Growing up, I had a best friend named Reggie who lived in a home that was always clean, always well decorated. Because of this, painting and decorating has always seemed like a common sense necessity to me.

His mom used to re-paint their whole house every spring. She and Reggie (his dad died when he was young) would take a whole week to give everything a fresh coat of paint. His mom was a very clean women. She was raised on a farm and I guess people back then farm kids were raised well. MORE

Spring is just around the corner and this article is all about giving the exterior of your house the painting it deserves. As a professional house painter I would like to lay out four imported tips that most people get wrong when painting their home.

#1.) House Wash - I like to give the house a good wash before I paint it. I don't wash all four sides at once though. I usually do just one side (the side I plan on painting first) at a time because I'm going to be there for a week or two anyways probably. That way by the time you get to the next side there isn't a bunch of webs or sand or dirt built back up. MORE

When doing painting estimates, courtesy can help them decide to hire you. Things like good grooming. Don't go do an estimate with a dirty face or being unshaven. If you have been working all day, at least try to clean up a little.

Don't smoke in people's homes is a given. I like to take my shoes off in people's homes out of respect. Once on the job and you have drop cloths set up shoes are O.K. Some painters will wear rubbers during the winter time.

Always being on time for an estimate is good business. I have heard of being 15 minutes early but I'm usually right on the dot.

I got this letter from Tom today that says:

Lee,

I was excited to see your sight and the great price you offer. I've always had a strong interested in this type of work but thought it was ridiculous that some places were charging thousands for it. My question for you is because the economy is in such a mess right now, is this type of business one where most customers won't be interested in because it might be viewed as a clever novelty? I'd hate to pay and find out I can't find enough business to make it worth my while.

Thanks for your help!
Tom

I wrote back:

Hi Tom,

People are still spending money on things they "WANT" - more than what they NEED to spend money on. Your job is simply to develop that desire in them to want an awesome star mural on their bedroom ceiling to look forward to.

(Picture someone with a nice house and an awesome bedroom having just paid you $500 for the star mural you put on their ceiling and now they can hardly wait for bedtime!)

Thanks for writing,
-Lee Cusano

Make $250 - $500/Day Painting Stars on Ceilings! http://AmazingStarMurals.com

I had a customer ask me today, "What I am getting at is what does my painting company provide that my competition does not have? And the customer choosing me?"

ANSWER: Hi John, Paint Like a Pro is only an instructional manual of course but it can help you be a better painter.

You can determine what you yourself can offer customers to woo them over to your side. A cheaper price, better service, better references, courteous service, etc.

Personally, I have never had trouble with competition as a painter. I welcome it though because competition is healthy and makes people do a better job.

As one of the older painters once told me, "There are a lot of painters in this town but very few good ones. Just be one of the good ones".

He was right. I see a lot of shoddy work. Just be a good painter and you will beat most of your competition by a mile.

I got an e-mail from someone today saying: I agree with you that this is a good business (painting business) to be in. The only problem is the High cost of advertising and beating the Competition. Especially the high cost of Yellow Page advertising. What would you think?
Thanks,
John

I wrote back:

Hi John,

Advertising in the Yellow Pages isn't real expensive. It depends on the size of your ad of course. But you don't really need the Yellow Pages to stay busy as a painter.

I have stayed busy as long as two years without the Yellow Pages or worrying about advertising. But when I do advertise it's basically free and it only takes about an hour and a half a day until the phone starts ringing and then momentum picks back up again.

As far as competition goes, if you don't have any you are in a dead town. And if you do have competition there is still enough work to go around for everyone.

Thanks for writing,
Lee Cusano
http://Painting-Business.com

There is no excuses if you want to do something. It's only the lack of knowledge that can hold you back.

Did you know that Famous Amos got rich simply by giving away free samples of his famous chocolate chip cookies? Here's 10 reasons why giving things away for free can greatly increase your business profits or send your new home-based business idea into orbit.

1.) Free is the best form of advertising. People are naturally attracted to the word “free”. If you cannot give away samples another form of free is the “puppy dog” approach. Like a sports car, let a “qualified” prospect take it home for a day, like a new puppy and let them fall in love with it.

2.) Seeing is believing. Sometimes you cannot explain in words to people how great something is. You just have to show it to them to get their attention. Show people how great your home-based business idea is by giving them a sample.

Read More Here…

When it comes to running my painting business the 3 main ladders I use are a 5-foot step ladder, a 16-foot and a 20-foot extension ladder. These 3 ladders get most of my work done.

My wooden 5' step ladder is just right for cutting in along 8-ft ceilings. I have a 6-foot aluminum step ladder also for 9' and 10-foot ceilings. I also have an adjustable aluminum ladder that folds all kinds of different shapes including it turns into an 8-foot step ladder. I guess I have more ladders that I thought.

My 16-foot extension ladder I bought at a garage sale for only $15. It works well for painting in stairwells. I also have a 20-ft aluminum extension ladder that ny dad bought me when I first started painting. It comes in handy for interior high work as well as outside painting jobs.

I have some 24' ladders but I don't use them as much because I stay away from high work. I like painting on the one-story ranch style homes the best and that are well shaded as well.

When it comes to paint brushes my favorites are the Wooster and AllPro brushes. I like the AllPro "Stealth" in the two-inch angular with the synthetic bristles. I use these for latex and for alkyd paints.

The thing I like about the Allpro Stealth paint brush is that it is as good as the Wooster line except it's a little cheaper in price. I think the Allpro paint brushes may be made by Wooster for Allpro but don't hold me to that.

Both of these paint brushes will last a full time painter for months if they are taken care of. The right brush is critical for a professional house painter.

Every painter has his or her preferences but so far the Wooster line and the Allpro line of paint brushes work best for me when it comes to cutting in a ceiling line or along the woodwork. With it's angular bristles, it's an all around great brush for the professional painter.

When it comes to prepping out a room before painting it I always use a pole sander to clean my walls and ceilings of cob webs, dust and any little paint boogers left over from the last paint job.

If you have ever used a pole sander (especially on a ceiling) you will notice that they tend to "flip". This is not only annoying when you are busy, it leaves gray streaks from the metal hardware hitting the surface.

The ideal pole sander is the somewhat new tool called the "Radius 360 Drywall Sanding Tool". It's round and padded and works really well for drywall finishing as well as for a painting tool. You can get it at any paint store and it has the round sand disks that stick on and peel off with no more clamping.

I plan on getting this Radius 360 pole sander for my next paint job. It won't flip while you are busy sanding even when you are doing ceilings and high areas.