Charged $2.75 Per Sq. Ft 3,000 Sq. Ft Interior Repaint

Schmidt & Co

Well said renet. There is just no way to tell someone starting out, how to price a job by asking a question on the internet. There are just to many variables. EVERYONE has different costs & different goals for profit.....

welovepainting

Ya well said

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premierpainter

Not to pat yourself on the back- but that is the worst way to run a business. If the owner said, "I'm not paying you that", you don't have a leg to stand on. Get everything written down on signed contracts! You were lucky there, but some day you might get burned.

WisePainter

They got real lucky!!!!!!!!!


I for one do not rely on luck.

Pure skill baby...

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Terrorron

...all I can say is wow.

Guess that's why I gave up painting full time
Do ya think?
I could scan and post paid invoices from 1994-95, billed at $2.80 (Ca.) for basic trim, doors and walls in high end new houses...everything else extra...

Painted ceilings, color changes (after three), crown/headers/plinth, railings ($38/lf; two-tone, $18/lf; stain grade), step and cove, painted borders, built-ins, free-form art work (multi-color/"fleckstone"), faux, bizarre "art", shot in multiple layers of latex "spaghetti" with a conventional at 100 psi tank pressure (no diffusion air) and "knocked down", blah, blah blah...

The base specs were very demanding...all interior wood shot in PX/high gloss pre-cat ("hood of a Ferrarri finish"), all wood windows/casings shot with enamel undercoater (white) and clear polyurethane. Walls; three coat system with "Para Ultra" or P&L's "Accolade" (customer's choice) as the top coat. Some of these "shacks" billed out well in excess of 40K for 3000-4000 sf.
...This was in Calgary, Alberta; it's all "Oil Money" there...

Nowadays, I just paint my own jobs...


Indeed it does...
You speak with great wisdom...those who are trying to pooh-pooh on the tail end of your posting were not there at the initial "handshake" meeting; there's no way for someone to accurately assess your own perception of the customer's integrity...

...this, is experience.

Your statement I've bolded above is (IMO) the most pertinent line in your post..."BUILD LIFE LONG CLIENTS"; the rest are (as you say), a pile of intangibles.
Believe it or not, the longer you do this, the better you get at figuring out who you're dealing with...at 44 years old, I don't sign many contracts (I do offer an "anticipated budget" however).
If I don't like the client as a person, I add 40% to the bid. If they accept it...
...then I sign a contract...

Ten colors and a butt-load of built-in's runs a lot higher than $6.00/ft. in my world...this referring to the $16+K/3K ft of which you spoke.
I second (or third? fourth? fifth?...whatever we're up to now)...that.
Back then, I did plenty of repaints as well (just to keep my guys busy) and a basic "splash and dash" (patch, spot prime, 1 wet coat) was at least $2.50 (inc. ceilings) if the house was occupied.

And yes, one of those "Uber" houses was (on average) a six-ten week (stop and go) project from raw primer to final "hitlist"...and it was a PITA...and I still had a hard time making real good money; even then, even at those prices. High prices breed high expectations...and the wheel keeps turning.
Live and learn...as others have said, you're not going to find these answers here on the internet...they're all "out there" and they're different for every single one of us...

Ask me why "this is peeling" or why "that's falling apart"...these are questions with potential answers...

Cheers, Ron

Terrorron

You posted while I was writing my reply (and doing a print take, and dealing with two other customers on the phone)

...pure skill indeed!

Cheers, Ron

orange Garrison

you probably shoud charge more .I always charge twice rentals and double wages when over 10 feet, period!it's a risk and if somebody falls it will cost you so charge more and get good insurance.you should make between 25 and 75 cents per square if you are not on site if you are then 1.00 to 1.80/ sq if it is only you then 2.50 to 9.00 ,it could take some time!have fun and let me know how it goes!

orange Garrison

this of coarse is your take not materials!!

WisePainter

You got mad skills indeed!!!

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donb1959

5K net profit on a $8500 job is outstanding

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renet

Terrorron,

You are correct. I second that opinion - customer perception. Same thought as yours: if I don't like the customer the price goes up and I require down payment.

I know contractors who have not been paid for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of work - all with signed contracts. One of our best most rewarding projects over $200K was on a handshake. Paid by the developer in weekly installments over 5 months.

The small project I just finished - the customer asked if he owned me more money because the scraping and prep took longer than I anticipated. My answer: This job was by the bid. Thank you for asking, however, since it was a bid it is my resp. to know how long it will take to scrap and bid accordingly. If, it was hourly than I would certainly charge for the extra hours. But, we did this as a fixed bid to help you stay within your very tight budget. So, he cut a check and owes a couple hundred and I told him I'll call in sometime and we can settle up. This buyer was short on cash and the balance will be put on a credit card and he may buy paint for another of my projects or purchase a gift card or gas card to cover it. I told him to hang tight and I'll call him sometime and we can figure it out. Again, sounds like a pat on the back and it probably is bad business... suppose he looses his job or has a major car breakdown and gets to a point where he simply has not funds or CC available to pay me.. (okay, so I'll call him this week)!

Here is my rule of thumb: start the job with a customer and leave with a friend.

