The real estate agent recommended that we have our ceilings painted before listing our house. I know that this doesn't sound like a "big deal" but it is. We have 2 and a half story cathedral ceilings in the family room, living room and bedroom. The hallway connects directly to the ceiling in foyer, the stairway and the upstairs hallway and the dining room. I am also having a bathroom ceiling redone because the guy that patched it didn't do a very good job. I also have minor sheet rock repairs and a couple of cracks to be fixed. I had three estimates. The first, "Painter A", we had do the ceilings in three areas 20 years ago and the exterior of our house once. He has also worked in the neighborhood so we know him a little. The cost was $1800. It was a lot of work, we needed it due to a puff back with the oil burner. "Painter A" is meticulous but slowwwww. It took him 5 days to come to the house. He hasn't gotten back to me with the estimate. In fact, he spent 90 minutes at our house talking about paint, etc, etc, etc. I finally said, "lets walk to your truck and see if you have any paint samples". He would spray the paint on the ceiling. I still haven't received the estimate.
"Painter B" primarily is a painter but is familiar with using texture. He plans to roll the paint on the ceiling and will touch up the bathroom. He was slow to return phone calls, but did come within 3 days after he called back. He seemed to want the job but its been a week and no estimate in from him either.
"Painter C" had done work for one of my neighbors. They liked him personally and professionally. He returned my call right away. He would have come the next day but I already had another painter coming and I didn't want them to intersect. He came. I didn't have to point out the details of what needed to be done, he saw it right away. He said that the bathroom ceiling cannot be repaired, it needs to be redone. (I agree). He called me within 2 days with an estimate. He is experienced in drywall and he is French Canadian. They are EXCELLENT when it comes to drywall. He dresses meticulously. He isn't young but he isn't old. Right in the middle. His estimate is $2800 but I have large rooms, it will require a coat of sealer (Kilz) and 2 coats of paint and a lot of draping for the prep.
I feel funny not having the other estimates, but even if I had them in my hand, I can predict that painter A will be more expensive. I don't have a sense about Painter B, but even if the other two were less expensive, I feel that Painter C is the most competent and will do the best job. I am just surprised that he wants to start tomorrow. He does a lot of work down on the shore and he wants to take a break from that. He lives on his boat while he works down there. From the way he dresses, his car, now his boat, I would say he is successful, which means to me, he is good at his job. Would you hire someone without seeing the other estimates if you felt he was the best one? Its a first for me, but for the work involved I feel its a fair price.
"Painter B" primarily is a painter but is familiar with using texture. He plans to roll the paint on the ceiling and will touch up the bathroom. He was slow to return phone calls, but did come within 3 days after he called back. He seemed to want the job but its been a week and no estimate in from him either.
"Painter C" had done work for one of my neighbors. They liked him personally and professionally. He returned my call right away. He would have come the next day but I already had another painter coming and I didn't want them to intersect. He came. I didn't have to point out the details of what needed to be done, he saw it right away. He said that the bathroom ceiling cannot be repaired, it needs to be redone. (I agree). He called me within 2 days with an estimate. He is experienced in drywall and he is French Canadian. They are EXCELLENT when it comes to drywall. He dresses meticulously. He isn't young but he isn't old. Right in the middle. His estimate is $2800 but I have large rooms, it will require a coat of sealer (Kilz) and 2 coats of paint and a lot of draping for the prep.
I feel funny not having the other estimates, but even if I had them in my hand, I can predict that painter A will be more expensive. I don't have a sense about Painter B, but even if the other two were less expensive, I feel that Painter C is the most competent and will do the best job. I am just surprised that he wants to start tomorrow. He does a lot of work down on the shore and he wants to take a break from that. He lives on his boat while he works down there. From the way he dresses, his car, now his boat, I would say he is successful, which means to me, he is good at his job. Would you hire someone without seeing the other estimates if you felt he was the best one? Its a first for me, but for the work involved I feel its a fair price.
. I wonder if its "inherited". 
