“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.

Morton’s & Outback Steakhouse

My wife and I were recently invited by one of my long-time customers, Mrs. K in La Jolla, to join her for a steak dinner at Morton's in downtown San Diego. It was such a treat for us, and I must say, I loved the whole experience. Being in the service business, I was eager to see how a professional company like Morton's would treat their clients. Mrs. K is well traveled and has had wonderful experiences when she has been to other Morton Steakhouses around the country. This company has a great business model of excellent customer service and a quality product.

During my time at Mortons, I began to contrast this place with another popular steakhouse, Outback. While both companies excel at their mission and serve great steaks, they are very different when it comes to the experience, which reflects the total cost. 

Below you will find the typical cost and mission statement of each restaurant that you may find interesting:

• Morton's Pricing: The typical cost for a dinner for two would be $170 (not including tax/tip or specialty drinks). (View Source)
• Outback's Pricing: The typical cost for a dinner for two would be $60.00 (with same exceptions as above). (Based on my personal experience)

• Morton's Mission: "Morton's steakhouses have remained true to our founders' original vision of combining generous portions of high quality food prepared to exacting standards with exceptional service in an enjoyable dining environment." (View Source)
• Outback's Mission: "The Company’s strategy is to differentiate its restaurants by emphasizing consistently high-quality food and service, generous portions at moderate prices and a casual atmosphere suggestive of the Australian Outback." (View Source)
  

As you can see from the above pricing and goals of each restaurant, there is a BIG difference between two steakhouse companies. Each restaurant has good food. The difference is how they deliver their product and service. While Morton's offers the Nordstrom's in the steak business, Outback is seeking to provide more of a fun and affordable dining experience in a casual setting. You can taste and feel the difference between the two restaurants too. The level of attention you get at Morton's steakhouse is five times higher than Outback.

The botton line is that both restaurants are unique and have their place. I have enjoyed my dining experience at both restaurants. I realized that if two steakhouses can stay in business and separate themselves from each other, a painting company can too! People have to discover what is important for them in selecting who they will hire to work on their home. Chism Brothers is more in line with the Morton's model of doing business. The one difference is that Chism does NOT charge 3-4 times the cost of most other quality paint companies. Our average hourly wage is currently around $60 per hour. It is a little more than most companies, but most people will discover that the cost is well worth it. 

Our mission is to provide a one of a kind experience, simply by doing the right thing! 

Residential Painting Forum

I just returned from the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) Residential Forum. The conference was held in downtown Annapolis, MD. It was a two day conference of roundtable discussions. It was my first forum meeting. My father, Mike Chism, who would previously attend meetings has now passed the torch to me.  To go along with it being my first meeting, the Residential Council voted me in as their newest and youngest board member! I am very excited to join up with the board, because it is full of very high quality paint contractors. I will enjoy learning from the best!

The residential forum of the PDCA is a very valuable group for Chism Brothers to be members of, because it keeps us up to date with what painting contractors are doing all over the country. We are able to get ideas on how to improve our service, be more professional, and learn of new products and techniques. I am looking forward to applying some of the things I learned this past weekend.  

Off To Annapolis

Our estimator, David Chism, is off to Annapolis to the 8th annual Advanced Shop Talk (AST) of the Residential Forum and the PDCA.

The conference dates are July 20-21st. This is an opportunity for Chism Brothers to interact with other painting contractors who are like minded in running a successful and quality paint company. The "Shop Talk" is a place where they will hear prepared speeches by members of the PDCA's Residential Forum and share ideas that work from among the members present. These conferences are very rewarding and beneficial to all painting contractors.

The residential forum of the PDCA was founded a number years ago with the help of our president, Mike Chism. He was the active president until his brother, Pat Chism, was diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and passed away in July of 2006. Just this year, David Chism, Mike's son, was approached by a couple of members about becoming an active board member. The board will vote on the approval of David joining the board during their meeting back east this week. 

We hope that the principles and ideas we learn will only help us to serve you better. Our goal is the be the best service company in San Diego. We are moving in the right direction but continually see the need for help from others to accomplish this goal!  

S. L. O. W.

We have developed our own acronym for the word, "Slow." It is a phrase that sets us apart from our competition, because we discuss and expect each employee to know and apply it at all times. When it is not applied in any line of work, problems may result. 

So what does S. L. O. W. stand for at CBP?

Stop.

Look

Over

Work! 

Chism Brothers Employee: Front Page of the UT

We were approached by the Union Tribune this week about wanting to take a picture of one of our painters in action for an article they were writing. This morning, we got a copy of the UT's paper and saw our foreman, Troy Payne, on the FRONT page! If you look closely, you can see the small Chism Brothers Logo on his shirt! :o)

The article is front an center and entitled, "Take-back efforts on rise." The painting portion of the article deals with the problems of old paint removal from a clients home. This is a service Chism Brothers offers, but it is not free. As the article says, it cost the government about $8 per gallon to dispose of paint. It cost Chism Brothers a similiar amount if not a few dollars more. We can dispose of paint cans for $10 per gallon at this time. 

Read Article Here

Honest Thoughts From Our Estimator

As the estimator and one of the owners of Chism Brothers Painting, I face the war on price every day of the week. It is draining at times. I keep asking myself why I feel so disappointed sometimes when I lose work to a lower priced competitor. I realized that when I do lose work, it is typically because the homeowner has not heard of us much (if ever) and is searching for the lowest or lower price. I looked back over my estimates for 2006 and realized that close to 80% of our jobs were from repeat or referrals. It was those existing clients that knew and trusted the value CBP promised to deliver. Our new clients heard about our reputation and hired us to paint their home. We gave them the best value and cost for what we were doing. It would be my dream to work with everyone who calls my company. I am not a salesman who just looks at charging a high price! If Chism Brothers charged very high prices and ripped people off, we would have ALL retired by now or been forced out of business for bad business practices.

I was born and raised in the painting business, which started with my grandfather, and am passionate to spread the word about how good our staff is at painting homes. My Dad and Uncle, Pat Chism, did a wonderful job growing this company and establishing themselves in a paint company dedicated to producing high quality work with terrific customer care. They put their heart and soul into every job, and it is this passion that is being communicated to every employee we hire. I would love to be both the Walmart and the Nordstroms of the painting industry in San Diego but it is simply not possible. Now I am on the path of trying to educate those who come in contact with Chism Brothers Painting about why we are different. Our goal is to have the quality service and pricing similiar to a Nordstroms experience. If you have never stepped foot into a Nordstroms or similiar store, you may not understand the customer care we try to achieve.

If you are visiting our site for the first time, I hope you will consider giving Chism Brothers the opportunity to lead you through the painting process. We are here to assist you, and we promise to make it a pleasant experience--an experience you will not forget! If you request an estimate, you will get to meet me in person! I'm looking forward to it. Thanks for reading.