I am saying these things not to "pat myself on the back" but to help shed some light on a very important subject. In the mortgage business I did a lot of telemarketing. Put the prospect at ease within the first few moments and several minutes later would be on a very personal basis with them.

This is the thing to understand: Find out what they need. Meet their need. Talk about them. Truly care about them. Not, how great my company is and how we are the best, blah blah blah. What are the things that truly pain you in regards to home ownership and maintenance? What can our company do for you that will make you feel more secure and safe about your home's long term condition.

Do you see how nothing is being said about "me"?

What color schemes have you been thinking about?
Do you want something that will make you feel quiet and restful in this room or something a bit more
peppy?
How will your husband feel about this choice?
This will make your lady friends want to come over and have coffee every day.. just to enjoy this new look!
Which sheen do you prefer? Is it important for the paint to be washable in these rooms?
How would you like us to care for those plants as we will need to cover them in order to protect from overspray? We prefer to use this type of cover ( a sheet for example) would you be satisfied with this method of covering your plants?

Okay. I am not a psychologist, but for some reason when you involve the customer in each and every detail and use lot's of emotional triggers it set's you up to win the job. As long as your price is within a reasonable range - who do you think they will pick.. They guy who shows up full of bravado and tells the customer how things will be.. or the contractor who asks the customer how they would like things to be? I think the customer considers it "respect" for their property and belongings and the emotional triggers tie the knot.

As I was typing this treatise - finally remembered where I really learned about this stuff. It was from a marketing course I bought years ago called "ByReferralOnly" which is a training program for Real Estate agents and brokers. AIDA: Attention, Interest, Desire, Action. Also, about USP's: Unique selling propositions. It seems like the contracting profession does not heavily promote (or perhaps not at all) some of the great training that agents have access to. I should suggest that Terry Hunefeld expand the BRO program to contractors as it will help a lot.

I've got to stop now before CT runs out of bandwidth. This topic could be a thread of it's own.

Another key behind this mentality is: you have to 'mean it'. A RE Agent can go to all the seminars in the world about customer service, customer loyalty, buiding lifelong customers, getting referrals, USP's, AIDA, and etc... but, the customer will see right thru the shiny lip gloss (if you know what I mean) if the approach is not for real. So, don't fake it.

Anyway, hopefully, this helps someone out. The BRO seminar actually turned my RE business around and I carry this mindset into the contracting business. It works.

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Steve Richards

You accept gift and/or gas cards as payment?

Curious too...If this guy buys the paint for one of your future jobs, will you get to pick it, or would you just let him buy whatever's on sale?

Steve Richards

Good thinkin'.

If you start talking about yourself...sure enough they'll ask about your insurance. I hate that!

Paintlineit

wow i started this thread like 5 months ago?!

Bob Mariani

Which still means you have know idea how to compute net profit. So in five years or less when your truck is shot and equipment too old you will find you no longer have money to replace it.

Paintlineit

thanks bud, you r real helpful, and this is why at 22 years old i have a successful painting business in the carolinas and new england....but maybe ur right...in 30 years from now maybe i wont have a business anymore, but it prob will be because i am retired. but thanks for your help.

Brock

WOW just blew twenty minutes on this thing....Riviting....I must have one question answered for me to put this thread to bed.

To the O/P. How do you answer the claim from the three fellow painters that it is BS that you painted that job in 4 days?

Mr. Mike

What I don't like about this thread is:

He contradicts the opening question, he asked if it was to much, then he said he agrees the price is to low but that's how he stays busy and makes money, If that was true he would not of asked the opening question, its been a while since the thread was started but I am going to put up what I think the question he wanted to know is and then answer it,lol.


OP, I have no idea what to charge, so I charged by the floor sq. ft. DO you think I will lose money or make money on my 3k sq. house for $8500.00?

Responses, a mixture of yes and no...



Now I like the fact that your 22, I started this monster Louisville Painting Company at 20 years old and painted over 200 paint jobs my first year, I could go on for days...

My point is when "Bud" says Which still means you have know idea how to compute net profit. So in five years or less when your truck is shot and equipment too old you will find you no longer have money to replace it. He means you better figure out how to bid a job correct so you don't lose your arse and truck in 5 years, no need to get rude he posted for you as do I and everyone in this thread especially when you bumped a 5 month old thread to entice a response that I had to read now for 35 minutes! "wow i started this thread like 5 months ago?"

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Frankawitz

The thing that gets me about the way prices are given, I would only figure sqft for ceilings and wall areas, all trim, doors and windows would be priced out by units, like flush doors would cost $65.00 per door and it would go up if there are panels in the doors, then windows, what type, do they have mullions, Then as for the time it took to complete, I use to run 5 men crews and to prep and paint a 3,500 sqft house it took us 5 to 6 days, That also inclues caulking and spackling as needed, Then you have furniture to move plus drop out rooms, cover hardwood floors etc..
Amazing is all I can say. 28 years of painting I would have to see it to believe you got that done in 4 days.


www.frankawitz.net

WisePainter

Oh yeah? Well I can easily do it!!!!
































































nah, no I can't....

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