What Paint Products Do You Use?

One of the questions we hear frequently at Chism Brothers is, "What paint products do you like to use?" This is a great question. Our answer is different than most of our competitors.

Chism Brothers Painting is not married to one paint manufacture like some of our competition. In our type of business, we have to constantly stay apprised of the latest products on the market and what is best for our clients' beautiful homes. Just as Consumer Reports gives ratings on a number of different paint products in their publication and rates them based on various factors, we also have our own rating system for all the products available to us in San Diego. For example, if a client has a problem with mildew in their bathroom, we will recommend a nationwide product from Zinsser called, "Perma-White." This product is not ordinarily available in our town, so we have requested from Dunn-Edwards and Vista Paint to stock this product for us because it works. We also cater to our customer's health needs. If a client is allergic to certain types of paints, we will suggest a low VOC or environmentally-friendly paint. 

Because we are always on the lookout to find the best paint for your home, in some cases, we can even help you save money on the overall cost of the job without trimming paint quality. Benjamin Moore has created a new product called Aura, which is guaranteed to cover any paint color in two coats. The paint product is environmentally friendly and is a premium paint. We recently saved a client in Mission Hills the cost of a 3rd or 4th coat of paint when we painted several red accent walls using Auru. 

So, when you ask a paint contractor what brand of paint he uses, make sure his response is similiar to this, "We use the best paint products we can find for your home." 

“Page of Happiness” from Angie’s List

One of the key benefits of Angie's List is that the reviews and opinions are more honest than other forms of advertising and testimonials you can find in print or on the web. The reviews are written by the homeowner with no obligation to write positive reviews to help market a business. Angie's List is also a paid membership, so it is exclusive and sometimes, more helpful than your local Better Business Bureau.

Last week, while doing an estimate in Del Mar, I asked the homeowner what prompted his call for an estimate? The owner had gotten our name from Angie's List. However, I knew that there were dozens of painters who had reviews. I wanted to know why he selected our company to come to his home. He said that we had very positive reviews as well as a nomination for what Angie's List calls the "Page of Happiness." If a client is extremely happy with a company's services, they can nominate them for this award. I was then shown the review from our customer and was quite humbled at the compliments paid to our staff. 

The review was from a client I have yet to meet! They originally found us on our website, called our office and were given a verbal estimate over the phone. The reason we have never met is because they were in the military and stationed back east. They could not meet, and they could not have us get into their rental home in Chula Vista. Everything had to be based on trust. So, to make them comfortable with our service and pricing, we gave them an approximate estimate based on how many days it would take using our Painter For a Day program x 3 days to do the downstairs. They were comfortable with our pricing and hired us. We also said that we would firm up the cost the day we started, which was the first opportunity to view the inside of the previously rented home. To make a long story short, they trusted us to help take care of a few other items around their home that needed attention. The husband's father lived nearby, so he was able to be the "mediator" to help relay things back to our customers. 

We are very thankful for all of our clients: especially those who would go out of their way to write a review about us that I NEVER would have found, since I was not a member of Angie's List and could not view the comments. Our Mission is to provide a one of a kind experience in whatever we do, by doing the right thing! We appreciate the positive feedback and will do whatever possible to make you feel that you made the right choice now and in the future!

Home Tour in Mission Hills

On October 13, 2007, The Mission Hills Heritage group will be hosting a walk through of the historically-designated William E. Kier House. It is the current home of the Heritage President, Barry Hager and his wife Hilary. This home's exterior was restored by Chism Brothers Painting in late 2005 with several interior projects in the late 1990s.

The tour is free to those interested.

Time: 3-5 pm 

When: October 13th

Where: 2252 Fort Stockton Dr. 

Get To Know Us At a Discount!

Ever since we started our Painter For a Day program in the late 1990s, our customers have been extremely happy! Most paint companies want to sell the big jobs, because it is a guarantee to keep them busy if times get tough. They are reluctant to take on the small jobs because they will miss the potential bigger project. It is also harder to service smaller projects if the paint company is already small in size. 

