FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I prefer to work at a straight hourly wage, typically $45 per hour for residential, and $55 for commercial, which sounds expensive to most people, but is very competitive, and even winds up being cheap than "lower" bids, given that I work alone. (Two painters are rarely as efficient as one man. The only advantage is the overall time required to do the job, and even that is questionable, as typically, one painter must take his or her time to cover for the other, or worse still, redo what mistakes the lesser painter creates along the way. On a good day, the better painter of two or three on a crew is still constantly taking time and momentum away from his own work to train the other helpers. Invariably, two painters charging even as little as $35 per hour cannot do even close to what one good, knowledgeable, uninterupted painter can do in the same amount of time, and so are actually costing the client $70 or more per hour.)
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I typically spend between an hour and two hours meeting a new client and reviewing the scope of work involved. I feel it is essential for a new client to feel confident in someone they're about to trust to work inside their home. I enjoy a challenge, and therefore I take great pride in knowing that I can satisfy even the most difficult or discerning of individuals.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I've studied color theory and many areas of Fine Art. My first job as a teenager was as a carpenter and painter. I've been self-employed as a house painter for over 30 years, having worked for 5 years with a partner beforehand. I have an extensive knowledge of all phases of construction. I've been a wood-worker, and have been collecting and restoring antiques since childhood.