I finally saw how my forum replies were missing the point

I was answering a question about fixing a squeaky floor on a DIY forum last week. I wrote a huge, detailed reply about joist types and subfloor adhesive. The person just came back and said, 'Thanks, but I rent.' It hit me that for months, I'd been giving answers without first asking one simple question: what's your actual situation? I was solving the wrong problem every time by assuming everyone owned their home. Now I start every reply with, 'Are you the owner or renting?' It saves so much time for everyone. What's a basic question you wish people would ask more often before giving advice?

2 comments

2 Comments

torres.drew29d ago

Honestly, I don't ask that first. I just give the best fix I know. If their situation changes it, that's on them to say.

noahchen29d ago

My uncle tried to fix his own sink last year and used the wrong kind of pipe glue. He said he just went with the "best" one from the hardware store guy. It ate through the plastic and caused a huge leak a week later. The whole thing cost him way more to fix because he didn't mention his pipes were old PVC. Sometimes the "best" fix needs to know the whole picture first.