“Jim Class” is a feature that airs within The HomeFix Show. Writen by original charter show listener Jim Forrer from Caldwell Idaho, Jim shares his observations, life experiances, and lessons learned in life. Joe Prin reads these at various times in most of the HomeFix Shows. Here is the original written text.
Mosquito Abatement
Most customers really don’t know what they want, or should I say, need.
More times than not, I have to advise the prospect as what is right for them.
One such customer was located South-East of Nampa on a parcel of land bounded on two sides by alfalfa fields. The owners of this residence wanted chain-link fencing to contain the family pets as well as protecting their young children from the heavy traffic that passed in front of their home. On the left front of the dwelling to the property line was approximately 50 feet. The lady wanted a 3 foot gate placed in the middle of the line. I advised her to look down and see where the worn foot path was that was already there showing in the grass where everyone had always walked. The foot wear marks were about 4 feet from the corner of the house. I convinced her that was the place to install the gate. Next, I talked her into a 4 foot gate for ease of access with the lawn mower and such.
Now, there was the matter of the drive gate. They had an 8 foot paved drive and they wanted an 8 foot double drive gate. I had to do some fancy talking to prove that they needed at least a 12 foot double drive gate to allow for the turning radius into the drive. To prove it to her, I had her pull their car up to the entrance, stop and look.
After completing the bid, she said they wanted a major change in the back line. Now she wanted a 6 foot dog-eared cedar fence there. I informed her that it would cost a lot more for wood than the chain-link. The reason she gave for the change was——–now get this———Wait for it———-she wanted to block the mosquitoes from coming in the back yard !