Waiting on Estimate

[Janet]

I had a guy come out on Friday and give me an estimate for painting the living room, family room, computer/dog room and hallway. I can't wait to see how much!!. I just hope I can afford it. I do have some puppy money left, but I just don't want to pay too much. I told him I would have everything moved and taped, (I'm so picky and don't want any paint on my oak woodwork.)

He doesn't accept payment until the work is done and approved..how great is that?

Hopefully by tomorrow he'll let me know. He did say it would probably only take him approx. 3 days, and as Martha Stewart would say "that's a good thing."

[Gina]

Thats great Janet, I hope that he gives you a great price to. :) I am waiting for my house to be painted to, but my husband said he will do it when it cools down in the fall. Soo I have to be patient.....

[Marilyn]

Hubby's talking about having ours repainted, the outside trim, that is. Inside is holding up pretty well. I can't wait to get rid of the carpet in the living room. Hubby is checking on it, tommorrow to find out when. Hopefully in a couple of weeks.

Janet, sooooo hope the estimate turns out good for you. It feels so good to have new paint!!! Will keep fingers crossed!!! :crossfingers::crossfingers:

[DianaB]

I hope that you get good news on your estimate too. I need to paint too, but my floor plan is so open that I'm going to have to paint several rooms when I do decide to do it and I'm picky like you......no paint on the woodwork.

[judy]

Hope it's nice and low, and he starts right away, does a great job, and finishes quickly.

[HALEY]

I hope you got a good estimate. if it only took him 3 days, that would be nice... & i don't blame you for taping up the oak finish, oak is so pretty...

[Janet]

Thanks everyone but it looks like I'll start tearing the computer/dog room apart tomorrow and paint it myself. I know I was in much pain, but I have to say, I've been crying over this. I should have just kept on painting and not gotten an estimate.

The estimate came today and for the living room, family room, hallway and computer/dog room the grand total was $2187.00. All I can say is "in his F***** dreams!" I haven't emailed him back yet...figured I'd better calm down some and respond like a human being instead of a demented nut case. He did take $550.00 off (I told him I'd move the furniture and take off the switch/electrical covers) for a total of $1637.00.

I wish I could show you the estimate, he had things on there like: pail hooks, 2 step ladders, box of rags, 4 or 5 different sizes and kinds of rollers, two 5-gallon buckets, tape gun, and more. Now what in the heck does he need two 5-gallon buckets for. If I'm moving everything out, all he needs is a 9 inch roller, paint tray, brush and step ladder. He also estimated using 7-9 gallons of paint. I don't use 7-9 gallons of paint for the whole freakin house. So far for the two bathrooms and two bedrooms, I've used 2.5 gallons of paint. What was he planning on doing, leaving it on an inch thick?

I am sooooo disgusted, but I'll just have to get busy tomorrow. I want to have ALL the painting done by the time I go back to school. I need the week before school to get the bus home and a seating chart made and to call all the new and old students.

Can't believe he tried to charge me that much...I must look really stupid for him to quote me a price like that.

Okay...I'm done venting for now. The boys had scouts tonight so I've asked them to bring me a new fresh bottle of Tylenol and Ibuprophen.

[Marilyn]

Janet, Sweetie, I feel for you. We can share in the disappointment. Hubby got the price for my 16' x 16' tile floor for the living area today (part of the room is already tile) and it was $3,500. We think they are crazy. We were using the company that he uses for his houses and thought that they would give us a fair price. We're going to check with some other companies and even Lowe's to see what others will charge.

It's so disappointing when you think you have a plan all worked out and people try to take advantage of you. Hubby figures our tile (material only) should cost just over $900, plus the cost of a 4" wide tile border we are using to transition between the old and new tiles plus the labor, but $3,500, give me a break!!! They wanted $1,000 for the border alone. And I thought the new floor would be in sometime in the next two weeks. :(

Janet, if we lived closer, I'd help you paint those rooms. We'd have lots of fun together, too, I'm sure. Hubby and I may just install our own tile. We've done it before, but we were younger and in better shape. Maybe we can all be sore together!! :(

[Marilyn]

Janet, you need some cheap Mexican labor. I really don't want to make you feel bad, but we are also getting the outside of our home pressure washed and about half of it repainted. The porches (front and back and balcony) and one gable need repainting. The rest will be okay with pressure washing. The house is only 5 years old. Anyway, hubby just got the estimate from the painters a few minutes ago. They are working by the hour (two guys) and the labor should cost $600 to $700. Materials will run around $200, so our total bill to paint about half of the exterior, all porches and lower trim (two story stone house) is around $900. This is about equivalent to the amount of work you are needing on your interior. Wish we could send these guys your way. They do really nice work!! Maybe you need to call someone else to do another estimate. Any Latinos in your area??

