my wife and i just closed on our house today, i need the trim painted, does anyone know who does this locally in town for a good price, and has seen there work? thanks

Thanks Mike! I will be giving him a call first thing in the morning, I appreciate it! see ya!

i did not know that Mathew, thanks for the affirmation.





peace..................................mike

bigmikes wrote on 08/27/09 at 7:30am:


Thats crazy, I don't do houses anymore, because the insurance company made me quit (they dropped all residential contractors).

But I would have to say that a legitimate, licensed, insured (liability and workers comp) and permitted contractor will go broke painting complete houses for $1300.

Unless it is just the trim or something, in which case one guy could finish it before lunch, if he busted azz.

Painter's workers comp premium is among the highest of all trades (about $26.00 per $100 of payroll)

Example for 2 men to paint 1 house exterior (1 day):

2-men @ $21/hr ($15 + 40% comp and ssi, etc)           = $420
20 gals 100% acrylic paint @ $20/gal                           = $400
Consumables- Tape, paper, cardboard, sandpaper, etc = $80
work truck, insurance, gas, wear and tear                     = $75
Spray rig w/permit, pressure washer, etc                      = $75
Sales taxes                                                                = $40
Liability insurance and license fees                               = $30
                                                        sub total ---      $1120
owners mark-up @ 25%                                               $280
                                                                    total----$1400

I wouldn't do it for that, as I prefer the Texas 2% or for every 1 I spend, I get 2 back-lol for a total of $2800.

I would paint this example for a friend or families house for beer + cost or a customers for $2800.

If your gonna work for free, then work for free- otherwise it's $2800

Or drive away.

Painting a house for $1300 is really equal to one of you guys going to work and donating a days labor for free, and paying for all of the tools and transportation out of your pocket.

And for the do-it-your-selfers, be honest-(1) how much time did you really spend on it,(2) how much paint or overspray is on the windows, roof, concrete, etc? (3) where did you hide the mess?

I would give the guy his $1300, a big thank you, a tip, a kiss and a Christmas card---That is a deal

JMPO

I got 10 gallons of paint from Sherwin Williams paint for around 90 a piece then I had a bunch of newspapers to cover windows and such and I did buy some tape but I found it easier to use a cardboard  beer box with a straight line cut on it to do the trim and make it look nice I also spent around 25 bux in rollers. Im just saying  I saved alot a had a great day with the family which is priceless in todays world.

I think the guy the gave me the estimate pays his guys cash im sure he dont pay comp and insurance for them, that is how the little guy is surviving in todays over taxed world.

ben it works GREAT when you are sued.....lol

hogracer3d wrote on 08/27/09 at 9:00am:


Nice post, sometimes someone that knows what their talking about needs to tell people, that don't own a business, how expensive it is too do business in Cali.  

hschamp90 wrote on 08/28/09 at 9:12pm:



I know what it cost to work here in Cali, I only was suggesting to Robby to do it himself to save some cash that he could use in his racecar

Congratulations on the House Robby, and my comment is not a attack on you.

Hogracer you have my up most respect by illistrating the actual cost  of doing buisness and your integrity to run it ligitmatly as a felow contractor we are the underdog ...seem some one always has a clever way to get around the actual cost(TAX FREE), my beef is wilth contractors that have workers comp certificates but pay their employess cash
Workers comp as evil as it sounds has treated my employees fairly as well as me  I would not send any one out in the feild with out it , their is no better feeling than telling some one with a issue, go to the emergency room  if you think there is a problem .

People that pick up help at home depot or circle K , you do not know who they are bring to there house, possible fugitives , ailens , basic criminal,current injuries,dodgeing child support, ect. or skill level. if necessary use a service like labor ready , they charge $15.00 a hr and provide workers comp , so later if a problem arises their name is documented any injuries are covered and less chance of theft.

When you employ a Ligit contractor you are putting your money back into the local economy , not having it spent to up grade living in mexico  but in your town paying city taxes and lubricating your economy

Also a contractors skill level and experience is what you are paying for , a lot of trades are generalized by monkey see monkey do , I see a lot of good material installed with 3rd world labor and quality  not lasting  because it was not installed by a journeyman who dose the same trade daily , the customer saved 20% but the product fails  early, where is the savings ?

When I give a Bid I ask the customer are you trying to make a savings  or a investment with your purchase , If you are trying to save money I am in the wrong guy,because you can allways  get it done cheaper by a guy standing in front of circle K

Any job with a combined material and labot cost can not exceed $600  per job address  other wise you are contracting with out a license
A home owner or buisness owner can play contractor  and hire some one hourly but not by the piece, gut now assumes all the responsibility , risk and Warrenty.

When planing your project before you sign anythink  Check License status , either on the web CSLB.ORG or 1-800 321-CSLB and in 5 minutes you will know if their WC is current , what trade they are licensed for , and any claims that have been made, current and previose historys with bond companys and court judgements...............you could just be handing a check to a guy who's license is revoked , suspended , contracting out of class , workers comp exempt or non existant
Also ask to have a certificate of General liability faxed from their agent and not from them / easy to fake ( takes minutes not days, takes one phone call...if there is a delay may be a problem)... you will not be listed on it other wise it cost another $100, it is just the copy you want to see
it will also state the WC status

If you hire unlicense make sure they are 30% lower than a ligit contractor as they do not have the same overhead , now you have some extra money to repair any failures or legal matters that may occure at a later date

Yeah, this whole insurance deal has been what's killing us for years. We have run a respectable and honest Plumbing shop here in Bakersfield for the last 19 years, and when I stepped into the position of handling everything from start to finish on a daily basis, I finally had a good arguement with our liability insurance guy. He really pissed me off on a quote of $56,800.00 a year for track homes which has been our steady bread and butter for many years. The problems stem from cheaters of the system and virtually no policing of the laws. I've come to realize the general public has to help us police it by demanding the quality and respecting the costs as we are trained specialist at what we do. It seems like a losing battle as we're fading away with a new breed of contractors are taking over, just wish it would of happened back when I was 20 instead of now, I'm 40 and not sure what to do. Guess I'll just go build a racecar LOL.      Chad

I Check the license status of my competitors  and have called them directly and told them that I inform their customers that they have no workers comp  and didnt want them to hear it second hand ...I also have my payroll company call them and ask if the can be of service  to ligitimize there buisness practices ....shakes them up ...enough to get a WC policy but that dosent mean they pay into it .
I have contacted the contractors board to make complaints  against contractors licened and unlicened  and they have every excuse why not to come out mainly "entrapment" same with WC ...worthlessbastards.

The advantage of employing a ligit contractor  is if a problem arises durring or after the job is compleate  you contact their bond company ( found on CSLB website) and they will fairly resolve the problem and will pay the judjement even if the contractor is broke ...this cancels their bond and ability to conduct buisness leagly untill the bond is paid off ... it is one quick way to get some ones attention(a lot of contractors think you cant touch them because they are incorperated, this fixes that ) ..expecialy if they dont return your phone call.
When I talk to prospective customers I tell them to look at work that is at least 1 year old and talk to the customers about their experince ,preformance and warrenty wise

Contractors are required to behave and follow all the rules ...Too bad the same isnt inforced with the consumers..a small form of tax evasion!

The best thing is that you do not have to pay a unlicend contractor 1 cent... and if they do a bad job you can sue them to have it done correctly by a licensed contractor .......a big waste of your time and money ...but the education will be priceless

You Pay Peanuts .... You Get Monkeys !  

You are Either THE CAUSE or THE CURE