First Winter in bus. - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Miller · 11-13-2007, 04:25 PM

It's been tough already with everyone being cheap... Last 3 bids for interior work we have lost to low ballers. All three have said I think my Cousin or a friend of the family can do it for cheap.
Last estimate was for 2bedrooms one being 11x10 with 8ft ceilings white going to a tan color 2coats pretty simple and the other 13x13 8ft ceilings and this is also a white going to 2dif. colors one wall being a orange color and the other walls going to a pink or purple (yea ugly colors) I thought my bid was pretty low at $425 and aparently it wasn't low enough. Gets frusterating but I guess I just have to work harder and find the right market.

dougchips · 11-13-2007, 04:39 PM

First Winter in bus.

Your thread title makes it look like your are living in a bus this winter.

Look for a market where people do not have cousins that paint.

Miller · 11-13-2007, 05:33 PM

Yea I see that now. Oh well when you open it you will understand what I mean.

Thats the funny thing there smart guy there cousins don't paint they are just having family or friends do the painting for dirt cheap. Understand thats part of business, was just venting a lil. thanks for the great feed back....

THINKPAINTING · 11-13-2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miller

Yea I see that now. Oh well when you open it you will understand what I mean.

Thats the funny thing there smart guy there cousins don't paint they are just having family or friends do the painting for dirt cheap. Understand thats part of business, was just venting a lil. thanks for the great feed back....

Hang in there, join a BNI group--do some cold calling to decorators--general contractors.

Always carry your business cards and pass them out.....

$425 was low, but with those type of people you can never be low enough and they want a Cadilac job for a Hugo price.....

kevjob · 11-13-2007, 06:34 PM

Keep on plugging you will find the type of client you are looking for. The cheap aren't even on my radar anymore!

Miller · 11-13-2007, 07:35 PM

Thanks for the encouraging feedback... Yea it was actually lower then I wanted to go, It was more of a favor. The Home owner is my day care lady, You should see there kitchen and entrance way that they painted (WOW) It was horrible and she said thats why she wants to pay someone to do the painting there. I'm sure she will get the same kind of job from her cousin.

We had a pretty good first 6months of business and now the hard part is coming to see how we fair for the first winter owning our own business. I'm sure things will come around. Good to hear some positive feedback and some ideas on where to look for more business.

Thanks,

72chevy4x4 · 11-13-2007, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THINKPAINTING

$425 was low, but with those type of people you can never be low enough and they want a Cadilac job for a Yugo price.....

I don't appreciate you knocking my daily driver...

regal · 11-13-2007, 07:57 PM

Try securing an apt. complex for repaint work. Usually management companies run them and that name is usually on the complexes sign, for contact information.

Miller · 11-13-2007, 08:19 PM

Thanks for all the feed back and good ideas. I'm looking into these BNI groups and was wondering how many others have joined? Which one to join and any advice on these? Don't know much about them, just googled and we have a ton of different groups in MN. looks like its a good idea and good networking with many other businesses. So if anyone has any info. on Bni groups I would like to hear how its worked for you?

Thanks,

THINKPAINTING · 11-14-2007, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miller

Thanks for all the feed back and good ideas. I'm looking into these BNI groups and was wondering how many others have joined? Which one to join and any advice on these? Don't know much about them, just googled and we have a ton of different groups in MN. looks like its a good idea and good networking with many other businesses. So if anyone has any info. on Bni groups I would like to hear how its worked for you?

Thanks,

They can work very well depending on the area and the people you meet.
Well worth the ivestment.

Miller · 11-14-2007, 11:42 PM

I'm planning on calling or looking into this a lil more 2morrow. Any idea of the cost on something like this? I read a lil last night about this and it really sounds like a good idea and I guess it can't hurt getting your name out there more.

BMAN · 11-15-2007, 10:17 AM

Was tehre trim or ceilings? My price for walls only for both rooms would have been closer to $700. I charge $75 extra for the extra color in each room. (covers the paint and the extra cut time in the corners)
The hardest lesson to learn is that you can lose work for being underpriced. Under pricing makes the customer think you are a hack. If they can't afford a pro chances are they would not have called. You can also feel that out on the first call with good questions.
1. Did you have a budget in mind? (don't ask the budget just determine if they have thought of it)
2. Do the walls need much repair?
3. Have you hired a painter in the past?
4. Have you seen our work before?

All these questions are directed to determining price point and how much the customer is already invested in you. The more a customer invests time talking to you or checking out your business the more chance you will get their business.

HUDSONVALLEYEXT · 11-15-2007, 10:58 AM

Guys around here in our local pennysaver advertise $149.95 per room. I don't know how they make money. I need to get atleast $500 per room

Miller · 11-15-2007, 11:55 AM

For the last 2posts, I hear and understand both of you and yes my price was way below what I normaly would have done. I was giving the lady a deal since she is my day care lady. I was just venting that they still dont want to pay when I go $200 below normaly what i would of charged. Aparently she wanted a hack job and she will get a hack job. It's business and I do understand winter will be hard for me specially with new construction at a halt. Everyone is fighting over whatever jobs they can get and I can't afford to go to battle with low ballers. My prices are very fair and I won't lower them.

donb1959 · 11-15-2007, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUDSONVALLEYEXT

Guys around here in our local pennysaver advertise $149.95 per room. I don't know how they make money. I need to get atleast $500 per room

Ahh, the 150.00 room. OK this is what they dont tell you. They will use the lower end paint, that price includes ONE COAT,second coat is an upgrade. No caulking, no sanding, no prep, all that is an upgrade. You dont want the bottom of the barrel paint on your walls and trim?....UPGRADE! So basicly 3 guys can sling paint on the walls/trim one coat in 3 hours...without the upgrades.

HUDSONVALLEYEXT · 11-15-2007, 05:55 PM

where you located Miller

Tmrrptr · 11-15-2007, 06:36 PM

Your price was more than reasonable.
Which shows why you cannot get jobs by pricing!
There is always someone cheaper.
A certain amount of request for bids are rude and just to figure what someone will pay cousing Bill or beat down some other high bidder...
The only solution is advertise and get more projects to bid on.
Avoid price based salesmanship.
r

Joewho · 11-15-2007, 07:20 PM

I hope to aspire to a winter in a bus. I started out in a doghouse, then a volkswagon, then.........

Miller · 11-15-2007, 09:45 PM

Minnesota......

Joewho · 11-15-2007, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miller

Minnesota......

Illinois.

http://www.painttalk.com/showthread.php?t=676