Be present on your painting estimate

Be present on your painting estimate

Being present is much more than simply being there, you know you can be physically there but miles away in your mind.

When you call any company to come out and give you an estimate all the want is to be able to give you an accurate cost and possibly do the work for you. 

By not taking this seriously you are wasting their time but more importantly what happens if you actually give them the project to do and you never reviewed all the information with them? You're setting the project up for missed expectations and possible failure.

I cannot tell you how many times I go look at a huge painting project and get little to no information from the client. It makes it hard to give an actually detailed estimate, there are always many follow up questions that could have been avoided on-site and the work order the painters follow is one we made up with this little info given.

This can all be avoided

All of this can be avoided simply by putting your phone down and devoting the 15-30 minutes it takes to do YOUR estimate. Speaking about all the details and reviewing the project onsite.

Remember not every company does things the exact same way.

Here is a video I did on this exact topic

Can you go lower in price?

Can you lower your price?

"We received your proposal, we are still getting other estimates but yours is the highest so far, can you do any better on your price?" John A. Easton,Pa


Thank you for emailing, we can certainly discuss the price, I am glad you reached out but first, can we review the time and conversation we had while I was out there?
You mentioned when I was there that quality was the most important thing to you. has that since changed?

The reason I ask is now you are comparing our proposal to price alone. in my experience comparing price alone only works when you're comparing the same product or experience, we do not feel anyone can match our experience, communication and value at all. were top quality products still important? someone to be available to answer any questions you may have?
Do the other companies have someone answering the phone 24/7 or allow you to text or chat with them?

Are their painter's employees or subcontractors? Not knowing who will do your project until they scramble to find someone? These are all questions you should ask not to mention the insurance and workers compensation needed to protect your amazing house or business.

There are certainly more things. the un saids that are important such as training our painters, safety and knowledge and relationships in the painting industry that we bring.

If this has all changed please send us the other proposals and we will review and make sure we all match one another in promises, experience and being able to give you the project you hope for the price promised by others.

Ryan Amato 


This is a real conversation guys, one we get frequently and we always answer the same way, we're not a commodity, we are offering our experience and training over the years and the value our companies bring. don't let under cutters threaten you, they are just disrupting the market with sales pitches, getting things done in one day the lowest price etc.
there aren't many shortcuts that can be taken that will not effect your projects. there will always be a lowest price but at what expense.?

Planning ahead to make a great painting project

The fall is coming

The fall is coming, summer is ending, were closing the pools, kids are back in school and here comes the cold.

Another exterior painting season is winding down. the rush to paint your interior rooms before the family arrives for the holidays.

Being prepared can assure you of being able to select the correct painting company to do your work.  If you already have one you trust and use and they are any good most likely they have a backlog.

Scheduling can be tough when the holidays come around. Everyone wants to freshen up their homes. What could worse than seeing walls all scuffed up or dirt and dust all over the baseboards?

Plan your projects ahead

Planning ahead will take this worry ahead. A professional painting company can make this happen.

We all want a home to be proud of and a fresh coat of paint can make that happen.

Some things to keep in mind when you call a painting company.  Do they use their own employees or will a different crew show up to do your work?

Wouldn't it be great if the person you met also trained the painters that are coming over?

Call a good painting company

When you call a good quality painting company will have a backlog.  They most likely should not be available the next day.

A professional painting company should and will supply their own paint. You don't take your parts for your car to a mechanic, do you?

Planning ahead to get the best painting company.  Knowing what you want to be done and knowing what you expect to  is key to having a great project

Playing phone tag

No More Phone Tag

What's worse than being excited for getting work done around your home and deciding to call a contractor and they either call back days later or never at all?

I know that frustration first hand when I had a few things to do around my home and reached out to numerous contractors only to be never called back, called back weeks later or promised an estimate and never received one.

We face that same thing in our office although in a different way. We try to get right back to people the same day but when we return the call nowadays not many people actually answer their phone. So when we attempt to schedule an estimate it becomes a game of phone tag.