Wish our tile job had worked out so favorably!! I'm still disappointed about that!!:(

[Janet]

That's great that you were able to find someone for that price. Kat is having the inside of her house painted too and it only cost her $400. This guy must think I'm a real dumb a$$!

By the time I can get another estimate I can be done painting. I should be busy doing that now, but for today, I was just going to empty the room and get it taped. Tomorrow I'll start getting it painted. I need to get off here and get started, school starts in 22 days.

[HALEY]

Janet - that estimate sounded way high!! and another thing that i don't understand why is he charging you for all that other stuff, if he's a painter - he should have most of those supplies already.. like buckets etc.. what a rip off...

[HALEY]

Janet, you need some cheap Mexican labor. I really don't want to make you feel bad, but we are also getting the outside of our home pressure washed and about half of it repainted. The porches (front and back and balcony) and one gable need repainting. The rest will be okay with pressure washing. The house is only 5 years old. Anyway, hubby just got the estimate from the painters a few minutes ago. They are working by the hour (two guys) and the labor should cost $600 to $700. Materials will run around $200, so our total bill to paint about half of the exterior, all porches and lower trim (two story stone house) is around $900. This is about equivalent to the amount of work you are needing on your interior. Wish we could send these guys your way. They do really nice work!! Maybe you need to call someone else to do another estimate. Any Latinos in your area??

Wish our tile job had worked out so favorably!! I'm still disappointed about that!!:(
I like your thinking Marilyn! it's funny that you said about the Mexican's some mornings i see this van at the gas station and i swear there is a good 10-12 of them rideing in this van, don't know where there going, wish i understood a damn thing they were saying maybe i would hire them to do some yard work for me :D

[Marilyn]

I like your thinking Marilyn! it's funny that you said about the Mexican's some mornings i see this van at the gas station and i swear there is a good 10-12 of them rideing in this van, don't know where there going, wish i understood a damn thing they were saying maybe i would hire them to do some yard work for me :D

The painter hubby is using to paint the outside of the house doesn't speak English. His son does though so he is his helper and translates for us. The father is a really good painter, and looking at him, he's fair skinned and not very Hispanic looking. You would never think he doesn't speak English. They are really very nice people. They aren't illegals or anything like that.

[Janet]

Here it is 3:15 PM and I haven't done a thing...LOL. I woke up at 7 this morning, got on the computer for a few minutes, laid on the couch, fell asleep then work up at 10:30 then got on here. I've watched my soap and called the paint store for people who may paint and now I will call them...or think about calling them. I'm just tired. I have no energy today whatsoever. That previous estimate knocked me for a loop, I don't understand why it is affecting me this way. Hopefully if I can gather enough energy to place a couple phone calls.

[Marilyn]

Janet, don't give up!!! Make those phone calls. Hopefully you can find someone more reasonable who will do a fine job!! Please don't be discouraged. If I could, I really would help you with this. :hug:

[Dobie]

Sorry the estimate didn't work out as you had hoped. If you decide to get another estimate, you might be able to use it to your advantage - as you are showing the new person the work, tell the person what the estimate was and start laughing hysterically - then sarcastically say ""Obvioulsly he didn't want the job and was just being outrageous with the price"

I bet the next estimate will come in lover.

[Janet]

Janet, don't give up!!! Make those phone calls. Hopefully you can find someone more reasonable who will do a fine job!! Please don't be discouraged. If I could, I really would help you with this. :hug:

Thank you Marilyn. I didn't get them called yesterday, but I'm planning to in just a few minutes, as soon as I get off the computer. I feel a bit better this morning. I think what got me down yesterday is falling back to sleep on the couch. I NEVER do that and it just took all my energy away.....getting too much sleep.

