FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I normally will charge equal to or less than the lowest national average price.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
If I am fortunate enough to get an appointment to give an estimate to a new client, I like to discuss the project in detail and answer any questions the homeowner may have. Understanding the needs of the client is essential to ending with a satisfied customer. Making sure my estimate covers the complete cost of the project is vital because no homeowner wants to hear the words, "I am sorry, but that was not covered in my proposal." Then I like to talk about TIME. if time is of the essence for a particular person, then I want to respect that. We have a "guarantee of commitment'' provision that we can apply to give peace of mind to clients who have a drop dead end date to meet. Most potential customers are flexible as long as communication is kept as an ongoing process. But whatever the case, I want to make sure the homeowner can trust our company to do things in a timely manner. I feel the absolute most important thing I can give to a client is assuming the risk for the job. I have never felt comfortable asking a homeowner for money before work is commenced. And in many cases, I will not ask to receive any money until the job is complete and satisfaction reaches the customer. In all cases, I will only ask for enough money to cover the cost of materials and a percentage of completed work. And even though it is not considered smart business to allow a client to get away without a signature on a contract, I will never pressure and/or make up stories to convince someone that NOW is the best time to sign with me. I purposely tell a customer right from the beginning, that I am not there to come away with a signed contract before i leave. I like them to take a night to think about things and allow them to have another chance to ask questions. If they are comfortable and want to sign with us after that, then we move forward. This process says I am more interested in the client then I am the money. The money will take care of itself, when you focus on the project and the customer.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Painting has been in the family for three generations. But growing up, I used to tell everyone, "there is no way I am going to have anything to do with painting'' because I wanted to be a sportswriter. But as it was, painting provided me with some income when I was in college, which was needed to help me survive. I was not the best of students so it took me a while to get my degree and I gained a lot of experience in the field. I did get to live out my dream for a few years at the Detroit Free Press. But at the age of 33, I realized that I did not like all the politics at a newspaper and was not cut out for working for a corporation. The experience of learning to be aggressive to get quotes for a story that you had a half hour to write and in the office gathering stats and other pertinent info that had deadlines to meet, built the foundation I needed to be successful in business. But I still wanted nothing to do with painting. But to earn money to help me start my business, I accepted an offer to help a friend start up his painting business by estimating and selling. He taught me how to read blueprints and to write quotes on a commercial level. I discovered I had some real abilities that I did not know I had. I asked my friend for a considerable raise since I was able to win him 4 quick large commercial jobs in my first 30 days. He refused so I walked away after giving him a 30-day notice. Then I received a call about a job I had bid on a few weeks prior and was given a contract. It took me 3 days to sign it. Somehow I knew if I signed it, I would end up exactly where I said I never would. But I have no regrets and could not be happier about painting being ny business