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Posted by on December 2, 2006, 1:24 pm
RicodJour wrote:
> trader4@optonline.net wrote:
> > RicodJour wrote:
> > > jeffc wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >> What is a rough estimate based on square footage to have a
proffessional
> > > > >> inside house painting done?
> > > >
> > > > Maybe 50 cents per square foot of wall, not counting trim or repair, etc.
> > >
> > > Fine. Sold. Can you start tomorrow? I have people gladly paying
> > > three times that around here, so lunch is on me.
> > >
> > > Do you think you're doing the OP a favor by tossing out a number
> > > without _any_ information other than it's a _house_? The only thing I
> > > can tell you is that you're number is wrong. You might be high or low,
> > > but since I also don't have any information, I can't tell for sure.
> > >
> > > R
> >
> >
> > Interesting logic. Since you don't know where the house is either, how
> > can you be sure his number has to be high or low? It is also possible
> > that the number just happens to be correct.
>
> Define correct. If his number is the "correct" one, does that mean
> that all of the painters in that area, regardless of backlog and
> quality use the same exact number for estimating? Of course not.
>
> Giving someone an essentially random number is at best misleading and
> at worst harmful. Suppose the OP doesn't know any better and relies on
> that random number? Say a highely recommended contractor with a
> reputation for quality and good prices gives him a number of 75 cents a
> foot. The OP may pass on that contractor thinking that the price is
> high. What if it's not? What if 75 cents is the going rate in his
> area for an average painter, and in fact the higher quality contractor
> is a bargain at 75 cents?
>
> Flip it around. Say a low quality contractor gives him a price of 50
> cents, and the going rate _is_ 50 cents. The OP accepts it because it
> is the "correct" number. Unfortunately it's not the correct number for
> that contractor - his price should be 25 cents because he doesn't
> believe in painting prep and cleaning.
>
> The only way to get a reliable number is to pick up the phone, have
> someone eyeball the property, make sure their work is to your
> satisfaction and not some fly-by-night operation, and that their
> schedule works with yours.
>
> R
Good grief, take a breath and calm down. I hardly think that someone
is going to be seriously harmed by someone giving a wild guess on the
cost of painting a square foot of wall. And I don't disagree that
there isn't enough info about the scope of the work, location, etc.
My only point was you stated:
" The only thing I can tell you is that you're number is wrong. You
might be high or low,
but since I also don't have any information, I can't tell for sure. "
Unless the laws of logic have been repealed, there is also the third
possibility that he isn't high or low, but that the number he gave just
happens to be one that the guy could get the job done for.
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