I needed this to stop so we just added an online scheduling system, you can schedule your estimates online without having to speak to anyone at http://www.ryanamatopainting.com/contact-painter.php

Simply select your estimator to see his availability and choose the day and time that best fits your needs. That's it the end of phone tag for us.

We want nothing more than to be able to come out right away and give you your estimate right away, the downside to this is we are ALWAYS the first one out and we sometimes get "I need to wait for the other estimates" When this happens we know the other estimates may or may not be coming and were waiting for weeks on our end sometimes for an answer as the schedule keeps on filling your available time to do your project keeps getting pushed back.

Keep that in mind when you receive these other estimates, what happens when the job starts and they weren't attentive when you asked for a price?

The Old Switcheroo

The Old Switcheroo

A common issue between estimator/contractor and their client and it is hard to defend against.

The estimator meets one person at the estimate and goes over what they expect, how the job will be done and when.

When the job begins that person disappears and the new irrational, difficult and angry person shows up. These are two different people, it could have been the husband meeting first and then the wife or vice versa.

The issue is both should be at the estimate to express what is expected because once the job starts it is a losing battle, they will be upset and disappointed and the contractor will want to hurry up and get out of there and away from them.

Homeowners if your getting estimates and one person is more concerned then the other they should be at the estimate. Otherwise, it is ripe for missed expectations and not a great relationship.

Here is a recent video regarding the old switcheroo

Share Your Budget and Don't Waste Time

I know how scary it may seem when someone asks you what your budget is for a project

Either you don't know, don't want to share or think its rude of the contractor to even ask but there are great reasons we ask this questions.

• To not waste the time of the homeowner or contractor. Knowing the range of the budget can save wasted time if there is no way the contractor can meet it or there may be room to add even more work to make your project even better.
• To make sure your expectations match your budget
• So your not disappointed hiring a contractor who only gives you a price you need but can't deliver what you expect.

One of the first questions we ask before we even come out is do you have a budget for this project and then while were onsite we will ask that same questions again.

We want to work for people who trust us and vice versa and sharing this important information starts the relationship process from the start. If you can't trust the person your hiring to do your work it may not be the right person.

Here is a video I just did explaining this process in depth.

What you can expect on your painting project

Expectations

Expectations are the number one reason for complaints, unhappiness and also at the same time satisfaction on any project, painting or other. 

A painting project involves much more than calling up, having an estimate and someone shows up to paint your home. many things go into preparing and knowing what to expect on your painting project.

From choosing colors, sheens, knowing the date the project will start and an estimated time of completion. We see missed or unknown expectations as the number one issue for any customer complaints and it is not always the customers or the painter's fault, there is a share of the blame.

Here are a few missed expectations:

1. Start of the project: This missed expectation may have never been told to the estimator if you have a deadline that needs to be met it needs to be expressed. With so many projects going on many things can affect that start date from, weather (even if your job is interior) Any rain will push back exterior jobs and also pushing back all the other projects behind it. Other jobs taking longer before yours, this is out of anyone's control and will push yours back.
2. Completion of the project: This is an unknown, there are so many variables that go into a project from paint and spackle drying, paint not covering, sickness, car trouble etc. Finish dates are variable.
3. Prep of the surface. One of the top issues, did you explain your expectations to the estimator and did they explain what will and not be done? An old wall will not look like a new wall, have the correct expectations and you will be much happier, nothing is perfect in life
4. The number of painters on the project. Unless we are talking about commercial painting the number of painters on one project does not necessarily mean a faster job, you can only put so many painters in one room, there is a process that needs to be followed. It amazes me each time a client will tell us we need more painters with no knowledge of the painting industry.

These are just a few of the expectations that may be missed.

Here are some tips to have a great project.

