Quality Painting At Honest Prices

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. 1. residential exteriors
2. residential interiors
3. Commercial exteriors
4. Commercial interiors
5. Institutional
6. Sheetrock repairs.
7. Wallpaper removal.
8. General Repairs
9 Carpentry

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Look for professionalism: Do they appear clean-cut? Drive a nice vehicle? Provide references and insurance information? Do you feel safe with this person in your home? Did the painter show up on time to give you an estimate? Is the estimate a written one?
Be skeptical of penciled in estimates on the back side of a business card.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. No all painters are the same. Some tell you they have insurance, when they don't. Some tell you a job will take a week, and don't show up for 3 weeks.
Worst of all, watch for painters that want you to prepay.
Reputable companies have a line of credit at the paint store that they pay off every 30 days.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Let me come by to provide a free written estimate and I will take a look to make suggestions based on the customer's needs.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. We pride ourselves on quality work at reasonable prices. We show up to work on time each day, and do only one job at a time. We clean up every day when we leave.
We collect NO money down on most jobs.
We have insurance, and provide proof of insurance before starting work.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I like the look on the homeowner or business owner's face when they see how nice their property looks all fresh and clean.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Can I paint the exterior of my brick home or the vinyl siding on my exterior?
Yes, indeed. It is important to use the proper paint on each of these applications.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. We have an older lady who refers us to all of her family and friends. She is a wonderful person, and we like to see her smile when work is completed.
After hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, we were proud to be one of the contractors to HELP out people, but NOT rip them off!

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. Service is the key word in painting. We must know what the unique climate provides as far as challenges to the paint's adhesion to the surface.
Special paints are needed for certain surfaces.
Don't try to paint over oil based paints with a latex without using a blocking agent. It will peel!

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. My father and 5 brothers are all in the painting business. I think we have paint for blood!
Now my son is also in business with me, making Bob's Painting now 3rd generation painters.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. We painted an historical building in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The owners did not want to do any of the leg-work and needed permitting, so we took care of everything. The owners were quite appreciative, and the city has a beautiful building for visitors to admire in the historical district, controlled by the Vieux Carre Historical Commission.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. We are constantly attending seminars on the new coatings on the market and new technology.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. Newer coatings are being developed that enable better lasting applications and newer finishes.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. We painted a warehouse and commercial building which required using a manlift. We estimated the job to last 3 weeks, and the weather cooperated, allowing us to complete the work in only 3 weeks.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. We provide free estimates based on 45 years of experience. Rates are not figured by square footage, but rather by the detail work and repairs needed for painting completion.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. 1. Be fair with your customers.
2. Return calls promptly.
3. Show up on time for estimates and to work each day.
4. Get properly licensed and insured.
5. Hire only those people who you would welcome into your OWN home!