Our Painter For a Day was developed for our clients to complete their small jobs. We have 1 painter dedicated to this program. He is one of the most highly traded painters in the industry that can do just about any type of painting on your home. Chism Brothers is a service company, so we love the small jobs!

Our regular pricing for this daily painting program is only $570 plus material cost. For a limited time, we are offering a labor discount for you to get to know us. If you like us for the little job, you'll love us for the big job! Before committing to a larger project, hire us for the day! Sign up online

A Better Web Browser: Firefox

Most of us are accustomed to the same old web browser: Internet Explorer. It is a good browser and the most popular. However, there is a better browser out there that is faster and more complete. Mozilla Firefox loads pages and browses faster than Internet Explorer.

 The program can be downloaded for free directly from their website: Download Here

If you don't like the overall look and feel of your new Firefox browser, there are a number of custom Themes you can choose from once you have installed the program. You can also transfer all your bookmarked pages, passwords, etc. to Firefox. So, if you are willing to make a simple, beneficial change for a faster browser, turn to Firefox.  

Discounted Paint Jobs on Estimates within 7 Days

Chism Brothers Painting is offering a 7% discount on any painting estimate when you request your estimate in the next 7 days. So hurry and email or call our office for a painting quote to receive your discount. If you already have an estimate pending from Chism Brothers, we'll take 7% off the final price for the next 7 days. This offer ends September 19th. 

Don't forget that each complete interior or exterior paint job also comes with a free in home design plan from a certified interior designer. Our designers are carefully selected, so you can rest assured that you will get the best color selections for your home.  

“Walking The La Jolla Beat”

As a corporate sponsor of the La Jolla Historic Society, we wanted to apprise you of something that might be of interest to you history buffs. The society is introducing a special fall lecture entitled, "Walking the La Jolla Beat: a History of Law & Order in La Jolla." The cost is only $5 (free for members).

Here is the date and information:

Date & Time: 

Wednesday, October 24, 2007  / 6:30 pm

Location

St. James By-the-Sea Church

743 Prospect St, La Jolla 

www.lajollahistory.org 

The Chism Blend

Is your refrigerator overloaded with business advertisements, magnets with company logos? Or are your drawers full of cheap pens, note pads and company calendars? The Chism family has decided to leave behind something a little different when you request an estimate. Instead of getting another nifty magnet to add to your collection, you will receive some of the freshest and best-tasting coffee anywhere: unless , of course, you roast your own!

You might be asking yourself why we are leaving behind coffee with our free estimates. Well, for 3 reasons: 1) To be creative and different 2) To spark some great conversations 3) To reflect how the Chisms paint homes: with the best service & standards!

Oh...I guess there is a 4th reason we serve coffee! Whether or not you decide CBP is a good fit for you, this little treat will leave a great taste in your mouth about us! :o)

p.s. If the estimator forgets to give you coffee, let us know....we'll make sure you get one! 

Happy Labor Day!

Our office is closed today, but please do send us an email if you need assistance. We will respond promptly on Tuesday morning.

A Sales Company That Offers Painting Services

A number of months ago, we were asked to bid a coastal property in La Jolla with a very high quality product. Our estimator recognized the address and home as one Chism Brothers painted a number of years ago. The previous owner had sold the home, and the new owner wanted to do a few things to the home. We provided an estimate to the general contractor who referred us, and a few months went by with nothing happening. Then, we received a call requesting more information about products and what we would be doing. The owner, Mike Chism, this time went out to look at the project and explain what was estimated. We recommended a ceramic-based coating for this home that was right on the water. The reason the homeowner wanted us to come back out is to ask us about using a product that guaranteed to, "Never Paint Your Home again." The owner was at the Del Mar Fair this past June and ran into the sales company offering paint services with ludicrous warranites. Their sales information is so appealing to certain homeowners who want a paint job that will last for years and years. The problem is, they put an enormous price tag on the service that is not worth it. The companies are not paint companies but are truly more interested about selling a "product" at a high price, not a quality, long lasting service. It is ashame to hear and read about homeowners who have paid sometimes 3 times the cost to have these types of companies paint their home.

