Gonna Be A Long Winter

boman47k

I overheard my son's lawyer talking to someone on the phone today and asking if the oainter had showed up. She told them to not let him start until he gave her a price. Of course, my ears picke dup as my son and daughter are out of work and I am very slow. I asked what she was having painted. It was he rbdrm. I told her I might could give her a good deal. She calls the painter, asks the price, ask about furniture, and asked if the price included trim. Then I heard her say fabulous! You got it, the paint is in the utility room. I thoughtwell no work for me from her. She looks at me and tells me, "you would not want to do it, it is just a bdrm, and he priced for $150 if it only takes two coats of the burgundy like color over an ugly blue! This labor only but also includes trim and I think handling the funishings! He was a painter for a friend of hers that has several houses. I told her she was right, if he was good, that was a good deal at twice the price and I would not have wanted it.

Heheh, she had one painter who got drunk and passed out in the floor!

I wonder if even more of the professionals are going for the lower price than normal.

Oh well, this winter seems as if it is going to be a long one. Lets hope it is just the winter!

P.S. I needed that little project to help pay her fee. She said she normally gets $250 per, but hell, I can stay home and go broke.

WisePainter

I was thinking $250 is fair myself.

I am hunkered down with a choice GC for a few more months, it was a last minute unexpected phone call as I was wondering if the paint department at HOME DEPOT or LOWE'S is hiring...should be an alright winter.

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My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

boman47k

Sorry, I got that a little messed up. She normally charges $250 per hour for her services.

I let two thoughts run together while editing. I meant I can stay home and go broke rather than go out and apply 2 coats of paint on a bdrm for $150. Not to mention painting the trim and dealing with the furnishings.

Workaholic

I just picked up 5 houses to do. I was feeling a bit stressed about the winter and dropped my price a little to make sure i picked up these jobs. They say that is the wrong way to do business but i wanted to make sure these jobs were added to my list of winter work.

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Sean

WisePainter

Who is they?
I am more than willing to offer the same awesome quality of paint job for a fair price that reflects a bad economy.
Whatever it takes to stay busy.
Do I care if other contractors are bothered by this...um, no.

__________________
My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

Workaholic

Other contractors that i talk to about business.
I made a slight compromise to adjust for this winter. This had been one of the worst years i have ever had, well other than my first year on my own. I figure with these 5 houses added to the ones i had lined up for after the new year it will be pretty decent start to 09.
It will get worse before it gets better i reckon.

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Sean

boman47k

Good for you Sean, glad to hear it.

Hey, we all do what we gotta do to keep some little something coming in.

In my little story, I forgot to mention the repair of a hole in a wall that also was included for $150.

I hope the ones of us that need work now and have none learn something from this. Livng like there is no tomorrow is over for this old boy, If I can survive this thing.

Now, if I can just stick to that philosophy if and or when things turn around!

hoya

Keep the faith guys

WisePainter

That was more of a rhetorical question actually.
I do not listen to other contractors that are not in my position at the moment.
The contractors that are booming right now easily forget that it could all end in an instant, so they flaunt some false sense of security.
Bah I say.
My prices right now "pay the bills".
My "gotta pay off my Ferrari and yacht" prices went out the window last summer...

__________________
My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

boman47k

I think a lot of people with be taking a second look at their prices as this Ponzi schem we call the stock market brings come uppance to a lot of people.

WisePainter

WHAM~O!!!!

YESsSsSsSsSsSsS!! Take that you Hummer driving, mansion dweller that earns over $250,000 a year!!!

Wait a minute, those people make up 95% of my customer profile...

Krap, looks like a lame Christmas for the kids this year.




"Look kids, cheap socks and finely handcrafted popsicle stick people!!!"

"You suck Dad, I am going to marry a carnival worker and ruin my future!!"











I have been working too many hours lately only to fail at finishing a project before Christmas...please forgive my rant.

__________________
My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

world llc

i was thinking worse.....

WisePainter

I'm not, that was as far as I wanted to go...

__________________
My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

Msargent

My Jan is now booked and maybe a little into feb maybe more nothing is concrete until i get in and get a check.