Paint estimator - Paint Talk

timhag · 02-25-2008, 07:28 PM

Have you guys ever heard of or used this site http://www.mypaintbid.com/. I checked this out and it does not compare to my bids. I used my living room as an example and this thing was way off with what i came up with. Hope home owners don't use this to compare rates, we all will be in trouble.

JNLP · 02-25-2008, 07:53 PM

It was about $125 over my price.

timhag · 02-25-2008, 07:55 PM

It was 245.00 under my price.

cole191919 · 02-25-2008, 08:00 PM

Einstein says to print the estimate out and give it to your painting contractor. I wouldn't want my customers showing up with those things. Good thing I live in Canada, we don't have zip codes...

timhag · 02-25-2008, 08:06 PM

Kitchen, $220.00 under my bid.

HomeGuardPaints · 02-25-2008, 08:17 PM

I like it, I would have been $50 under

LouisZerr · 02-25-2008, 09:47 PM

Tim..

I checked that site a few weeks ago and my results were very similar to yours...about $270 per area under what I would bid. The one thing I thought was ironic is a 6 x 8 foyer I did recently for a neighbor for $517 + tax, came up on mypaintbid for $625.86 with the same parameters. Yeah I know, results may vary.

Austin

timhag · 02-25-2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouisZerr

. Yeah I know, results may vary.
Austin

I hear ya, i sure wouldn't use this to determine my decision on a bid.

4ThGeneration · 02-27-2008, 11:48 PM

I believe it can be a good starting point. I know some on here said they would not use it, but why not "USE" it?

Imagine what it can do to cripple or atleast injure the classified painters in every local newspaper in America. How would a painter be able to come into a house and quote $75 for ceiling, walls and trim when the homeonwer who does their research sees a more true and honest quote from this bot estimator?

Homeowners are not stupid, they are just ignorant to what we know as contractors just like I am ignorant to the job they perform daily.

IMO anything that a homeowner can get in their hands that breaks off the trunk slamming hacks like a stick gets my Vote.

cole191919 · 02-28-2008, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4ThGeneration

Imagine what it can do to cripple or atleast injure the classified painters in every local newspaper in America. How would a painter be able to come into a house and quote $75 for ceiling, walls and trim when the homeonwer who does their research sees a more true and honest quote from this bot estimator?

I agree with you 4thGeneration, but I also see it both ways here. Here they also may use this tool to compare. For those customers that want cheap rather than quality, they will quote their own room, see that it should be around $500, but Joe Blow said he would do it for $300. At this point, they may figure, why even bother with other estimates. They may use this tool as the "norm" and go off what each quote compares to it.

timhag · 02-28-2008, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cole191919

I agree with you 4thGeneration, but I also see it both ways here. Here they also may use this tool to compare. For those customers that want cheap rather than quality, they will quote their own room, see that it should be around $500, but Joe Blow said he would do it for $300. At this point, they may figure, why even bother with other estimates. They may use this tool as the "norm" and go off what each quote compares to it.

Exactly, also, I was higher on all examples i produced. Doesn't need to be in the bidding battle field with me.

4ThGeneration · 02-28-2008, 12:24 AM

I do not mind anyone on my batlefield. You just have to be a general and take the field. Sell the benefits you offer. Load up the picures on them. Ask their concerns and answer them. If you do not get the bid after that consider yourself a winner and the other guy the weiner.

timhag · 02-28-2008, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4ThGeneration

I do not mind anyone on my batlefield. You just have to be a general and take the field. Sell the benefits you offer. Load up the picures on them. Ask their concerns and answer them. If you do not get the bid after that consider yourself a winner and the other guy the weiner.

I know it's not the end of the world if a potential customers tosses this in your face but, who wants to deal with it? Who wants another bullsh*t battle? Not me says General Lee.

4ThGeneration · 02-28-2008, 12:45 AM

Thats my General of choice since I am his kin folk mister...

cole191919 · 02-28-2008, 12:51 AM

When it comes down to it, I am confident in the service I am selling and that it is a skilled trade and a quality job, and that comes at a price. If the customer questions my estimate, a detailed and explained breakdown of why the estimate is quoted at that price will be necessary. But for those who question these prices, this website gives them now more weight behind their haggling power.

An uneducated customer will most of the time want a lower price, and with a printout of what this website quotes their living room at, it is more of a battle to overcome.

timhag · 02-28-2008, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cole191919

When it comes down to it, I am confident in the service I am selling and that it is a skilled trade and a quality job, and that comes at a price. If the customer questions my estimate, a detailed breakdown of why the estimate is quoted at that price, but for those who question these prices, this gives them now more weight behind their haggling power.

An uneducated customer will most of the time want a lower price, and with a printout of what this site quotes their living room at, it is more of a battle to overcome.

EricTheHandyman · 02-28-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cole191919

When it comes down to it, I am confident in the service I am selling and that it is a skilled trade and a quality job, and that comes at a price. .

Absolutely!! Most people think that any monkey can paint, but in reality it is a skilled trade, just like a plumber or electrician.

PressurePros · 02-28-2008, 12:30 PM

It doesn't seem very far off. If I were a company that charged less than what that calculator spit out I would be in my glory. I could raise my prices and send a customer to that website to verify that what i am charging is legit.

The issue with those calculators (though that is a good one) is that they allow the customer to assess conditions. A person with 30 coats of peeling latex, water damage and a 1/4" of nicotine staining probably believes his walls are in "fair" condition.

Philly Painter · 02-28-2008, 03:30 PM

$1026 for a 12x14 bedroom: 2 coats on walls, ceiling, 2 windows, one door, and baseboard. No way could I charge that.

PressurePros · 02-28-2008, 03:42 PM

That's about what I got when I ran the estimator for our area, Philly and thought it was decent.