First off, the picture on the top THAT IS A HOME OWNERS PAINT JOB. If you here a school kid or your neighbor, this is what you get. I was a painting contractor for the better part of 40 years and never saw a PAINTER (even the worst painter) leave a mess like that. Maybe the electrician or the carpenter but, that is not something a painter could even do if they tried.
house Painter
This article with comments was terrific - it was so informative. I found the advice useful. It addressed specifics like the condition of the dry wall surfaces, any additional repairs such. pin holes, chalking, smoothing of wall surfaces, absorption of paint and number of coats that may be needed. It should also include insurance coverage, and reflect the clean-up afterwards. Having a written contract with the company's letterhead is a must.
John Harkey Jr. the owner was called home after college to take over his fathers Paint Business, shortly after John ramped up the business from just paint and handyman to full-service remodeling and commercial development. For 17 years he has remodeled hundreds of homes, built multifamily residences as a general contractor and project manager for multiple developers, and for the last 10 years, in addition, he has been an active real estate agent and home developer for himself. John just understands all aspects of real estate.
exterior Painting
As a Real Estate professional, I need honest and dependable people I can refer my clients to. Jose has helped numerous of my new homeowners and has done an amazing job taking care of them. The feedback I've had from my clients have always been positive. Most if not all have said Jose was very professional, listened to what they wanted and most importantly his prices were great. I will continue referring clients to Jose with House to Home painting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6_WEt9k_Hw&hc_location=ufi
Lap marks are those ugly stripes caused by uneven layers of paint buildup. They occur when you roll over paint that’s already partly dry. (In warm, dry conditions, latex paint can begin to stiffen in less than a minute!) The key to avoiding lap marks when doing DIY wall painting is to maintain a “wet edge,” so each stroke of your roller overlaps the previous stroke before the paint can begin to dry.
Some proposals simply say to paint the walls and ceiling and never specify the number of coats to be applied. If the colors are similar enough, it's possible to get away with one coat of paint and not discount your pricing. No matter how hard you try, tiny, pin-sized air holes will pop exposing the original walls. This may not bother you if you can't notice it, but principally speaking you should have paid your painter less for the work.
Refresh the interior of your home: If you’re feeling like the interior of your house could use a change, try painting a few of the rooms a new color. Over time, paint can start to wear and become faded. Brighten up the rooms in your home by painting them a new color, or even just doing a new coat of the same color. You’ll be amazed at how refreshed the space looks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=b6_WEt9k_Hw
I turn away any job when the client refuses to pay anything up front. It sends a red flag. I also charge a scheduling fee which is non-refundable. I get 33 percent when I show up and begin work. Another percentage halfway through, and the balance upon completion after client is satisfied. There needs to be skin in the game for both parties as a measure of good faith. If you are dealing with a reputable company (did your due diligence, right?) why wouldn't you want to pay something as work progresses? We do this not only because we love to paint but we require cash flow to stay in business. There is not always 'money in the bank' as you suggest. It's tough these days. The suggestion buy 'Kim' 'Never pay a contractor a deposit' is nonsensical.
Picking exterior house paint colors is a lot different than picking a color for a shirt or a car. It may help to drive around to observe colors that other homeowners have combined on homes that are of similar size and design as yours. There are also online resources that provide homeowners with the ability to create virtual makeovers of their home by combining colors together through their software programs as well.
Increase sale value: If you’re considering selling your house in the near future, a new coat of paint has the potential to increase the value of your home. Not only will a fresh paint job make your place look updated and clean, but it will also cover up any scratches, chips or other flaws that may be on your walls. You’ll be able to get more money for a house that has already had minor renovations like this completed.
To win work, contractors generally have to bid against other suppliers. To make an accurate bid, they estimate the time and materials required to complete the job. They measure the area to be painted and discuss the type of finish the customer requires. They assess the quality of the surfaces to work out how much remedial work they must carry out before painting. They might have to remove old paint or wall coverings, or repair cracks and other damage. They also calculate the cost of any essential equipment, such as scaffolding for exterior walls.
I managed commercial construction projects for many years, have built and remodeled several properties, and never once have I encountered any of these scams. The tone of this article is deeply troubling. The author seems to be saying that ALL painting contractors are inherently dishonest, and that has not been my experience. The underlying advice here is sound: get it all in writing and cover as many contingencies as possible--so pointing out potential pitfalls like coat coverage is helpful. But do that in the spirit of clear communication of expectations, not with the expectation that the person you are hiring will try to cheat you at every turn. Not every contractor takes outrageous advantage of change orders; not every contractor will sneak past necessary preparation and/or repairs. Contractors of all sorts get a bad rap as it is; reinforcing a stereotype with articles written from this point of view just seems unproductive.
