Just Ask Chad: The Painter’s Perspective
Everything you ever wanted to know about professional painting, but were too busy to ask.
The questions I get asked most frequently while on the job usually roughly fall into the categories of “how much will it cost” and “how fast can you do it”, but there’s a lot more behind those questions than one might first assume. Customers today are typically in a rush and short on funds, so what they are really looking to do when asking such questions is rapidly assess their painter to see if he or she has the skills needed to do a good job, on time, and without charging too much. If you look at it from the customer’s perspective, they’re taking a big gamble with their hard-earned money, so what they really need to feel is confidence in their chosen painter but often, they lack the time to ask their painter in-depth questions, or don’t want to come across as pushy or rude.
Fortunately, I’m here to help: I’ve assembled a few relevant questions below and answered them for you, giving you the full benefit of my insider perspective on what makes a truly awesome (and reliable!) professional painter:
What’s the secret to a great paint job?
Practice, practice, practice. At my business we have the motto: “get it done right the first time, so I know from personal experience the importance of practicing until you can do a flawless job quickly and relatively easily.
Customers these days are all about speed. We’re living in the digital age after all, where no one likes to wait for anything, but nothing causes delays like having to correct blistering, water intrusion, or peeling, so you can’t cut corners to achieve a quick job. As such, the key is to keep practicing your painting techniques until you become akin to a master musician playing an instrument; he or she has practiced so much that playing correctly starts to come as naturally as breathing.
Which qualities do you feel are most important in a professional painter?
Above all else, I pride myself on:
Showing up reliably for estimates.
Being honest and accountable when it comes to assessment and pricing.
Keeping a schedule that allows me to give all my customers due attention.
Delivering a great service and standing behind each paint job I complete.
How will I know when I’ve chosen the right painting company?
Just because a painting company sends a painter that does a great job once, is no guarantee that they will always deliver: You might have just lucked out with one of their better painters, after all. So, here’s what to look for when assessing if a company is likely to provide consistent quality: The right painting company will also take the time to form actual relationships with their customers. A really passionate painting company is in it for the long haul, and makes an effort to build loyalty with their customers, their mentality extends into the future, rather than being focused on doing the job, getting paid, and moving on to the next one.
