What would you do in this situation????

#1
Vol Mania 21

Vol Mania 21

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#1
Here's the deal, I hired a painter to come do some painting. I did half of it, but didn't have time to finish it. He comes over twice and both times estimates that labor would cost between 500-600. reasonable price i think. This does not include the cost of materials. Materials costed maybe 100 or a little more.

Well he just left a voicemail on my cell saying that he had to charge more on labor, and that my bill was 819. This has got me fired up.

Personally I'm going to make him give me reciepts for the materials, and then add that to the 600. I will NOT pay more on labor. I'm 25 and I think he thinks he can stick it to me and I won't know the difference. Bad thing for him is my dad use to build houses when i was growing up and made me work on them. We painted, put in tile floors, etc, instead of hiring someone to come in and do it. So I know how these guys do. Bad business, he will not get any recommendations from me.

Just wanted to see what everyone else thought of this situation and what they would do.
 
#2
#2
If he waited until after the job was finished to tell you of the labor increase I wouldn't pay a dime extra. I would ask again what the exact cost of materials was. After he gives you a number, ask for receipts. Check dates for accuracy in case he tries to slip you someone else's receipts.

In the future, get an estimate in writing. Make a note (on the estimate) that you will not be responsible for cost overruns unless you agree (in writing) to the increase prior to said work being done. Have the contractor sign it.
 
#4
#4
Ya I should've done that, but I took the man at his word. He's a former career oriented marine. Fig he'd be a man of his word. He still won't get the extra
 
#6
#6
watch the material costs. a lot of these guys have buddies that will "sell" them paint and such for twice the price you can get things at home depot and then the painter pockets the difference in the form of a "rebate".
 
#7
#7
i didn't have time, even tho i'm here a lot, i'm having to monitor stuff at work, and i've been on call for work, and will continue to be so thru oct. can't really get started painting, the masonite and trim outside and not have my phone on me. I have a brick house, it's really not that much to paint, just the peaks on the sides was all that was left, my front porch was masonite, and i painted all of that. i did half of it. this guy is just tryin to take me for a ride, to bad i'm in the drivers seat, and he's bout to get run over
 
#8
#8
droski said:
watch the material costs. a lot of these guys have buddies that will "sell" them paint and such for twice the price you can get things at home depot and then the painter pockets the difference in the form of a "rebate".
Click to expand...

i provided the paint myself, so he def can't charge that
 
#9
#9
$100 for paint and materials? I paid over $40 bucks just on a can of paint ($25), and brushes, rollers, and tape last summer. And that was just for one room.

I figured you would have had to spend a little more than $100 just on paint alone. Oh well... How many rooms were being painted? Because for 600-800, sounds like you had a significant number of rooms to do.
 
#11
#11
Rasputin_Vol said:
$100 for paint and materials? I paid over $40 bucks just on a can of paint ($25), and brushes, rollers, and tape last summer. And that was just for one room.

I figured you would have had to spend a little more than $100 just on paint alone. Oh well... How many rooms were being painted? Because for 600-800, sounds like you had a significant number of rooms to do.
Click to expand...

it was painting the masonite and trim on the outside of my house. my house is brick, it's just the peaks on the sides that were left to be painted.
 
#12
#12
volmanbill said:
If he waited until after the job was finished to tell you of the labor increase I wouldn't pay a dime extra. I would ask again what the exact cost of materials was. After he gives you a number, ask for receipts. Check dates for accuracy in case he tries to slip you someone else's receipts.

In the future, get an estimate in writing. Make a note (on the estimate) that you will not be responsible for cost overruns unless you agree (in writing) to the increase prior to said work being done. Have the contractor sign it.
Click to expand...
Good stuff, Bill. This sort of procedure should be standard for anybody in a service industry. And make sure it's a binding document. Keeps them from being able to jack up prices after the fact.
 
#13
#13
Vol Mania 21 said:
Personally I'm going to make him give me reciepts for the materials, and then add that to the 600. I will NOT pay more on labor. I'm 25 and I think he thinks he can stick it to me and I won't know the difference. Bad thing for him is my dad use to build houses when i was growing up and made me work on them. We painted, put in tile floors, etc, instead of hiring someone to come in and do it. So I know how these guys do. Bad business, he will not get any recommendations from me.

Just wanted to see what everyone else thought of this situation and what they would do.
Click to expand...

So how much do you charge? We will be making improvements over the course of the next few years. :p
 
#14
#14
sorry Kev, I'm out of that business.

I told the guy that I thought his price was ridiculous, so we settled on 700, which is what I expected.
 
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