How long will the painting take?

How long will my painting project take?

This is the age-old question we get from the estimate when the project starts an during and one that can generally be answered but needs some flexibility as job conditions change frequently.

While on an estimate your estimator is measuring, looking at surfaces, the amount of furniture in the way, what types of paint that may be used, how many coats and historical production numbers from past similar jobs. They will use all of these things to determine how long a job may take to charge accordingly but remember this is an educated guess.

Once a project starts there are some unknowns, such as how well will the paint dry, cover or if they will run into any issues with the surface. Drying conditions change due to humidity and temperature and can severely slow the job process down or speed it up.

Sometimes your painter may have a family issue and have to miss a day, or a car may break down, these everyday normal occurrences happen and should be considered with the timeline, we always suggest leaving some room before and after the tentative dates we give.

If you have a specific deadline on a project this should be told to your estimator and lead painter AND marked within your proposal and contract so everyone is aware, there is nothing worse then disappointing someone who didn't let you know there even was a deadline.

If all of these things are in order you can count on a successful painting project, with little stress and a completion day you can be thrilled with.

Who is the most awesome Person this week?

Who was awesome?

We love to let people know when they have done something awesome.

This person I heard about long before I went out to do the estimate, the office told me I would love the estimate. "She has watched all your videos" and is excited to meet you.

When I arrived I could see right away Paula would be fun to work with, she had a great personality, was looking for someone to work with her on the project and was very interested in my ideas.

It is great to go on any project and form a relationship with the clients, they respect your opinion and work so that is a bonus.

When I left I knew she would push hard to have us as her contractor and as I expected we were awarded the project a few days later.

That is where my part ends but when the job leader came back from his meeting all he could say is Paula is great!

Once the job started the painters all said the same thing, she was very accommodating, fun to be around and enjoyed the whole process.

So for that we love Paula, I wish everyone could "be like Paula" the world would be a better place

Why it is impossible to compare estimates.

Why it is almost impossible to compare estimates.

Comparing estimates seems to be the thing to do, we all do it, get three estimates put them side by side and look at the pricing but when I tell you how impossible that is you may think and look at it another way.

The three estimates you received, if you took those three contractors and had them in the same room at the same time they still would come back with totally different ways to do the job, maybe using different materials, different applications. different workforces and for sure different overhead. 

The most important difference and one we aim for is a totally different experience. You all have called around to contractors, how many call you back? or take forever to call back or never do?

How many keep you updated on the process, help choose colors, train their staff and have a ton of resources behind them to help make sure your job goes well even when something goes wrong?

If they do show up for the estimate how long does it take to get the estimate back to you? For us it is the same day or next.

Do they have one person dedicated to making sure your project goes well and your totally satisfied? We do.

I am asking you to forget the norm and throw away price shopping for a second.

Yes, the price is important for everyone but if it costs a bit more for the satisfaction of knowing you have no worries or responsibilities and can be assured no matter what you will be happy isn't that worth it?

If you had an issue with someone calling you back or showing up on time for your estimate what happens once the painting project starts?

You will always find someone cheaper but at what expense to your home or project?

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The HGTV customer

The HGTV customer

How tv has made estimates and work difficult.

Everyone seems to watch all the how to and fix it shows flip this flip that.  They portray these easy and quick rehabs and renovations that make it seem like it can be done in a day with no disruption to your home.

What they fail to show is the difficulties throughout the projects, the mistakes, the long days.

What these idealistic shows have done is make a real renovation or repainting project difficult by giving homeowners a false sense of knowledge on their end and expectations that can not possibly be met with a normal budget.

We go through this all the time on estimates, with the homeowner that wants consultation work for free on the 15 different ideas they have from trim to specialty finishes they would never be able to afford under normal circumstances to how long a project will take or how it should be done.

Here is a video I just produced this weekend that can explain this a bit more.

When you realize these are ideal situations, produced and overly managed under budgets that the normal person cannot afford you will understand it is a show, yes some great ideas but I watch shows about $150,000 cars too, it doesn't mean I am going out to buy one.

When you need a real, truthful consultation give me a call I Would be glad to come out and take a look.

www.ryanamatopainting .com

How to not lose money on commercial painting jobs

How to not lose money on commercial painting jobs

We were recently the featured guests on PaintED a PDCA Podcast. Painting Contractors and Decorators of America was founded in 1884 with the purpose to help painting contractors succeed.

The one area for us they are worth any penny is the Industry Standards they developed.

The Industry standards take the guess work out of any situation and application and level the playing field against those contractors that demand and insist on wrong applications and additional work that is not yours to own.

These situations arise on each job whether touch ups to damage done by others, when they tell you once you paint the wall you own it, that is not the case at all, or how about caulking, they would have you caulk every inch of the building would there not be standards.

