For some reason I got three calls yesterday from homeowners who wanted me to quote on completing painting jobs they had started.
I had visited one of the three last summer. He was working on a Flip and wanted us to do the more difficult areas but couldn’t afford it. The others included a large deck and another was for a new house that he had partially finished.
How many of you have gotten these calls? Any policy on pricing for jobs you have quoted and homeowners try to do the work?
Would appreciate the input…should I be calling these guys back?
Thanks,
Jon
“There is no good answer to a stupid question”
Russian saying
Russian saying
Replies
Don't hold it against them. They must have liked you. It's a sure sale. Go close it at full price.
This is gonna come off sounding bad but.... If someone can't paint, they deserve any price you give them.
good to hearlot of people, including trades of all types, think they can paintA lot can't
Barry E-Remodeler
I accept all of the insight you share.They anyone can paint thing hurts though...although a quick look through the Yellow Pages would certainly confirm that.
"There is no good answer to a stupid question"
Russian saying
To me painting is like fishing.... Not for everyone but I happen to love it.
And if you can't fish expect to pay top dollar at the seafood counter.
Edited 8/27/2008 9:31 pm ET by sledgehammer
its like the mechanic sign$25 per hour
$35 if you watch
$45 if you help
Boy, I would like to use your Mechanic, mine is at $70 per hour!!!Never fear the want of business. A man who qualifies himself well for his calling, never fails of employment.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)
Bump that up to 55, 75 + 95!!.
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"After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
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.
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If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
and $75 if you laugh
That sign must have been a holdover from the 60's
They anyone can paint thing hurts though...although a quick look through the Yellow Pages would certainly confirm that.
Anyone can paint.
Just not very well.
I have been told I paint like old people <cruder term for make love>Slow and sloppy
sure... call them back
pricing should be higher, the job becomes more involved because you have to deal with someone else's mess. And you know they will be much more critical of your work compared to their own.
Guess the price depends on how bad you want the work
I'd treat as any jpb prospect if I had the capacity, however, this is a golden opportunity to recoup what you have already invested in the initial site visit/proposal (which was probably a "free" estimate). Also, I would resist any urge to be condescending towards these clients. They tried to do accomplish a task, recognized they were in over their head, and called a professional to help bail them out. Give them an excellent job, at a fair price, without trying to make them feel inferior, and your reputation will only benefit.
Wow! Excellent response!
"It is what it is."
Not sure if you're a breath of fresh air or a class act.
Perhaps both?
(kudos)
If you planted hope today, in any hopeless heart
If someone' s burden was lighter, because you did your part
If you caused a laugh, that chased a tear away
If tonight your name is mentioned, when someone kneels to pray
Then my friend, your day was well spent.
— Unknown author
"Give them an excellent job, at a fair price, without trying to make them feel inferior, "That can be pretty tricky if they already started in a way that by-passed the proper prep work and he has to undo what they did to make it a good job.More likely though, they did certain sections and left other sections so his work would be separate from theirs. They probably figured it as a summer family project and just realized summer is now over and the place needs the paint before winter. I've seen a lot of that, roofing too.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I'd treat them like someone from the neighborhood who's calling me to bail them out. I'd be very friendly and sympathetic but I'd be firm about the price.
I've seen this kind of thing, fairly often. Sometimes people have to learn their lessons the hard way and we have to let them do just that. It's good for us because they're more respectful of our skills and stamina, after they've tried it themselves.
Redford's advice was as good as you'll ever get here or anywhere. Every job is different, I know, so in addition to what he said, don't be shy about REDOING what's already been done. I didn't do that on one particular job and the WHOLE thing ended up being CA CA. In your case it may be the home owners prep of the walls etc. which we all know is the most critical part of the job. PREP.........
First, any old quote is a dead quote because time, job conditions and scope of work have all changed. Approach it as a new job, new quote.
Second - since the most time consuming and most important part of any paint job is the prep, they may have already ruined things as far as quality goes. I might have to strip back and they have now made it more expensive than it was when they first thought it was too expensive.
But just schedule a meeting on site to make a new estimate or bid, and make sure they, and you, are clear on the difference in terms.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Good responses. In posting the question I was wondering whether homeowners appreciate the work that goes into a professional job of any type. Not just cost but process.And, like a few have mentioned, what corrective steps are necessary to fix what they have done.Off to see the Deck guy this morning. I will give you an update later.
Jon"There is no good answer to a stupid question"
Russian saying
Call them back and treat them they way you would like to be treated.
Quick update:
I went to visit the deck dude. Here is how the front steps look.
Can these be fixed he says?
I do like the color though...
Jon
WARNING THIS IS A BIG FILE
Russian saying
What does he think "fixed" means? Replacing the deck boards that were ruined by a bad stain job, rusting nails and careless spills? No problem, just be sure to factor in removing & re-installing that vinyl siding, removing & re-installing that corner post and whatever else we can't see in the picture.
Otherwise, a good paint job is all that's called for.
That's exactly why I think I may pass on this one. I enjoy staining but going back to fix a problem I didn't create isn't something that interests me. Jon"There is no good answer to a stupid question"
Russian saying