[Gina]

Janet that is estimate is way to high, that is crazy... I didn't read all the posts but I quickly read Marilyn's she is right about hiring some Mexicans....

To bad you didn't live by me, my son and nephew do painting on the side and trust me they don't charge no where near those prices... Btw tell whomever you hire that you will buy the paint. My son has the customers pay for paint... It's cheaper to buy your own.


Good luck!

[Janet]

Yes, I am planning on buying my own paint. I did call someone this morning. He sounded a little gruff. I told him I already had one estimate, but the guy must have been nuts....LOL. Said he'd try to get back with me this week as he was really busy. The first guy wasn't busy at all...gee, wonder why?????

I also called another one and so far he hasn't called me back. I will tell him the same as I told the 2nd guy..ALL I WANT YOU DO TO IS WALK IN THE DOOR AND PAINT. Nothing else. I even told him the only tools he'd need. Probably won't call me back, but it not...I wouldn't want him anyway.

Just don't know why people can't do just a simple job without making it seem like it's a in-depth project.

[Tink]

Greg's taking a weeks vacation starting Saturday. He's the type who insists on doing all his own work, so he will be replacing the under layment in the bathroom and laundry room while he's "off'. It's gotten weak due to a leaky water pipe that went unnoticed for a while. The good thing is this means I will finally get different flooring in that area. I've hated what's there and just never got it changed.

[DianaB]

Janet, I can't believe that your estimate was that high!!! Even half of that is too high for 4 rooms!!!! He must not have wanted the job very badly to have given you an estimate like that!!!1 I wish that I lived closer too. I'd come over and help ya' with it! Hopefully, you'll get better estimates with these other two guys.

[judy]

Janet - I'm sorry that it hasn't worked out yet. Sounds more like you need a handyman than a painter.

Haley's right - why does he need all new supplies if he's a painter? I would think about looking around for a reliable handyman, and buy him a roller.

I'll give you a good laugh though - NYC prices are just insane! My friend paid $7000 to have her apartment (2 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, dining room, living room, and assorted foyers) painted! It's an excellent paint job, but come on now!

[Janet]

Oh my gosh Judy. I could never afford to pay that...around here, that's a darn good down payment on a new place...LOL.

I have another guy coming this evening to give me an estimate. I sure hope his is reasonable. Keep your fingers crossed for me please.

[DianaB]

......I'll give you a good laugh though - NYC prices are just insane! My friend paid $7000 to have her apartment (2 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, dining room, living room, and assorted foyers) painted!.......

Next time your friend needs something painted have her call me! I do an excellent job and I could do it for her...........say.....around $6999!!!!!! JK!!!!

Wow, that's alot of pay for a paint job!!!!!

[Janet]

Well my friends....looks like I'm going to paint the rest myself. This guy gave me the willies. He came in, kind of looked like one of those dirty pot bellied guys that sit around drinking beer all the time...no teeth and he just kept staring. Thought the guy would never leave. He said he could do it for $800. Sorry, still too much for me. I was willing to pay around $500-$600, but that was my limit with me doing everything else.

Since we have appointments Thursday and Friday mornings, I'll just start cleaning out the rooms slowly, clean out the file cabinets..etc. and basically take my time getting the room ready to paint. I probably won't actually start painting until Sunday afternoo, because Friday and Saturday is the Hotdog Festival in town and I want to be rested enough to enjoy it. The actual painting will most likely begin on Monday morning. I just hope I can stay in the same mood I am now...ready to paint...LOL.

[Marilyn]

Well, you tried. At least you know it will be done the way you like it. We haven't looked for other sources for tile yet. The guys pressure washed our house and did a very nice job. They couldn't paint because even though it didn't rain much at work, it rained quite a bit here at home today.

Hope you have a blast this weekend at the hotdog festival!!!! And that you can take it easy enough next week that you don't get too sore and tired out!! We will be thinking about you and all your hard work and wishing we could help!!

[Marilyn]

Next time your friend needs something painted have her call me! I do an excellent job and I could do it for her...........say.....around $6999!!!!!! JK!!!!

Wow, that's alot of pay for a paint job!!!!!

Diana, I think we could both fly there and do it for that, need some help??? Judy, any other friends want some painting done???

