Estimates……Comparing
Apples and Oranges?
This
is a very slippery slope indeed. I give my estimates based on my 33 years of experience and my craftsmanship.
I used only the top quality of paint and materials. Interior paint itself can
cost anywhere from $12.00 to $50.00 per gallon. Other materials vary in cost as well, cheap paint rollers
leave fuzz on the wall while inexpensive brushes leave streaky marks. I use only the highest quality materials
to insure the best results. Also included in the cost are primer, sandpaper, painter’s
tape, drop clothes, plastic, solvents, special tools needed for the job, and any other materials needed to do a
professional job. And of course, you need to cover other business costs, i.e. business licenses, advertisement, insurance.
And if needed, employee wages (I do not hire inexperienced painters)!
I’m
always on the job site. I do not start a job and then leave to start another job. All
jobs are given a start and completion date (weather pending). I do a thorough and complete walk through
with the client at the end of each job.
So, as you can see, it is very difficult to compare another painter’s estimate to
mine, I do not know what standards they are using for their estimate. Example: Are they using $12.00 paint
or $50.00 paint? Or, are they using left-over paint from prior jobs, mixing and tinting paints? THIS I DO
NOT DO!!!!
Perhaps the best way to find a good contractor
is to ask around. Successful word of mouth advertising starts with satisfied customers.
If you don’t
know anyone who has had recent work done, check with your local paint store (not a big home improvement store; most professional
painters prefer to work with local suppliers) Talk to the person behind the counter; describe your project and ask for recommendations.
A
contractor who consistently purchases high-quality paints is typically concerned for the long-term success of the project.
On-time payment of the
contractors store account generally means cash is flowing into the painting business- this means he has completed projects
and satisfied his customers.
Using the same store for many years means the business is a well-established one, likely to provide
good customer service and honor warranties.
F.Y.I.
All said
and done, the old saying is true, “You will get what you pay for”!
Yes,
many times I given an estimate, the client took a lower estimate and then called me within a year asking why is the paint
peeling? Now, I have to scrape, caulk and prime the old paint and start all over (this will cost more than
the original estimate)!