Sequencing of jobs is another very important topic, was the flooring done before you painted? If it was how much did that slow you down, was that listed in the schedule? Probably not

This list could go on and on, here a few key ones

• Caulking
• You paint it you own it (WRONG!!)
• Touching up spackle work after you primed the walls
• Additional coats because walls were not prepared correctly
• Overtime due to sequencing of jobs

You know you have all lost money on the items above, it depends greatly on who is managing the job, the quality of the other subs and your own man power.

Not all contractors are bad at all, in fact, we have been lucky enough to work with some great ones and I can count on one hand the bad ones but they do leave a lasting impression.

Take a listen to the podcast and listen close, it could save you some grief and money in the future. 

Quality, timing or price?

Quality timing or cost?

Each job or estimate we do these three things are most important and we need to know which are important to you on your project.

It is virtually impossible to be able to get all three for many reasons I will go through in the video attached. But basically

Top Quality=Cost

Timing, we need it done right away costs money to mobilize and make this happen

Price means you want the lowest price, this will affect quality most certainly

For example, we just did an estimate for a customer who was selling their home, low price was not their issue but the timing was so they needed it done right away and with average quality so the price would be higher than your normal project.

We had another which was a rental unit, they need the lowest price but dome right away, so quality may not be the highest and in this instance didn't matter much, they needed it done so they could rent it out quick.

So knowing this going in will certainly help avoid frustrations, take a look at this video blog I just did and listen closely.

Remember you cannot have the lowest price, top quality and done right away, pick and chose your most important

I have a secret for you about painting companies

I have a secret I would like to reveal, most painting companies offer the same thing.
Well, why is that a secret you may ask?  When you're getting an estimate listen carefully I will bet each one says the same exact thing.

They will put two coats on the wall using this or that paint, cover the floors and it will be a super awesome paint job, they are the best company to do this job, hire me

This means nothing at all, yes we have good painters, but so does company b and c what will totally blow those other companies out of the water is SERVICE and VALUE

It is no secret the other company may have good painters on par with ours but what really sets our painters apart and the company is the service. We may even not be the cheapest and in some cases, it may be the highest price you receive but even at that, we are booked for months and in demand so it must be something other than price.

Here is the other secret, We go above and beyond in what we offer, the first thing you will notice right from the start is someone answers the phone and promptly returns a call.  We don;t take on each and every estimate that comes through and Brooke or Tanya may ask a slew of questions to make sure were a great fit for each other. Once we get that set we schedule an estimate and 99% of the time we are early and guess what if were running late we call.

We promptly get the proposal over if we do not do it on the spot and then we set a time up to go over the estimate together. Now although we will not reduce the price just because someone asks there may be other ways to get the project into your budgeted range, one is by the value we offer, maybe the guys will do something extra for you, we offer an experience when you hire us not just a few painters painting your wall, should you need help with color or moving something please ask, the guys would be more than happy to help. So you need help bringing in the groceries? No problem where do you want them. We go above and beyond on service.

If something is messed up, yes we all make mistakes we will promptly take care of them and it will be better than before.

This makes your proposal more than simply a paint job, you will be gaining our experience and knowledge as well as a company striving for ultimate customer satisfaction and service.

Asking for a discount

One thing that always drives me a bit crazy is the discount shopper.
Now everyone wants the best deal I understand that I am referring to the one that we spend a ton of time with, discuss the entire project and take the time to present a proposal and then.....

Can you do any better?

This drives me nuts, do you go have a nice dinner and at the end ask if you can pay less?
I equate this to someone not respecting what it takes to complete a job on time and correct, the way they asked for it to be done.

Here is a short video that goes into more detail .

Number one reason for a paint job you don't like

Expectations are the number one issue a job can go wrong.
If the painting estimator, foreman and painter do not know your expectations for the project rest assured you're gambling with your satisfaction of your home or business.

If the painter is doing the job his or her way but you have a completely different idea in your head it is ripe for disaster
This is one reason we will not do estimates without meeting the decision maker and interviewing them about their project, what they expect and want so they are 100% satisfied at completion.

The number one missed expectation is general patching. What gets patched on a job before painting, how smooth will the walls be? This is all up for debate.
Check out this video I made regarding general patching of your painting project, it can help save some bad feeling sand money.

How We Hire Painters

How we hire painters is a bit different than probably
 most other companies in the fact we hire on character and not experience.

I would rather hire a great person and train them than hire someone of bad character who brings baggage in with them at the same time. This only will drag down the other workers and create a culture no one would ant to be in and one that cannot thrive.

Some of my best hires have been interviews that are rally quick chats to see if they look me in the eye when speaking, come early and are dressed properly for an interview.

We look for people who can uphold our mission statement and continue the quality work we strive for each day while working within a team and having goals of their own, not just using the job as a way to earn money or th painters that hop from one company to the next.

