Contractor Talk - Construction and Remodeling Site
CLICK HERE AND JOIN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY...IT'S FREE!
Go Back   Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum > Trade Talk > Painting & Finish Work

View Poll Results: Should I paint the stair way for free?
YES- You screwed up and forgot to include it when the owner assumed it was part of the price. 2 18.18%
NO- The homeowner should have read the contract better. 9 81.82%
Voters: 11. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 10-05-2006, 09:58 PM   #1
Pro
Trade: Painting
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 106
Contract confusion...Need advice

So I had this lady that wanted her back deck, front porch, basement, and woodwork painted. She wanted me to write them up as 4 different contracts. When I brought her the contracts she decided she wanted all of them so I wrote up a new contract and knocked off $100.

Well when doing the walkthrough with her, she mentioned something about painting the stair way as well. She seemed unsure, but now that I think about it, I think she said to go ahead and do it. I assume she didn't really read the contract though because I didn't mention painting the walls in the stair way, only the trim. Today she told me that the paint for the stair way was down stairs. I kind of blew it off until I realized the mix up tonight. My question is should I go ahead and paint it for free since I forgot to include it in the contract?

Customer is a semi-friend of my mom's and I'm getting ready to give her B/F a quote for work he wants done for around $3500. She has been kind of a b*tchy customer to me though. Like getting upset that I wasn't going to do the outside work on a day that it was clearing going to rain.

Flawless Finish is offline   Reply With Quote
Warning: The topics covered on this site include activities in which there exists the potential for serious injury or death. ContractorTalk.com DOES NOT guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this site. Always use proper safety precaution and reference reliable outside sources before attempting any construction or remodeling task!

Join Contractor Talk

Join the #1 Contractor Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

ContractorTalk.com - Are you a Professional Contractor? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's the leading place for contractors to meet online. No homeowners asking DIY questions. Just fellow tradesmen who enjoy talking about their business, their trade, and anything else that comes up. No matter what your trade is you'll find that ContractorTalk.com is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally free!

Join ContractorTalk.com - Click Here JOIN FOR FREE

Old 10-05-2006, 10:02 PM   #2
Custom Builder
 
Glasshousebltr's Avatar
Trade: From dirt to ridge vent
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: South Central Illinois
Posts: 4,405
Send a message via AIM to Glasshousebltr Send a message via Yahoo to Glasshousebltr
If I was coming out good on the job I'd paint it, If she was nickel pricking me around I'd tell her to read her contract.

Bob
__________________
Bob
Glasshousebltr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2006, 10:32 PM   #3
My custom title
 
Brushslingers's Avatar
Trade: Painting, faux, rock, plaster, texture, tile, laminates, finish carpentry contractor
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 1,559
I'd tell her that it was not included, point it out on the contract and explain that you WILL do it.. for an additional fee.
__________________
Benn

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian
Paint does a lot more than put color on a surface. It protects surfaces, it can reduce maintenance costs, it can enhance lives.
Brushslingers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2006, 06:22 AM   #4
AFI
Member
 
AFI's Avatar
Trade: Paint Contractor
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 92
Lady please, read the contract.
AFI is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2006, 06:39 AM   #5
Professional Painter
 
Richard's Avatar
Trade: Owner/Operator
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Serving CT & RI
Posts: 1,306
I've recently come across some unexpected work while doing a job. The work involved wasnt included in my price, so I talked to the HO and told them I would just charge them hourly for the extra~aka...bill them.

You should(in advance)talk with her, let her know the extra she wants done wasnt in the contract, but that you will surely do it at your hourly rate....I always smooth it over and tell them, 'It's not going to be that much more'...and they usually respond quite well.
__________________
Rich
Richard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2006, 05:24 PM   #6
Pro
Trade: Painting
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 106
Thanks guys. Well I just got home today and had finished her back deck. This women obviously didn't read the contract at all. She calls me about 15 minutes ago and says she wanted the back railings (about 70 linier feet) painted the same white as the lattice and not the gray that the rest of the deck was painted. The contract clearly says "back deck posts and rails will be painted with 2 coats of Color #1." Color 1 on the spec sheet she signed is the gray color.

She tells me that she would never paint it the same color, but she'll pay the cost for the extra paint. What a deal . The thing is, this will take a while to do being I'll have to clean out the sparyer another 2 times for the primer and the paint. This is quickly turning into my worst job.
Flawless Finish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2006, 07:09 PM   #7
Professional Painter
 
Richard's Avatar
Trade: Owner/Operator
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Serving CT & RI
Posts: 1,306
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flawless Finish View Post
Thanks guys. Well I just got home today and had finished her back deck. This women obviously didn't read the contract at all....This is quickly turning into my worst job.
You know...I'm making mistakes everyday, but we all gotta keep truckin' and hope we learn a few things along the way....

"as long as she's payin', you'll be 'a sprayin'!"
__________________
Rich
Richard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2006, 08:21 PM   #8
Pro
Trade: Painting
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 106
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paintguy26 View Post
You know...I'm making mistakes everyday, but we all gotta keep truckin' and hope we learn a few things along the way....

"as long as she's payin', you'll be 'a sprayin'!"
Yep. I just hope she will be payin for the extra work.

I think what pisses me off the most is she acted like I was so stupid to paint the whole back deck one color.
Flawless Finish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2006, 09:07 PM   #9
Professional Painter
 
Richard's Avatar
Trade: Owner/Operator
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Serving CT & RI
Posts: 1,306
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flawless Finish View Post
Yep. I just hope she will be payin for the extra work.

I think what pisses me off the most is she acted like I was so stupid to paint the whole back deck one color.
I'm assuming you are writing a quick proposal or note on your original with the added work listed and a signature? If not, you might want to~before doing anything
__________________
Rich
Richard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2006, 09:58 PM   #10
Pro
Trade: Painting
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 106
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paintguy26 View Post
I'm assuming you are writing a quick proposal or note on your original with the added work listed and a signature? If not, you might want to~before doing anything
Yes, but I'm worried about the confrontation when I tell her about the extra costs.
Flawless Finish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2006, 10:07 PM   #11
Celtic's #1 Fan
Trade: electrical
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,387
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flawless Finish View Post
Yes, but I'm worried about the confrontation when I tell her about the extra costs.
why? she's probably not worried about you having to eat pork and beans out of the can for a week to make up for the loss on this job?
mahlere is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Help, I'm in a contract with a crazy lady! Flawless Finish Painting & Finish Work 18 01-31-2008 08:22 PM
Signing my first contract today. Please any advice welcome! Tatoosi General Discussion 7 08-01-2007 09:26 PM
Pre contract contract woodmagman Business 0 04-22-2007 12:43 PM
Contract and terms. AFI Painting & Finish Work 28 09-29-2006 06:57 PM




Top of Page | View New Posts


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:17 PM.


Contractor Talk™ © 2003 - 2009 The Building Network LLC