How much would you pay this slacker?
Let me back-track. He came over to begin a job a week ago Saturday that I wanted finished that weekend. This was Day 6 of my Land Park home kitchen remodel. He argued with me because I wanted a primer and two coats of paint when he wanted to do one coat.
He hung around for 3 to 4 hours, taping things off and making a general mess of stuff, including painting over the door trim and baseboards, which I had already painted and finished. Then he abruptly left, promising to return on Monday.
Monday he called to say he'd be over at 2 PM on Tuesday and then never came back nor called.
So, I hired another painter that evening who finished the job the following day.
Yesterday (7 days later), the painter called and demanded 50% of the $500 job estimate. The second painters charged me $485 to finish up the job correctly and caulk.
My second painter says the first painter is not licensed as a contractor. He further says I do not need to pay the first painter anything at all.
Now, I disagree with that statement. Sure, the first painter is definitely a slacker and screw up, but after all, he did prime the kitchen and he tried -- even though he failed -- to give it a first coat of paint. He did cost me more money because I had to pay to fix the trim and baseboards he messed up, which were in perfect condition before.
My second painter offered to call the first painter on my behalf to discuss payment, except the first painter does not answer his cell for this guy. So, I called the first painter last night to explain I wanted him to talk with the second painter before we determine payment. Honestly, the guy sounded drunk. He became argumentative, so I hung up.
I want to be fair. I also want him out of my hair, so I'm tempted to give him the $250 he did not earn. What would you do?
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Broker-Associate at Lyon RE. Selling since 1974, helping buyers & sellers in Sacramento. Land Park resident. Midtown office. Home Buying Columnist for New York Times' About.com. DRE license #00697006
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Usually they get some money up front, but I pay only upon completion, and when I am satisfied. I also feel that when I get cheap jobs, I get cheap work.
I would give him $100 bucks in cash so he will go away. That will buy a lot of beer and he will not have to stop at the bank, which will make him very happy!!! Good luck! ; )
For starters, I would take his photo off of this post...you didn't name him, but you did use his photo and use a few names "for" him. If he was drunk, who's to say he won't see this next time he's drunk and get angry?
Wow, what a pain in the neck! I'm a pushover and would want the problem to go away, so I'd probably do the $250. But perhaps the other painter could negotiate that while still giving you some peace of mind that the problem won't resurface (angry calls?) in the future.
Hi Jim: I didn't give him any money upfront. I've learned the hard way about that.
Hi David: If I offered him $100 in cash vs. $250 in a check, I suspect he'd prefer the higher amount.
Aw, Don, you can't even make him out in the photo. :) I doubt he owns a computer.
Hi Colleen: See, I suspect we think alike.
I think I am with David. He hasn't earned the money he quoted. Now, taping off areas is no picnic and he did try...so maybe a middle ground. If you think he was halfway through his job, then yes...I would pay him the $250. If he wasn't, I would pay him whatever percentage of the job you thought he did finish.
Hi Paula: Well, I think $20 an hour is generous. Times 2 guys times 4 hours = $160. He did buy the primer, so another ten bucks. Then we're quibbling about $80. Is that worth the hassle? But I am very interested in what everybody else thinks, so thanks for responding.
Rut roh...... I would pay him what he deserves and then move on with it. Chaulk it up to a lesson learned.
Sean Allen
OH..... You should be glad he covered most stuff with that plastic. Just think of the mess you might have had if he had NOT covered the counter top and other areas.
Sean Allen
I am not sure how much I would pay him, but all the painters I have ever hired wore coveralls, not shorts and sandals, and mostly used dropcloths and not alot of taping off around trim. I asked one painter about having to mask trimwork and he told me a good painter with a steady hand and a cloth in the other doesn't need to mask off. Now if he were using a sprayer (like some homebuilders do on new construction) I could see masking off everything.
Hi Sean: So how much do you think he deserves?
Hi Rich: The painters I know rarely use masking tape because it doesn't leave a straight line -- even blue painter's tape can pull paint off the wall -- and a painter doens't really need it. A good brush and steady hand will do the job right every time.
Elizabeth - I think I agree with Paula. You mentioned "$160". Is $80 worth the hassle? I think so. It's the principle of the thing... :)
Gracious.... I would offer him the $160 you calculated for his time and let that be it. He should be happy he's getting that much. He cost you time ad effort to fix his screw ups... your time is worth something. Heck, I might knock it down to $100 and call it good...but certainly no more than the $160.
Elizabeth, I think you need to come to a resolution with this guy. The last thing you need is some kind of contractor lien on the property.
I would tell him I will give hie the 250 minus whatit cast for his sloppy work on the trim. Then hand him a bill fo the balance!
I'd go ahead and pay him the $250. Spiteful people can do lots of damage that might end up costing you more. I believe you said he was recommended by some other worker? You learned a valuable lesson. You should have stuck with the painters that you knew and this $250 lesson will let you never forget it. Besides, feel sorry for him. He has no skills and he has to buy groceries and eat. He did try.
I had a house to fix up, REO, and hired these guys on someone's recommendation. They taped and sprayed everything with flat paint. It was awful but they were proud of it. I paid them and just silently thought "never again".
Elizabeth, I would pay him the $250 by check with a "paid in full" notation. (He needs to be gone from your life.) Besides, you appear to get along well with his relative. You may need the relatives services again and he may feel that he owes you because the kid botched the job after he recommended him. Leverage it, girlfriend.
Elizabeth,
In the first place he bid the job at $500 and worked only 3-4 hours. Do you think he was worth $62.50 an hour? That would be $250 divided by 4 hours. In the second place if he didn't complete the project why would you pay him? You agreed that the project was worth $500, it cost you $485 to finish it and so at the most you owe him $15. Personally I wouldn't pay him that either as he caused delay and you had to invest time in finding a replacement. He's 19, his parents apparently have never taught him to do the right thing, don't make that your problem.
Dave
Elizabeth ~ I don't know - I'm thinking he should be paying you! I think $250.00 is too much, especially since he did not provide satisfactory work, show up when he said he would, and then argued with you. His customer service skills are obviously non-existent. I would think about the $100.00, but wouldn't pay more than the $160.00 mentioned.
Let him take you to small claims court and see what he gets. Probably not much.
I took your suggestion, C, and paid him the $250 with a "paid in full for kitchen painting" in the memo field. It just wasn't worth the hassle. I also called his dad and told him his son did not earn that money, and ordinarily, I would not pay him a one red cent because he did a lousy job.
I appreciate all the comments, though. This painter is sort of a loose cannon, and while it's not nice to reward nasty behavior, it's also not wise to tick off those kind of weirdos. Plus, my time is worth more than going to court over such trivial stuff. It's my fault for not checking out this guy. :(
I use my neighborhood association listserve when I'm looking for a contractor or repair person of any sort. I post a query and usually receive several responses with names of tried and true people with whom my neighbors have been happy. When I've skipped this step I'm usually disappointed. Also, I reward the good workers by recommending them to my neighbors when they post queries.
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