[WestCoast99]

There's nothing high about your price. Skim coating a textured ceiling usually isn't a one coat deal. Here's how I imagine a simple bedroom ceiling skim coat going:

Initial walk through to create a price and scope of work, creating the bid and get it accepted (or not), set up, floor protection, scuff sanding, skimming on the first coat, dry down time, bumping off compound/plaster ridges, skimming on a second coat, caulk angle between wall and ceiling if you didn't end up with a perfect joint, clean up, pack up, type up the invoice and send the bill in the mail. That is at least a full day or so dedicated to this seemingly little job.

 

[Brushman4]

I think for only leveling and skimming a 13X13 sf ceiling, $500.00 is well within the ball park, and a fair market price IMO. The homeowner missed an opportunity. I also think that could be done in one eight hour day provided you incorporate fast set.

HC-Radd, just sub the job out to CApainter and tack on 25%!:biggrin:

 

[Pete Martin the Painter]

I think for only leveling and skimming a 13X13 sf ceiling, $500.00 is well within the ball park, and a fair market price IMO. The homeowner missed an opportunity. I also think that could be done in one eight hour day provided you incorporate fast set.

I have little experience removing ceilings....hate doing it. But, if there is no priming and painting involved, I might be able to do this in a day, but I doub it.

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[CApainter]

The OP said it is a sponged texture, not acoustic. Other than sanding it off with one of those Festool drywall sanders, I think it can be gone over with a taping knife to knock down the highs, and skim coated with fast set. At least on the first coat. Followed with an all purpose on the second coat. This could be done in a day if your floating skills are good. And at worst maybe a follow up the next day to knock some ridges down. Fans will speed up the process. And although I have never done it, I hear rolling on the fast set before floating it out makes it go pretty fast.

 

[PACman]

You people should try selling paint sometime. Doesn't matter at all how competitively you have your pricing about half the people that walk in will tell you your prices are ridiculous. If i don't have half the people walk in and say my prices are ridiculous, i know it's time to raise my prices because they are too low. I can literally check prices at the four biggest paint retailers in the US in a half hour, change my prices to match, and have half the people that come in bitch because my prices are too high. It's just part of the game for some reason, and i'm sure it's much worse when giving a price on a service that everyone thinks they can do themselves. Or they can hire some crackhead of Craigslist to do. Or so they think.

Also, you'd be surprised how many consumers actually think that my prices should be comparable with Walmarts paint prices. It doesn't mean a thing to them that Walmarts paint is the crap of crap, my prices are high because they can buy "paint" at Walmart for $9.99 per gallon. I can get paint i can sell at that price but why? Why would I cheapen my business to that point? That's the way you have to look at it when someone says your price is ridiculous. Why would you cheapen your skills to the point where you are willing to price match to someone who is going to do a terrible job if they know how to do it at all? There are plenty of people in the world that can screw that ceiling up real good to get a few quick bucks.

 

[CApainter]

We just have too many old people around that remember when you could buy the paint, the bucket, and the brush for only a nickel.

 

[HC-Raad]

Thanks for all the tips on how you would handle this ceiling. I have a few tricks of my own. However, no use talking shop on a job I didn't get. I am already on the next 6 estimates.

 

[radio11]

I'm currently working to get my prices up to the "ridiculous" level. Congratulations and wish me luck.


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[PACman]

Thanks for all the tips on how you would handle this ceiling. I have a few tricks of my own. However, no use talking shop on a job I didn't get. I am already on the next 6 estimates.

well no wonder! Your dang price was too high!:devil3:

 

[HC-Raad]

well no wonder! Your dang price was too high!:devil3:

Actually, she had about $4,000 in painting work she wanted a price for.

This was my email to her:

Hi Customer,

- Firstly, it was nice to meet you and your husband!
- Secondly, when you stated that my price for your ceiling was ridiculous, I immediately realized we would not be a fit. We charge $xx/hr per painter (that is a low rate for a licensed and fully insured business). Therefore, I have respectfully decided to decline bidding on your project.
- Thirdly, we most likely would not be able to accommodate your timeline due to prior contracts.

