Anybody ever do a re-paint on a Walmart? We do residential and small commercial but never have bid on a 120,000 sqft building. Actually have 2 sets of prints on my desk (within our travel distance) to bid on a new Walmart and a re-paint same co. Just wondering if I'm getting into something I might regret. We have a small crew (5 guys) but we're all animals when it comes to painting. We have the right equipment but would like some feed back on this size project..Thanks in advance
Walmart
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Hi Buckyboy, i don't know if i have seen you around.....welcome to the site. Like you, I do residential and commercial repaints and never bid on a job that size. If you guys are all animals and you have the proper equipment, I say go for it. You can get er done buddy.:thumbsup:
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That sounds like a fun project. Its a thrill to go big!
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Thanks NEPS, this will help him and others look at the positives and negitives of doing this type of work. I give you two thumbs up for this advice.....you're the best.:thumbup:
I stay in touch with several PM's across the country that bid on commercial projects in my area and this company along with several other department/big box stores are very difficult to work with. Most likely you are looking at plans from a GC that is bidding the project. If you locate the bidder's list you can get more bang for your buck and submit bids with all perspective GC's. You have to be very careful with these bids. The guys that make money in these types of builds or remodels have it down to a science and do several stores a month. Hard to make it profitable to start. The last time I looked to bid one of these I would of had to sign a waiver in which I would not expect to recieve payment until 90 days after the GC had recieved their final payment. These big companies do so many builds and remodels they expect the GC to finance the job ...in turn, your financing your end.
Dont get me wrong....I'm sure guys here will tell you that it's a great opportunity. I just think there might be easier ways to make money with 5 guys. Good luck.
Dont get me wrong....I'm sure guys here will tell you that it's a great opportunity. I just think there might be easier ways to make money with 5 guys. Good luck.
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I would take NEPS' advice very seriously on this one. He, more than anyone I know, looks at this type of bidding alot, and understands the nature of that game.
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:yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: Agree 100 million %
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I know a painting company in town that just painted a Super Walmart this past fall and he was waiting on payment for a very long time.
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I wouldnt even want to cover the materials on one of those for a month...can you imagine how much that would be? Then with labor...yikers
I am new to this site and thank you for the welcome..the bid pkg. comes on a cd with the plans and additional plans are extra if you need them. I looked at the paint schedule and you have to do the work at night and into the a.m. so I guess your not in the way then. I believe your right about having to finance the paint end, sounds like you have to have quite a bank roll just by looking at all the different kinds of paint they require, and plus they have to be stored off site which means you probably need a container. The only reason I'm looking into this is because my partners are younger than me and a little more energenic. We are licensed and insured and they think by taking on a bigger job that there will be more money come end of year with bonuses. Me personally would rather stick to small commercial and res. but I told them I would pursue it. I think I'll let them read some of these responses and let them draw their own conclusions. We have a meeting this Sat. and I think it will require an extra six pack (tall boys). Thanks for the quick responses and appreciate all of your help guys.
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Big projects carry big risks. And big risks also carry the potential for big rewards. I've never done a project that large, but I'd be pretty nervous. It would take a lot of planning and careful execution. The planning, as others indicated, should include the financial end. That's a lot of material and labor to pay for while waiting for your money.
Brian Phillips
Brian Phillips
The "Big Rewards" part is what you need to forget when bidding it.
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Or build the rewards into the bid.
You better not count on winning this type of bid then. Why don't you think these jobs are sold to unions? They might...I said Might bring on union carpenters to apease the unions and prevent picketing, but the crunching begins after that.
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Exactly. I would only want to "win" it if it could be done in a rewarding way. It would be suicide to bid something like that optimistically and hope that things go your way. I'd rather book 1000 small jobs than take 1 big potential loser.
Exactly my point! :thumbsup:
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I hope there arent too many painters out here bidding jobs like this and planning their business' future around that type of work. Or people bidding them feeling like they really "need" to get it...
I always thought a job like this could "Put my company on the map!". More like wipe it OFF the map!
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If this is an exterior repaint I her from a friend that the winning bids on them were really low. So low in fact I can't imagine even doing them.
I guess if you really need the work then go for it.
I guess if you really need the work then go for it.
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