Helping Clients With Color?

pstorey

So do you help clients with choosing color and if so how do you charge for it?

Lately, I've been finding I my jobs slowed down because the client hasn't chosen color, sheen or placement and I have to end up stepping in to move things along. A lot of the time I end up running to the paintstore for samples etc which is an unanticipated cost that some clients don't like to pay for.
In the past I've been referring people to color consultants where possible as I've just had too many problems with clients holding me responsible when they don't like the sheen, color etc.

I'm thinking too about not starting any job until the client supplies us with a completed color schedule.

How do you guys handle it?

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George Z

We use two colour consultants we refer them to.
The colour consultant will prepare the colour schedule.

They charge anywhere from $400.00 to $1200.00
We are not qualified, or want to have anything to do with colour choice.

Since we started doing that, we never looked back.

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daArch

I've always had great pride in my color eye, and took great pleasure in helping and advising the customer with color choices if they had not made a final decision. I used it as a selling point. All colors I applied were custom mixed on the job-site. After working with some customers for a long time, I could successfully pick what they wanted without input.

If you do not have the same ability and joy, I would suggest that you do not show up on the job until the colors were specified.

If they want test swatches on the wall before they make up their mind, be accomodating but advise them that your time is not for free.

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Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA

Teetorbilt

I try to talk all clients into an ID. It's THEIR job and lifts a load off of me especially if anything goes wrong.

You paint guys have to have it the worst. Some HO sees a Burgundy room in some mag and wants one without regards to windows and other lighting. You paint, it's dark and the HO's PO'd.

I just went down this road with a well off HO who didn't want to pay for the ID ($100) so we repainted the dining room a lighter shade for an additional $1,500.

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MakDeco

I have always offered color consults for an hourly charge for repeat customers I tend to charge lightly for it. But in my contract always states that the customer is responsible for the color picked no matter if I helped or not. I will provide a sample board of any color I had a hand in picking for final approval and after its up on all walls and they don't like it they are paying for it to be changed.

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KJLinden2002

I stick with kilim beige or let them pick it!

lornmastro

I do give color consultations(i feel it helps me bond with the customer and I think helps me in getting the jobs) and always lead them toward the right color but ultimately they make the final decision. Only had one unhappy customer they picked a salmon color to pinky. and I always send them either BM,SW or pratt and lambert color samples and let them live with the color for a while.

Ed the Roofer

I run into the same dilemma with roofing shingle color choices.

If things go right, shortly I will be using the www.RenoWorks.com software that has a sub-forum on this site, which shows accurate true color realistic depictions on a laptop screen for them to consider.

The main delay in me getting and using this software, is that my primary line of shingle are not included in their roofing selection data base yet. I am working on that from my end.

I still have everyone sign off as to the color choice being of their own choosing though.

What about the painting color software programs out there? Are they accurate enough to give them a final vision on your laptop to rely on for accuracy?

Ed

Brock

If I had a top ten list of things to avoid if you decide to get into residential construction. Number one would be.

1. Never help a homewoner choose a paint color, and always compliment the color they choose no many how sick to your stomach it makes you.

pstorey

Brock, Im with you!.

See e-mail below for an example of the can of worms that gets opened when the question of color comes up. This is a $4000 job.
I billed her upfront for 1 hour to collect and apply samples plus the price of the samples.

"Hope you had a great Christmas. I actually have picked out colors that I would love to have you do as samples. I went to a store on Sutter between Van Ness and Polk called G&R Paint ( think that's the name) -- do you get paints there? Anyway before I go on I have a few questions for you about all of this:

1)I liked both Benjamin Moore and C2 colors but I don't know if that's OK with you?

2) I am not very good with color so you may think I need to go in a different direction with some of the colors I am looking at and I'm happy to take your suggestions. I'll let you know what I'm looking for when I give you the color names.

3)If we get the samples and you paint them on and we decide they aren't quite right, can you give me guidance on how to tweak the color slightly and either make it slightly darker or lighter? For instance, if I have chosen a yellow that turns out to have too much green in it, is that something you can help me with? I don't want us to have to keep getting more samples so I'm wondering if I've done enough homework or if I should have more colors chosen.

4)One thing they mentioned in the store is that at least for the C2 paints (and perhaps for all the paints they carry) they can do 100%, 75%, 50% etc.. of the color so you can make something slightly less intense but with the same color base. So perhaps this would be an option for us if something looks too dark or intense?

I do apologize for the many questions -- I just haven't done this before and want to make sure I am giving you everything you need. If you think I need to give you more color names please let me know.

