Do you go to a client’s house with your head full of ideas about the way things should be done? I know some painting contractors do it that way, because I have gone to a client’s home and had the client tell me that the contractor told them such and such.
When I go to a client’s home the first time to get the scope of the job they want, I go to measure. I want to measure the job: walls, ceilings, count doors, windows etc.
The idea that I have is to go to the Measure Call with a blank mind. I don’t want to push my ideas on the client. I want the client to talk. I ask questions and try to get as much info as I can. I try not to answer any questions on the Measure Call. Oh I am not rude when a client asks a direct question, I usually say that I will answer that when I give them the proposal, or I might give a generic answer.
What this approach does is two-fold. Number one, it allows me to measure and not lose track of my purpose. Now even though I keep this in mind, the occasional client will get me to step up on my soap box and I go on and on, wasting time and being an unpaid consultant. Usually the info given at this stage will be used against you and provided free of charge to the next painter in the door. And secondly, the client probably won’t remember, which painter gave them that advice, when the time to make the buying decision comes up. So even though I still sometimes get side tracked, it is easier and easier to remind myself what my purpose is. My purpose is not to be an unpaid consultant.
So what do I ask? Of course I ask about the job, but I also want to know how many estimates the client is going to get (if they tell me they are getting 5 or more estimates I usually will walk away, after politely telling them that I am not interested) usually to me that many estimates mean the client is just beating the price down. I had a client tell me that they were getting 8 estimates. I asked if they were providing a specification as to the description of the job. My idea was that everyone would be bidding the same specifications. But no they told me that they would follow whatever the painters said. Wow, so if they got some stumblebum painter to give them this low price and that painter convinced them that his way was right, then that was who they would go with.
I also want to know when they will do the job. I ask them if they have a budget for this job. Have they ever used a contractor before? Is there a time or date that they need to finish by? Are they painting to sell or rent, and just what is their motivation to paint. Basically I want to know a whole lot of stuff. Sometimes I may tell them that this is not a good match for us and them and politely turn down the estimate. You have to be careful and not blow off a good job, but sometimes it is just not a good match. I would rather not spend 2 hours estimating a job that I don’t want. I don’t provide an estimate just because they ask for one. My estimates are free to the client, but not free to me.
Most importantly, I leave with more information on the measure call than I give to them. That information is only for the time that I return and sit down at the kitchen table to go over the estimate and either I get the job or I don’t. I would also rather have them say “no” instead of “I’ll think about it”. That is the subject for another article.
By: P E Cavanaugh
Posts Tagged ‘Job’
Painting Business – How to Know What to Put in Your Painting Estimate
April 28th, 2010Exterior House Painting Can Be Hard Work
April 18th, 2010
When it comes to painting the exterior of a house, many people are not up to the task and do not possess the appropriate skill and experience to accomplish the job in a satisfactory manner. It takes hard work and dedication to finish the project in a timely fashion leaving a good finished product. It may even be a good idea to hire a professional to accomplish this task for you so that you an rest easy that your house is in good, capable hands.
The first thing one should remember when taking on an exterior house painting job is that it is tough work. One’s hand and wrist may begin to cramp and the work itself can be exhausting and seem never-ending. A tiring effort may not be enough in the end to leave a job well-done. In fact, it can be frustrating for the amateur homeowner trying to paint their house all by themselves. Do-overs and redoes can be frustrating and cause a great deal of stress to the homeowner as they try their best and fail. This is why hiring a professional when tackling an exterior house painting project is a good idea.
Not only can the homeowner rest easy knowing that their home is in capable and skilled hands, but they should be happy that they do not have to deal with the complicated task themselves. Exterior house painting can be a huge headache for anybody trying to take on the project themselves. Finding a trustworthy individual to perform the project for you should not be thought of as a copout, but as a wise decision that benefits your home.
By: Vickie Faria
Painting – Tips to Make it More Enjoyable
March 18th, 2010
I don’t like to paint. But I don’t hate it as much as I used to. It can actually be quite relaxing and a nice change of pace. And there is the satisfaction of a job well done at the end. Nothing nicer than the look of a freshly painted wall.
I’ve learned a few things about painting that has helped me learn to enjoy painting a bit more. The frustration in the past was often to doing things wrong and having less than satisfactory results. Here are some ideas that have helped me and maybe you will find helpful as well.
One, if you are repainting a wall it is best to clean it first. My thought in the past was to just paint over anything. But you may even find that once you clean the wall you don’t need to paint it just yet. Paints are better than they used to be and clean up better. When you clean the wall however be careful not to use too strong of a cleaning solution. A little ammonia in a bucket of water applied with a sponge is a good way to go. Try it first a small section of the wall where no one can see. If it doesn’t leave spots or take off some of the color, you are good to go.
Two, buy good paint brushes. Yes, I like to save money and buy the cheapest thing I can find and sometimes that works. But usually not with paintbrushes. The paint will go on better and easier. I’ve found that it takes much less time to paint with a good brush than with a cheap one. Which brings me to the next related point.
Third, get good quality paint. There are many varies of paint today and many price levels to choose from. And the cost of a more expensive paint can add up if you have to buy several gallons. But it is still better in my experience to go ahead and pay the extra for good paint. With a cheap paint you may have to do a second or even third coat so you wind up spending as much anyway with the extra paint used, not counting the extra work involved in applying the extra coats.
Fourth, get some drop cloths. Even with the best paints and brushes, paint will splatter some. And hopefully this won’t happen to you, but a whole can of paint can get knocked over. Imagine the mess of trying to get that off your carpet or even hardwood floor. Be your own judge as to whether or not you want to take around areas you don’t want to get paint on. A professional painter once laughed at me for doing that. He didn’t. He said if you were a good painter you wouldn’t need it. If you do have a quality brush and paint, and a steady hand, you likely can get by without the extra work of having to tape everything down. Just have a wet rag close by to wipe off any mistakes.
By: W. Green
