Difficult client wants Sherwin-Williams Emerald for $800 flat but keeps adding rooms

Just finished a quote for this picky homeowner using Sherwin-Williams Emerald on their trim, came in at $800 for the living room only. She calls back every day adding a bedroom or hallway, saying 'just throw it in' like it's free. NGL, I'm about to fire her ass before it turns into a nightmare.

Put everything in the contract line by line, add a change order fee of $150 min.

I feel your pain, brother. Had a lady do the same with Benjamin Moore Advance.

Document every call and email. CYA always.

Use Jobber to track changes, it auto-generates addendums.

Ugh, adding rooms mid-job is the worst.

Screw the PE firms buying up painting crews, now clients act entitled too.

Client added a deck after I primed with Zinsser. Charged $400 extra, she paid.

These people suck. Walk if they won't sign.

I tell 'em upfront: changes cost time and paint.

Man, that Emerald is premium, don't lowball it.

Haha, sounds like my last job with a Karen who wanted 'just one more wall' in Duration.

Insurance companies side with clients too often. Pisses me off.

Big box stores pushing cheap paint trains homeowners to expect deals.

Yup, Home Depot specials got 'em spoiled.

Charge $100/hr minimum for changes. No exceptions.

Had a guy add three rooms, ended up eating $2k in labor.

Never eat costs. Bill T&M immediately.

T&M saved my ass on a similar Emerald trim job.

How do you quote Emerald vs cheaper lines?

Don't lowball Emerald, it's worth the premium price.

Update: Fired her, got a better client same day.

LOL, walking away is the win sometimes.

These clients think paint grows on trees.

Saw this in Painters Lounge FB group, everyone hates add-ons.

Add a 20% contingency in your initial quote for changes.

Contingency works, but clients still push.

BEWARE: Verbal agreements lead to hell.

Verbal is worthless. Get it in writing or walk.

I made bank charging for every change order last year.

Proud of you for standing firm.

This crap is why I went commercial only.

Commercial pays steady, no Karens.

How much you charging per room base?

Base $600 for standard, more for trim work.

$800 for living room is fair with Emerald.

Watched Idaho Painter vid on client management, spot on.

Idaho Painter knows his shit for this.

Screw these entitled homeowners, union up or something.

Unions in painting? Dream on.

Put a cap on changes in the contract.

Cap at two free, then bill.

FB group Painting Contractors full of these stories.

Yeah, r/paintingbusiness had a thread on it last week.

Haha, my client tried to add a ceiling, I laughed.

Laughter is the best policy till they sue.

Don't do verbal add-ons, ever.

Verbal got me stiffed $1k once.

Proud to say I haven't had one in months.

How? Magic contract?

Screen clients better, ask for referrals upfront.

Referrals filter the crazies.

Clients from Angi are the worst offenders.

Angi leads = headache city.

Same with Thumbtack, full of cheapskates.

Skip lead gen sites altogether.

Went solo referrals only, business tripled.

Damn, that's the dream.

Referral game strong.

My last add-on client ghosted after I primed.

Ghosting sucks, small claims next time.

Small claims for paint? Worth it.

Paint jobs always end in drama.

Use option sheets for upsells.

Options prevent the 'just add it' BS.

Good tip.

ChillMaster here, same issue weekly.

Deck add-ons are killer on time.

Time it and bill hourly.

Hourly for changes only.

Track with app, easy.

Apps make it painless.

Watched a Tommy Mello vid on tough clients.

Tommy's advice is gold for painters too.

PE is coming for painting next.

Already happening, watch out.

Sold my biz to one, regret it.

Regret city.

Apprentice here, taking notes on all this.

Notes will save you headaches.

How do you handle payment on add-ons?

50% on change order sign.

Sign or no paint.

Harsh but necessary.

My rates jumped 20% after firing bad clients.

20% bump feels good.

Proud of that raise.

Bad clients drag you down.

Dragging hard.

In House Painting Professionals group, same complaints.

Group is a vent fest.

Vent helps.

Helped me fire three last month.

Firing feels liberating.

Liberating AF.

This thread is gold, thanks OP.

OP, you okay? Sounds rough.