[Emmsmom]

That is just nuts! I think I would be painting the house on my own instead of hiring anyone! It is cheaper and you can make sure it is done the way you like it! If I lived closer I would come over and help ya out!

[Janet]

Thanks, you all are the best. I know $800 doesn't sound like much really, but it is to me when all this guy would do is walk in and paint. I'll get it done, not sure if I can get it done before school starts, but I'm going to try.

I informed my son that he will be helping getting the first coat on, then I will do the 2nd coat myself..to cover up whatever mistakes he makes....LOLOL. I'm so picky, but I want it nice. I'm sure it won't be painted again for quite a few years.

[DianaB]

Having Ricky help is a good idea.......free labor!!!!!!

I don't think that I'd pay $800 either especially to "just" come in and paint. If it was later in the fall I'd come and help you.

[HALEY]

Janet, i feel you pain, i was painting the house when i was pregnant trying to get some of the rooms done before the baby was born, and with the baby on the way we had no extra money to hire anyone, to busy buying baby stuff.

[Janet]

I told Ricky that I would show him the correct way to paint and that he could only do the first coat until he was really good at it....LOLOL...I shouldn't be so picky, but I am. I'll do the second coat to fix whatever is wrong with the second coat.

Get this....the guy that gave me the high estimate called today. He lowered his estimate to $750 if all he had to do was paint. Well, now of course I don't trust the booger, so I'll still continue on with my plans for Ricky and I to finish it. Geesh...can't find good help in this town.

[Tink]

Janet, I think this is yet another area where you and I are alike. No way will I hire someone to do what I CAN do myself... even if it almost kills me to do it. lol

[judy]

Getting Ricky to help is a great idea! If he can move the furniture for you, it will give you more energy to tape up and to do the second coat.

He's such a good kid!

I agree - $800 for a few rooms, with you supplying the paint, moving the furniture and taping is ridiculous. Bunch of crooks!

Can you imagine paying $7000 for a paint job? I could buy a decent used car for
that. She is a dear friend, and is used to living large, so I kept quiet about it.
She and her ex just sold their 2 bedroom apartment, in a very exclusive part of Brooklyn, for about $900,000. The people who bought it then gutted it and renovated. Crazy money!

Have a ball at the hot dog fair. How many hot dogs are you planning on eating?
I'd try for 16 over to days.

[Janet]

ROFLMBO!!!!!! I never eat hotdogs outside of home very often...too afraid I'll get sick. I just don't trust eating hotdogs in hot humid weather...LOL..so I won't have any, but may have another elephant ear...yummy.

Must be nice to sell something for $900,000, even nicer to be able to afford to buy something for that much and then tear it apart...LOL...man...I screwed up somewhere along the line.

[Tink]

Totaling the prices of all the homes I've owned in my lifetime wouldn't equal $900,000! Gotta remember it's Location location location.

My first house was a 3 bedroom right next to a golf course and park with a pool and we paid $11,300 for it! LOL My how times have changed!

[judy]

ROFLMBO!!!!!! I never eat hotdogs outside of home very often...too afraid I'll get sick. I just don't trust eating hotdogs in hot humid weather...LOL..so I won't have any, but may have another elephant ear...yummy.

Must be nice to sell something for $900,000, even nicer to be able to afford to buy something for that much and then tear it apart...LOL...man...I screwed up somewhere along the line.


I'm really glad my friend got half of that $900,000, but I have to say that it makes me uncomfortable that this young couple spent so much money on an apartment and are spending even more to renovate it. It's so excessive, that it gives me a really negative feeling.

My friend who sold it feels the same way I do. It's like "Get over yourselves."

[Lindsey]

Janet, if I lived closer I'd help you :) I'm pretty much a painting expert after flipping Kyle's whole house! And you would only have to pay me in lunch! :D
Anyways, I hope it all works out!

[Janet]

Lindsey you are such a sweetheart!!! All you ladies are. Don't worry about me...I'll get the painting done and once everything is completely done, I will take pictures share with all of you.

[HALEY]

Just take your time Janet, it will get done, don't overdue it. it took me five years, plus alot of other stuff inbetween, plus i switch the colors too.. i'm picky... but i got 4 coats of paint on all my walls.. they were so yellow, i think the guy who lived there before me smoked in the house... we don't. we smoke outside or in the basement..