if perhaps the shoes are on sale. The store employee smiles and says no, but that she thinks the sneakers are still worth the price because they are very comfortable. She points to her own shoes, revealing that she’s wearing the exact pair you’re trying on. She also says they’ve lasted her a long time and very durable; she would know because she wears them everyday to work and does a lot of walking during her eight-hour shift.  But, she adds, if money is a concern, she can recommend some lesser-expensive sneakers that are comparable. You thank her and she takes her leave, stating that she’ll be floating around if you need further help. You’re beginning to think maybe the sneakers are worth the price, since they seem to last longer and are more durable. You would’ve liked to get the shoes for $49.99, the price you’ve seen in other stores, but what’s three bucks more? Besides, you’re impressed by this store and their level of customer service. You decide to buy the shoes, and have no problem checking out; there are about six check-out lines open and none of them have a wait.

Lesson Learned: Sometimes paying a little bit more for a product or service is worth it if it offers extra benefits over other products or services. Spray foam is a prime example. A lot of people use the standard fiberglass because it’s quick, easy and cheap to install. But as we’ve discussed many times previously, fiberglass is not an adequate air barrier, a major issue with old buildings. Spray foam, however, is an insulator and air barrier, and thus can help create an energy-efficient building envelope. It has a lot of advantages over other types of insulation, and therefore carries a higher upfront price tag. What’s more, spray foam will never shrink or sag and will last the lifetime of the building it’s being installed in. The same can’t be said for less-expensive fiberglass. And if the contractor was professional, gave awesome customer service and a fair price, then paying a little bit more was worth it in the long run because of the added value. You got a good return on your investment, as the saying goes.

We’re not saying you should choose the most expensive contractor, but we are asking to put things in perspective. Had you known that buying the shoes at the cheapest price would be such a hassle, would you have still bought them at that store? Or would you have paid three dollars more for the convenience of a clean store with more inventory and customer-friendly staff?

Whether it’s shoes or insulation, you really do get what you pay for.