ANYWAY, here are the colors that I'm thinking about right now:

* For the front hallway, stairway, upstairs hallway, and the playroom downstairs I found a color by C2 called Shiitake. I don't know if it's warm enough ( I want the color to be warm and welcoming but not stark) but I didn't want to pick something that would be too dark either. Perhaps there is a better color for these rooms that you know of -- I'm looking for something in a mushroom brown/beige color that is warm but still neutral.
* For the dining room, I found a color by Benjamin Moore called Kennebunkport Green and one by C2 called Sage. I'm not sure which one I like better. What I'm looking for is almost a grey-green in there. I also have a couple of thoughts about the dining room that we can discuss on the 2nd and this might affect which green we use in there.
* For the sun room upstairs, I found a Benjamin Moore color called Lighthouse. I think it's what I'm looking for but perhaps you know of a better yellow? I'm looking for something that is warm and cozy, something without green in it. I guess I am looking for something with more gold undertones than green ones if that makes sense.

If it's easier for you I can come and meet you at the paint store tomorrow? I'm wide open and would be happy to do that if it seems like I've only made things more confusing. Feel free to call me 307-***X if you think it would be helpful for me to meet you there.

OK! That is all. Thanks so much and I will talk to you soon."

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Brock

"On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again."

Tim0282

After reading that email from your customer, I know drywallers have it easy!! Wow! Did you go meet her at the paint store? Dumb question...
What was your response to her? You are the decorator and the applicator, right?

daArch

This is a customer who needs someone who is good at color AND the PSYCHOLOGY of color to help her. If you do not have the desire AND the abilty, tell her POLITELY that she would be best served by a ID or similar. DO NOT patronize, DO support her concerns, DO support her desire that she wants to get it right. Be sympathetic because she ADMITS she knows too little.

Personally, I would have fun working with her. Don't get me wrong, people like her are a CHALLENGE, but one that I welcome.

On a humorous (?) side note, your name sake here in Boston probably has a better color eye than I and with his graining and marbelizing abilities probably has a higher skill level than I, but he would REFUSE to work patiently with this customer. He can be a tad abrasive and cantankerous when he thinks the situation calls for it

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Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA

pstorey

Hey those are great points and I do enjoy working with people like this customer. My main frustrations tho' are when I get sucked into a situation where I'm not specifying upfront when color advise is given for free and when I start charging for it. I'm like you, I enjoy seeing a well thought out scheme come together and I have a good eye, I just don't want to do it for free anymore.

I've resolved to add a paragraph to all estimates that go out this year that outline the limits of our input. Any help with this paragraph is greatly appreciated

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Dave Mac

Color brush out policy

Job over 3,000, I will come out one time and put up samples on the walls, for the client and no charge, except the quarts. ( sw sells 5 per sample) After that its 100 per trip to the paint store.

Jobs under 3,000 its 100 per visit.

I will give a honest opionion of colors, but tell them its up to them to pick it. I always give them the comparison of ''some people like rock and roll and some people like rap etc its your house not mine...'' Any resonable person understands that, if they dont I really dont want to work for them.

I also have a desighner i recommend if needed.

Clients will expect you to help them with colors and even pay for quarts if you dont explain it to them. Its all about communication imo

KellyPainting

I help almost every customer with color...I think thats why they hire me most of the time.... I have had them come to the paint store...I've driven around with them...they have even taken me to dinner to discuss color (my favorite).

I'm with you on charging, I don't think they realize what they are getting for free?... the last house, I picked every color..I even pick the ceiling and trim colors to coincide with the wall or base color.

I've done 2nd Empires or even Victorians and picked out the colors.. and told them where to put them. I hate when architectural features are not brought out and left unnoticed.

I even have colors that are hot right now... where people see them on a job and call me for them. Camouflage - Ben Moore H.C is one of the hot ones.. done 4 kitchens already.

Last customer called and had me come over to help with fixtures, cabinets,
door knobs and when a argument ensued over the tile color (after it already arrived) I was brought in to fix it.

I basically say dark tone / mid tone / light color ... the most important thing is to find out what they want to do in the room first...relax?...study? talk?
eat.... sleep.... and then from there we go to lighting... where the sun comes
up in the morning to the furniture and fabrics.

I educate them as much as possible, most don't have a clue... they say "dark colors shrink a room"... when we should wrap them in warmth...

I'll even share a trick for everyone...

To make a room appear larger:
1st.. least amount of different colors in a room... more colors.. the
perception of shrinking will occur. ( floor / trim / ceiling / walls)
2nd.. The hight of objects in a room... if furniture is all at a the same height
then the room appears larger..if they are staggered at multiple heights
then it will appear smaller.

There are so many factors that go into choosing one's individual color..
I tell the wife to go into her bedroom and look in her closet and tell me what
color's her clothes are... people will buy cloths in colors they think they look good in without even thinking they are doing it. If there is no blue clothing then she won't feel good in a blue room...

And then there are do's and don'ts..

Never yellow in a baby's room..
Never blue in a kitchen...
offices should not be red / orange or yellow
purple is the best color for a bedroom
always tint ceiling and trim paint with percentage of wall color to achive
overall flow.

of course these would be different in say China..or another part of the world
where color represents a different meaning.