• Be home for your estimate
• Have everyone who will have any critique at the estimate
• Express all of your expectations to your estimator, it may be were not a good fit for each other or we cannot deliver what you may need
• Know that everything will not be perfect. Painting is an art and will have variables, old walls will not be new, wavy walls will not equal a clear straight cut line. 
• Spend the money on top of the line paint and materials 
• The lowest price may be the highest once a project is complete having to go back and fix it, change orders, additional work.

Expectations are so important on any project, think of it this way if you tell your mechanic to just go in and fix anything and they hand you a bill for a huge amount of money without speaking to you even though you said go ahead with anything, what type of argument and dissatisfaction will you have ?

Behind the scenes of a painting estimate

Have you ever wondered what is involved with a painting estimate?

There is more involved than just showing up at the door

Let's go over a typical estimate from start to finish.

We all get excited when the phone call comes in, the client may have searched online, got a referral or saw the painters on another job.

However they reached us we take it very seriously and pride ourselves on knowing someone will answer the phone, we return calls and emails in a timely fashion.

Someone will answer that call when it comes in and spends 10-15 minutes with you gathering information, name, address, and type of work you're looking to have done.

This is also a great time for us to ask even more questions and get a sense if we're a good fit for each other before the estimate is even scheduled, we will ask questions such as have you used a professional painter before, do you have other painting coming out to estimate this work and timeline to name a few.

Some people are taken aback by this but would you rather waste your time after someone comes out to estimate it just to find out we do not do that type of work, or the job is not our specialty or the time frames just don't match up?

After this phone call we will schedule this estimate and discuss the phone call within the office and prepare to come out, we will gather any literature needed for your project, add this to our schedules and create notifications on our end to make sure we are aware it is coming.

A few days before the estimate we will send out a few emails explaining how the estimate will go and tips on how to make the most of it, so we're already into about an hour spent on your potential estimate.

The morning of the estimate I will gather my notebook and materials and make sure I am either early or on time.

We will walk the project together, letting you explain exactly what you expect and want to make sure we can offer this. After walking through with you I will walk through again on my own measuring and planning. At this time I will know if I can offer a price on the spot or it may require more time in the office to write it up.

Let's say we needed more time, I will head back to the office, sit down and put all my measurements together into a spreadsheet, once we have all of this done I will have a firm number to send over but we have to enter all of this and write up the proposal so even more time is spent on the estimate, we are typically into 2.5 hours now spent on one estimate we may or may not win.

Now comes the tough part, we send the estimate over and typically you have four types of people, the ones who give you a yes or no right away, the ones who need time to "think" and the ones who hide and do not return calls or email.

As you can see to do just one estimate can take about three hours whether we win or lose it, now some may be less and some maybe longer. This is why it is very important the person deciding is home at the estimate to not waste any one's time

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?

💪👊

Your ready to paint your home now what?

You're ready to paint your home and now what?

Tips and pointers on how to get a great paint job and what to expect

You're sitting around your home and realize you haven't painted in ten years or you have a party or family gathering coming up soon and want to impress your friends so you decide it is time to paint but you have no time to do it yourself and it's so much easier hiring someone else to do it but you have never hired anyone before.

To some, this can be a scary proposition and once you start calling around it may get even more confusing sifting through the maze of qualified contractors. 

Here are some pointers.

• If you call someone and they do not get back to you in a timely manner pass on them if they are not responsive now what's to think that will change when the job starts or if something needs to be fixed?
• Look at their pictures and past work,  there should be similar projects they have done and most will have references. You should check references as everyone can have a fancy website filled with great pictures but are they real?
• Take the time to meet them in person and ask who will be doing the work, one trick of contractors is to sub contract your work to a totally different company and one who is much cheaper in price and may not be insured or have workman's compensation
• Ask what the process may be once you accept the project and when the project may be scheduled
• Will they help with color selections

Ok so you have called a few painters and most likely you called five maybe three called back and two will show up for the actual estimate, I had this same problem while looking for other contractors for my own home and on almost each estimate I go on they tell me of the other contractors who never call back or show up.

