Inside the house
What I look at in a room
The same six things, in almost every room. Numbers match the list.
- 1
The ceiling
I look for stains, cracks and old patches, and ask what caused them.
- 2
The walls
I run a hand across them for bumps, hairline cracks and chalky paint.
- 3
The corners and window edges
Water shows up here first, so I check for soft spots and peeling.
- 4
The stair railing
Hard-wearing paint matters here, and I ask how the stairs are used.
- 5
The trim
I check how worn it is, whether it needs scraping and where it meets the wall.
- 6
The floor
I note what needs covering and which doors I can close while we work.
Before I come
What helps me, if you have it
None of this is required. It just makes the visit shorter.
The year the house was built
If you don't know, the county or your deed will.
A few photos of what bothers you
Peeling spots, stains, cracks. Text them to me before I come.
A color or two you've liked
A photo from a magazine or a neighbor's house is plenty.
Who decides
If more than one person chooses, ask them to be there for the colors.
About the visit
How long does the first visit take?
About an hour for most houses, longer for a big one or a house with a lot of rooms to look at. I tell you when I book it, so you can plan around it.
What's on a written estimate?
Every surface and room, the repairs I'll make, how many coats, which paint and sheen, how many colors, cleanup, the schedule, how payments work and what the warranty covers. Anything I leave out, I say I'm leaving out.
My house was built before 1978. Does that change anything?
Yes. Federal rules apply to paid work that disturbs paint in homes and child-occupied buildings built before 1978. I ask when the house was built at the first visit, and if it's that old I explain what changes and how I'll work. My firm's EPA number is listed under Credentials on the About page.
Do I need an HOA's or a historic district's approval?
If your block has either, ask them first. I can give you the color names, sheens and a short description of the work in writing to take along.
Text me a photo, and I'll tell you what I'd need to see.
Then we'll pick a time for the first visit.