House 2016: Paint
My house has siding on it, but the siding only covers the main part of the walls. The trim and eaves are all wooden, and after nine years they were in desperate need of a few coats of paint. I dislike climbing on ladders (and hard work!) so I had budgeted money to pay somebody to do this work. The problem was finding them.
First, I asked around at work. I got a list of 3-4 contractors that had been used by coworkers. I called them all... and none of them called me back.
Then I asked some of my friends. I got 3-4 more contractor suggestions. None of them called me back.
At this point somebody looked up the Angie's List top rated painters for my area for me. I got three new contractor suggestions. I called these three. One called me back, only to tell me that they weren't interested in the job. Thankfully, the last one called me back and came out to give me an estimate. Of course, at this point I had no idea if the estimate was fair, but it was in budget and I was so fed up that I went with it.
From there things started well. They gave me a clear estimate of their schedule, and sent me weekly updates as we approach that date. They came out while I was at my sister's wedding and painted the house. Success!
Now, naturally there were a few touch ups needed. I sent them a full list of about ten comparatively minor items, and they came out and walked through it with me. Their rep took pictures, and they promised to send someone out. Here is where the comedy of issues started. They'd come out and do some of the list, but not the rest. Then there was a long pause, and they'd come out again and do some more. The very last item on the list took two weeks, and they missed three dates they said they'd be out. It turns out that the last item was misunderstood and they re-painted something else. How this happened when it was written up, photographed and shown to them in person, I can't say.
So I'm conflicted. On the one hand, they communicated very well, and responded promptly to all my concerns. The paint looks good. On the other hand, the solid month after the original part of the job was done is concerning. If I need painting in the future, I'll certainly look for other contractors.
Oh well. The job is done, even if it was frustrating, and even if I might have overpaid. My house moved from the "least attractive 20% of the houses on the block" to "more attractive than 50% of the houses on the block." I'm in no danger of being cited, and the wood is protected. Good enough.
First, I asked around at work. I got a list of 3-4 contractors that had been used by coworkers. I called them all... and none of them called me back.
Then I asked some of my friends. I got 3-4 more contractor suggestions. None of them called me back.
At this point somebody looked up the Angie's List top rated painters for my area for me. I got three new contractor suggestions. I called these three. One called me back, only to tell me that they weren't interested in the job. Thankfully, the last one called me back and came out to give me an estimate. Of course, at this point I had no idea if the estimate was fair, but it was in budget and I was so fed up that I went with it.
From there things started well. They gave me a clear estimate of their schedule, and sent me weekly updates as we approach that date. They came out while I was at my sister's wedding and painted the house. Success!
Now, naturally there were a few touch ups needed. I sent them a full list of about ten comparatively minor items, and they came out and walked through it with me. Their rep took pictures, and they promised to send someone out. Here is where the comedy of issues started. They'd come out and do some of the list, but not the rest. Then there was a long pause, and they'd come out again and do some more. The very last item on the list took two weeks, and they missed three dates they said they'd be out. It turns out that the last item was misunderstood and they re-painted something else. How this happened when it was written up, photographed and shown to them in person, I can't say.
So I'm conflicted. On the one hand, they communicated very well, and responded promptly to all my concerns. The paint looks good. On the other hand, the solid month after the original part of the job was done is concerning. If I need painting in the future, I'll certainly look for other contractors.
Oh well. The job is done, even if it was frustrating, and even if I might have overpaid. My house moved from the "least attractive 20% of the houses on the block" to "more attractive than 50% of the houses on the block." I'm in no danger of being cited, and the wood is protected. Good enough.