When the estimate day is here, make sure to be clear on what you want to be done and how you expect it to look when complete, this is the time to let out all those expectations to avoid issues once the project starts.

We will typically give a price on the spot or sometimes email the proposal, it is a great idea once you receive it to review it with the estimator to make sure it has everything you want in it or to make adjustments at this time.

Remember your not looking for the lowest price as the only option, you want to pick a known commodity and one that can deliver your expectations within your budget, that most likely is not the lowest and sometimes may not be the highest price either, I always choose the contractors I am comfortable with when meeting them, there is a reason the successful contractors are busy and in business, they can deliver the jobs as requested and if something should happen they take care of it right away, that lowest price may not be around in a few months to honor that warranty.

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. 

You don't always need three estimates

You don’t always need three estimates:

It seems somewhere everyone came up with the great idea of getting three estimates for every project around their home from painting to electrical to plumbing.

Yes in some instances this can be a good idea especially if you don’t know any of the contractors who are coming, hopefully, you did your homework before you go that point and checked references, past work through pictures their social media pages or word of mouth.

But if you're like me I feel I am a great judge of character and if the first estimate turns out to be a great one and we connect that is good enough for me, I would prefer to not waste my time waiting around for a contractor who may not show up, is late or shows up and never sends me the estimate.

In my case  I checked out all the reviews and maybe emailed a few references but why continue the song and dance act of each estimate when I feel totally comfortable with the first?

If the issue is price alone you can get 10 estimates someone will always be cheaper but if yours looking for quality work and quality people doing it and they show up in your first or second estimate stop the show now and get them signed up to do your work because I can guarantee if they are great at what they do their schedule is most likely booked.

There will be exceptions to each rule and some people feel more comfortable gathering all of the estimates, it is tough when your doing this to make sure everyone is bidding the same way on residential work (apples to apples)

You will have to make sure they are all using the same materials, they are fully insured with liability insurance AND workman's compensation and are licensed in your area.

So if you have time to do three four five estimates, by all means, go for it, I personally do not and do not want to waste my time or the contractors and more importantly want my work started as soon as possible. 

10 Things you should be doing

Things you “should” be doing

Every day I am amazed at the things people should be doing but just don’t.

Does it come from how they were brought up or simply they are not fit to be around other people?

I see it doing interviews at Amato Painting, pre-qualifying potential employees, estimates, at the store

Here are my top ten pet peeves

1)      Not holding the door for someone when leaving or entering a store, this is common courtesy, hold the door even if yu have to wait

2)      Not moving to the left lane when cars are merging from a ramp on the right.

3)      Bringing your cell phone into an interview and answering it?  Now this is an automatic disqualifier for us

4)      Wearing sunglasses through your whole interview

5)      Not saying thank you in any instance

6)      Not looking me in the eye when I speak to you, are you hiding something?

7)      Scheduling an estimate, confirming it and then not being home

8)      Confirming an interview and not showing up and then begging for another one

9)      Not treating others in a respectful manner or as you would like to be treated

10)   Knowing the rules but expecting to be treated differently

These are just a few of the things I come across each day and things we look for in our job interviews, my job interviews are generally very quick and short as I am looking for character more so than your experience, degree etc.

Check your Social Media pages too, if you're applying for job interviews and your profile pic is you at a party drinking and other things with profanities and slang throughout your profile. Where is the first place you think employers look?

I am not saying I am the perfect person and sometimes break my own rules but work

hard each day to become a better person and offer something to the community

What makes for a great painting estimate

I go on about 10 estimates a week in person and not counting the others we do from blueprints in the office so I have seen it all from potential clients who could care less what I have to say other than the price to ones who I can talk to forever.

Somedays the bad ones make it a very long day but the others who turn out to be great make up for the bad generally

So what makes a great estimate on my end?
Communication is the big one here for me, if a potential client does not open up about their project or we do not connect in some way while I am there it makes for a very difficult estimate, I never find out their key needs nor did they share them with me which makes it a complete guess once we start the job and is ripe for problems and expectations not met.

