Do customers come up to you when working on commercial exteriors? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

robertpaint · 02-03-2008, 12:07 AM

Recently, I started doing shopping strips. About once every 3 days, I get a random customer asking if we could paint his or her house, building, etc...

I've gotten quite a few jobs because of this.

Does this happen to you, if so, how often?

Steve Richards · 02-07-2008, 08:03 AM

No, never

You must be really good..

ATH · 02-07-2008, 08:08 AM

We had a couple of people approach us when doing commercial work, but I don't recall ever getting any work out of it.

Steve Richards · 02-07-2008, 08:12 AM

Tire-kickers

Steve Richards · 02-07-2008, 08:27 AM

I was working for a client that owned several 4-plexes in a row, on the same street.

One day the lady across the street came over and said "would you mind coming over and giving me an estimate on my 4-plex?"

(You bet)

(never heard back from her)

The next Summer, I'm working on the next 4-plex (guy was having me do 1 a year)..same lady comes over and says "would you mind coming over and giving me an estimate on my 4-plex?"

I say "well I did that last year, and I never heard back from you."

She turned kinda red.

She hadn't recognized me.

I bet she's still asking every painter she sees if they'd mind coming over and giving her an estimate on her 4-plex.

A W Smith · 02-07-2008, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Richards

I was working for a client that owned several 4-plexes in a row, on the same street.

One day the lady across the street came over and said "would you mind coming over and giving me an estimate on my 4-plex?"

(You bet)

(never heard back from her)

The next Summer, I'm working on the next 4-plex (guy was having me do 1 a year)..same lady comes over and says "would you mind coming over and giving me an estimate on my 4-plex?"

I say "well I did that last year, and I never heard back from you."

She turned kinda red.

She hadn't recognized me.

I bet she's still asking every painter she sees if they'd mind coming over and giving her an estimate on her 4-plex.

What you should have said was. My estimate I gave you last year still stands. We can start next Wednesday if you give me a deposit now. (just to see how she reacts)

Steve Richards · 02-07-2008, 09:26 AM

Yup..
In the years since that happened, I've thought of a lot of things I wish I'd said to her.

It was a pretty simple job... brick, w/metal casement windows, 2' soffits...

I imagine by now she's probably just painted it herself...and was happy knowing how much she saved by doing so.