We have gone through many of these types and feel this year we have the best team we have ever put together, all striving to do what is right for the company and for the customer while maintaining a positive outlook each day.

General Patching and Why

What is general patching and why is that what I am getting?

1      After years in the painting business with Amato Painting on residential projects, the number one issue or complaint and confusion is the appearance of the walls as far as prep.

Sometimes the client is expecting a perfectly smooth new wall on a wall that is plaster or gypsum board and has been painted ten times over with runs, sags, drips and different levels in it.

To get it back to the perfectly smooth level is not impossible but not part of a typical repaint job for any painting contractor unless otherwise specified during a walkthrough and in your scope of work (contract)

So after all of these years, we do a general patching on all of our surfaces, it is the best way to offer an affordable paint job and give an acceptable prep to your walls for 95% of customers.

It is also a PDCA (Painters and decorators contractors of America standard) 4.8

4.8. PROPERLY PAINTED SURFACE: A properly painted

surface is uniform in appearance, color, texture,

hiding and sheen. It is also free of foreign material,

lumps, skins, runs, sags, holidays, misses, or

insufficient coverage. It is a surface free of drips,

splatters, spills or overspray which were caused by

the painting and decorating contractor’s workforce.

In order to determine whether a surface has been

“properly painted” it shall be examined without

magnification at a distance of thirty-nine (39) inches

or one (1) meter or more, under finished lighting

conditions and from a normal viewing position.

[PDCA Standard P1]

These are the standards we go by every day, without a standard for the painting company it would be up to the client and painter to decide what is acceptable.

General patching of walls which consists of minor dings and dents, then walls will be sanded and any spackle spots primed

General patching will not fix rough surfaces from existing paint and or coatings unless specified in the scope of work

General patching will not correct existing flaws such as old plaster, hairline cracks in plaster or GWB walls, old paint texture, bulges and uneven surfaces

New patches may show through as smoother than surrounding areas

What does this mean to you? If you stay up at night looking at the wall under a flashlight or halogen light that is not a good thing, any surface if you magnify it will show imperfections from the floor, your face, and especially the wall. You cannot expect on a simple repaint to address every little imperfection on a wall or ceiling.

What I worse is when walking through an estimate and you agree to this but when the job starts having expectations that will never be met and the customer and painters will be miserable until the job is complete.

So know your expectations before the estimate, express them to the estimator and you will have a successful happy project

Snow day but not really

A snow day when I was a kid was a day to have fun with friends and not have to go to school and for some adults, this is the same just subtract school and add work in.
But when running a business is there really a day off?
Since I am writing this blog that answer is no.

A day off, while everyone is off, is the perfect day to catch my breath and evaluate things that are moving so fast on a normal day. When no one is in, customers have no demands time moves slow and I can check in on almost every process in our company and trust me there are a ton of them

We are always striving to make each process better for us and our clients, on a typical day they are all work in progress, continually updating, changing and updating.

Wehn things slow down, I can track the success of them, remove some and add others.
I bet the most changes I make come on Sundays and holidays while everyone else if off and it is most likely the least favorite of my employees when they return to work the next day as 100% there will be changes and evaluations

It may be a painting company however, we are really filling the roles of many different trades such as color consultants, psychologists for our customers and employees, human resources, delivery drivers, carpenters, cleaners and much more. Not too mention the sales aspect and accounting.  It seems as if I am pulled in so many different directions.

This is why I am steadfast on my time, I strictly enforce my available time and delegate many tasks to the appropriate person not working on the day to day tasks but managing and training the employees to make their own decisions as I would.

So a snow day to most is fun and relaxing a snow day for me actually means extra work , the normal days are less work as my team is back in.

Tips for your painting estimate

Tips to make your painting estimate successful

Getting an estimate for any kind of work can sometimes be frustrating and stressful but for our painting estimates we make the process as easy as possible on our end. However the customer still has a few things they need to do.

The most important thing for the homeowner or owner of the property to do is BE HOME.
Meeting the person who will be doing your estimate and possibly the work is so important for many reasons yet every now and then someone else is waiting to meet me who knows very little about the project and most certainly cannot express the expectations of the customer to me.
Without knowing the expectations of the customer the job is ripe for failure.

The second reason to be home is simply you should meet the person doing the work otherwise it is strictly a price issue and we would not be the best fit for that type of work. Anyone can come in with the lowest price on a project, trying to make that a successful one is the challenge when you start to discount and undervalue your work.

We make a policy to not do estimates unless the decision maker is on site and can fully express the final expectations of the work to us. With our company it is more then painting, most companies and estimates you will get will say the same things, how they will apply the paint , number of coats, insured workers but with us you get an experience from start to finish. Someone who will listen to your concerns, answer emails and a very attentive staff.