Be on site, I know that sounds simple but the person making the decision should be on site, you have to connect or feel comfortable with who you hire and not make your decisions solely off of the price. We ask a lot of questions before we show up on an estimate and if the decision is based solely on price for a residential project we will refer these jobs out.

We are entering into a relationship once an estimate is given and you select us to do your work, we will be interacting over the course of your project and we like to work for great people and are selective in who we work for just as much as you are when selecting your contractor.

Know what you want and express it at the estimate, not after the job starts. At that point you should let the painters do what they are trained and experienced to do, paint. Nothing is worse than a homeowner looking over their shoulders or pulling gout a light to shine on the wall which is a big no-no. Know what you want, express it to the estimator and let them deliver it.

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.

Acoustic Ceiling Painting

Can Acoustical Ceilings be Restored?

With proper preparation and a highly skilled and trained team of professionals, your faded, discolored and water-stained acoustical ceiling tiles can be bought back to life leaving your facility with beautiful, brand new looking tiles in half the time and half the cost of completely replacing the tiles themselves. 

With the preparation and application of a specialty coating, your existing acoustical ceiling can be completely resurfaced and coated to not only improve appearance, but also enhance acoustic function, create better light reflectance and provide greater tile life expectancy. Acoustic Ceiling restoration services also contribute to earning LEED Green Building Credits as these specialty coatings are Low Voc and avoid waste disposal by utilizing existing materials.

The entire ceiling system in place including grids, air diffusers, vents, speaker plates, etc. can be entirely resurfaced and finished in a variety of colors to match your current color scheme perfectly. The tiles themselves are restored and left in a bright, clean white finish that is sure to add the wow factor to your facility. The tile coating system is resist to dirt, dust and the yellowing that is often caused by UV light exposure which not only helps to keep your ceiling looking clean and new, but also improves the acoustical function and performance overall.

As the premier Commercial and Residential painting company in the Lehigh Valley, we are thrilled to provide Acoustical Ceiling Restoration services to our clients. Not only does this service provide our clients with the high quality craftsmanship their facility deserves, but as an eco-friendly service, acoustical ceiling restoration contributes to our commitment of going green and practicing sustainability in the Lehigh Valley. 

What to expect on your painting estimate

Getting a painting estimate can be challenging in many ways from who do you call to how much it will cost. There are many unknowns which can make for a stressful time and one that sometimes makes you make unwise choices from choosing the wrong contractor to more importantly not selecting the right one.

When you call to get an estimate first did someone answer the phone who was polite and could answer most of your questions? Did they ask what your time frame was? Nothing is more frustrating then having contractors come out who can never meet your deadlines which simply wastes your time and the contractors. A simple question on their end can eliminate this.

After an appointment was set that is good for both parties did the contractor show up on time or at all?  This is my first red flag when looking for a contractor, if they are late to the consultation what makes you think they will be on time when your project is going on. If were late and I can count on one hand he amount of times I have been late we always call.

Did they arrive wearing a company shirt and dressed well? This again is important, if they show up in a dirty vehicle and dressed horribly it is a reflection on how they treat their own property. How do you think they will treat yours?

Were they writing things down or simply looking around and going to guess at your price? No matter how many years someone has in the trade writing things down is a necessity if only to be able to have notes for the painters who arrive on your project.

Once they arrive you should tell them immediately what your project consists of and walk through each area and be very detailed . This is your one shot at explaining clearly and being able to get a clear and accurate price. I will say it again failure to know expectations is the number one way a project will go wrong. We make sure this doesn't happen often by writing everything down, repeating what is told to us and giving the painters a clear scope and copy of what we wrote. This eliminates 95% of issues on job sites.

Once you get your estimate whether that is on the spot or emailed you should look it over and make sure the scope of work matches what you explained at the estimate and follow this with a phone call with the estimator. Following these simple rules can save a ton of wasted time and effort and make a decision an easier one.