We wish you the best!

 

[CApainter]

I would have never sent that email. It seems a little hostile.

 

[CApainter]

Actually, she had about $4,000 in painting work she wanted a price for.

This was my email to her:

Hi Customer,

- Firstly, it was nice to meet you and your husband!
- Secondly, when you stated that my price for your ceiling was ridiculous, I immediately realized we would not be a fit. We charge $xx/hr per painter (that is a low rate for a licensed and fully insured business). Therefore, I have respectfully decided to decline bidding on your project.
- Thirdly, we most likely would not be able to accommodate your timeline due to prior contracts.

We wish you the best!

Revised email;

Dear Mrs. Mugillicutty,

It was a pleasure meeting you and your husband Ralph. I apologize for any inconvenience my estimates may have caused you. I would like to be your painter and I look forward to providing you with the quality you expect.

Please contact me when you are ready. Meanwhile, I will be on a project in town for the next couple of weeks. At your request, I can provide you with the customer's contact information upon completion.

Thank you so much,

Raad Painting

 

[HC-Raad]

I would have never sent that email. It seems a little hostile.

You weren't there. It's not fair and it's hard to judge what you would have said or done, if you didn't experience it first hand. Only a fool would judge another persons dealing without being present. And I know you're a wise man! :wink:

My hero. This guy nails it!

 

[RH]

I would have never sent that email. It seems a little hostile.

Yeah, I would have left out the second part and just said thanks and that scheduling issues prevent us from going further.

 

[RH]

You weren't there. It's not fair and it's hard to judge what you would have said or done, if you didn't experience it first hand. Only a fool would judge another persons dealing without being present. And I know you're a wise man! :wink:

My hero. This guy nails it!

Why You Want a Low Sales Closing Rate in Your Contractor Business - YouTube

But remember, this is a public forum and a forum by definition is a place where ideas and opinions on issues are exchanged. If you don't want other members to weigh in about your message to the HO, don't post it.

 

[HC-Raad]

But remember, this is a public forum and a forum by definition is a place where ideas and opinions on issues are exchanged. If you don't want other members to weigh in about your message to the HO, don't post it.

Fair enough. But the women was rude and I was quite offended. And she wasted 3 hours of my time. My email to her was a polite FU. That is how I would handle it again and again and again! She was looking for a $20 painter.

 

[RH]

Fair enough. But the women was rude and I was quite offended. And she wasted 3 hours of my time. My email to her was a polite FU. That is how I would handle it again and again and again! She was looking for a $20 painter.

And that's fine. Just don't get offended by differing opinions because as soon as you put something out there you are inviting them.

 

[CApainter]

Fair enough. But the women was rude and I was quite offended. And she wasted 3 hours of my time. My email to her was a polite FU. That is how I would handle it again and again and again! She was looking for a $20 painter.

I knew you were being hostile! :biggrin:

 

[woodcoyote]

Don't feel bad about your price. My opinion: It's too low.

Don't think you'll be making much money, especially if you have to prime/paint your new skim coat of mud. A job like that would probably run $1,200+ or so. A guy or two, material, priming & paint. Plus masking the floors off, etc. etc. More to it than you think.

The best thing to do is describe to the Customer what a PROFESSIONAL would do for them if they were to do the job. I do this all the time and it helps us win bids.

"If you hire someone or call someone to give you a bid, make sure they do these things:
a.)
b.)
c.)
etc.

Also give them the reasons why, per item. Example:

Mask floors. Why? Because you have tile here or carpet and cleaning porous grout is very hard and time consuming, plus it'll probably stain it. Or carpet, etc. etc.

End with: This is what we do, as professionals. So if you speak with anyone else, make sure they do these things or mention things type of things to you. "


Let the other guy hang himself. He won't mention any of those items or break those things down for customers. Their weakness is your biggest asset.

Good luck in future bids!

 

[chrisn]

I would have never sent that email. It seems a little hostile.

I thought it was sort of girly, what with the exclamation points and all:vs_laugh:

PS, no offense to the girls