This morning, in our weekly staff meeting, our production manager said he drove by the property and saw that the home was being painted with the "Never Paint Your Home Again" product! As it turns out, the product we estimated was almost identical, just with a different name. Both products are good, but it is the company that is more important. Most professional paint companies can use ceramic coatings and charge a fair price, but if you receive an estimate from a company that ONLY advertises life time warranties and sells you on never having to paint again, beware. We warned the contractor that the owner would pay 3 times the cost, and as far as we know, she paid that much more because she felt she was getting a better job and product. This company and several others around town do not typically have their own employees or know a lot about paint. They sell a product and subcontract the work. What happens in 10 years if there is a touch-up item on your home? That company will most likely NOT be in business and will not honor the warranty because subcontractors, not employees did the work. 

Chism Brothers Painting will recommend the best paint for your home completed with integrity and a 5 year warranty. If there is a question or problem that arises longer than 5 years, we encourage our clients to call us, because we have been around for over 25 years to prove we will take care of our customers.  

A Good But Unprofessional Painter

I recently went to see a potential client in La Jolla who wanted her new sliding doors and a few new windows painted. I knew right away that the homeowner wanted a very high quality finish and a professional job. Her home was well taken care of. As I talked to her, I found out that she had purchased her doors from Grand Entrance, a high end window and door company in San Diego. She has previously called us to stain and finish her new front door, but we were not able to meet her short time frame. She ended up hiring another painter who did the job. I then asked her, "Did he do a good job? If so, why don't you hire him again." She told me to go look at his work. While inspecting his work, I realized, he was a very good painting contractor. He did a nice job on her entry door system. So the question remained, "Why is he not doing the next phase for her?"

The homeowner told me that he was a very nice man who did do good work, but she could not rely on him. She would call him, and it would sometimes take over a day to respond to her messages. He would then give her a window of time but not perform as he had said. It wasn't because he was a bad guy. He is just the typical small business owner trying to run a business, but is up to his ears in paperwork, phone calls, etc. 

We were awarded the project simply because she believed we were more professional and she had seen us around La Jolla. We followed up on phone calls. I showed up on time. We informed her last time (honestly) that we could not do her exterior door for 4 weeks, etc. In other words, we communicated professionally what we could and could not do. She liked that and was convinced we were a good fit.

The point of this story is to share with you that the next time you are considering hiring any trade professional, make sure the company is good and professional. One way to tell is to see if they are active in a trade association, such as the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (for painters). A professional company is sometimes (not always) more expensive, but you definitely will get what you pay for. Or customers do not want to worry about if we are going to show up or if the job will be done right. They are confident that we will do the right thing, and that is our mission.  

Grace Church Volunteer Day

We just wanted to say a BIG thank you to 3 of our foreman, Troy, Shawn, and John who worked a very long workday last Saturday without pay! Grace Church of Rancho Bernardo needed assistance in painting their new church building, and they were low on funds, relying on volunteer work. Our vice president, David Chism, attends Grace and was one of the men incharge of the efforts. David asked a few of his painters, and the men mentioned above were free and more than willing to help!

If they did not volunteer their time, Grace Chuch could not have painted the 18,000 sq. ft. building in one day. Thank you for sacrificing a very long day to serve in this way. The congregation was very appreciative!

Big Homes, Little Homes

I recently received a lead from our KPBS radio ad where the owner lived in Lakeside, CA. He said he heard the ad, went to our website and thought two things: 1) We might be expensive 2) We probably on work on big, expensive homes. The homeowner was a former contractor and knew a few paint companies to call upon but had little luck. He then came to the conclusion that his "little" home in east county was not important to us or worth our time. I told him that I showed up and was happy to give him an estimate hopefully paint his home. It was true that it was a little home from the normal homes we do, but it does not mean we can't do both!

Chism Brothers Painting has the goal to be the most professional service company in San Diego. To accomplish this goal, we will paint any size home and provide the best possible service to all of our clients. It is you who keep us in business, and we appreciate any size of jobs. To service the smaller projects, we began the Painter For a Day program back in the late 1990's as well. This has proved to be a success because now there are several competitors doing the same thing! Whatever size your home is or if you live in the San Diego county area, we are here for you! 

Your Price Is Too High!

A frequently-made statement that salesmen cringe to hear is, "Your price is too high!" It is one I have heard many times in our painting business as well. The funny thing is, I think this phrase is untrue most of the time. Why do consumers assume a price is high? Is it because they have a preconceived idea in their heads of the perfect cost for an item or service? Or do they have extensive knowledge of a certain business or product to know what a good price should be? When I hear a homeowner tell me that my price is too high, I don't flinch or jump into the defense attorney mode anymore. I realize that there are a number of reasons why the cost may not be what they were expecting. 

For example, a couple of weeks ago, a woman called for a complete color change involving 12 different colors in her home. She started off sharing with me a lot of (what I would call) valuable information. She told me who she had hired in the past and why she liked them. I began to wonder why she was getting another estimate instead of just using the same contractor again. As I asked a few questions to find out why she had called me, she began to share some of the problems she had had with the former painter. I listened for a little while and then proceeded to tell her I would give her a ballpark of what I thought it would cost. I did not spend a lot of time, because she still seemed sold on her "first" choice. My cost was approximately $10,000 to repaint the entire inside of this home (12 colors). Her eyes got real big as she told me that the bid from the other painter was $3,000 for two coats! I began to do the math in my head (i.e. worker's comp. legal employees, safety training, paint supplies, etc) and realized something was quite wrong with the price difference. To make a long story short, she decided to continue with her previous painting contractor and cross her fingers that the job would turn out better the third time. I say the third time, because the first paint job, the painters oversprayed most of the exterior windows and the second time (interior trim) they got paint on her floors and on or around light switches. If a contractor bids a furnished interior repaint for $3,000, they will not do a quality job. Instead, they have to cut corners and hire cheap laborers or they will force themselves out of business over time. 

So when you and I are faced with an estimate for a service on our home or a price tag at a department store that seems higher than we are expecting, try doing a little research before making a decision. If a business has been around a long time with a good reputation and charges the prices they do, there is typically a good explanation for why they charge a certain price. The bottom line is that people buy from people they like and trust. If you like a company and still feel they are high, talk to them. Ask them how you can save money. Personally, I think my company is the best! If you asked me how you could save money, I would be delighted to help. Therefore, I hope to speak with you soon.

How To Keep a Paint Job Looking Great!

Here are just a couple of ways to keep you paint job looking great:

 1) Keep The Painted Surfaces Clean: We all know that keeping your car garaged and washed regularly will keep the paint job looking new. If a car is kept outside, uncovered and not washed often, the paint job will fail. Rinsing off the the exterior of your home on an annual basis will keep salt and dirt from damaging your paint job. On interior painted surfaces, use non-abrasive cleaners to wipe down the surfaces as needed.

2) Free Inspections: Make sure the painting company you hire provides a free inspection. Depending on what was done, an inspection should be done every 1 to 3 years. If you do not have a coastal property, you can wait 3 years. A professional company will put it in their file to contact you, so you do not have to worry about it. Inspections are good, because if there is a slight issue, it can be dealt with right away and therefore, save you money and time.

3) Touch Up Rather Than Repaint: When your home is in need of a complete repaint, make sure you spend the time and money the first time to do a very thorough prep job and apply two coats of a quality paint. There are the rare cases that may require one coat, depending on the existing surface and condition. After a home has been properly painted, we recommend that you touch-up the sun exposed areas every 2-3 years. This is not an expensive task and can save you thousands of dollars by not having to completely repaint your home in 5-10 years. By maintaining the areas that get the most moisture or sun exposure, you will avoid major sanding and prep in the future. Chism Brothers Painting helps our clients accomplish this task with our Painter For a Day program. People hire us sometimes just to do touch-ups and or maintain the quality appearance of their homes without fully repainting all the surfaces. This way, it keeps the home always looking sharp.
If you ever have a question about your painting project, please feel free to comment on our blog or send us an email.