If you call me about a job, one of the first things I’ll ask for is pictures. A few good ones let me see what I’m dealing with and talk through the options with you, and a lot of the time I can give you a price without driving over first. Bigger jobs may still need a walkthrough, but even then the photos make the visit shorter and the estimate closer.
I’m Jesse, by the way, and I’m the one who’ll be looking at them.
Start wide, then get close
For each thing you want fixed, I need three kinds of pictures:
- A wide shot of the whole room, wall or area, so I can see how big the job is
- A close-up of the problem itself, like the crack, the stain or the broken part
- One in between that shows where the close-up is, like the whole wall around a water stain
Take more than you think you need. I’d much rather scroll through ten pictures than text you back asking for two more.
Show me how big it is
Size is the hardest thing to tell from a photo. Lay a tape measure across the damage, or set your hand or a soda can next to it. For painting and flooring, rough room measurements help a lot. Length, width and ceiling height are plenty.
What to shoot for different jobs
Painting
Get each wall and the ceiling, then close-ups of the trim and any peeling, patches or stains. For the outside of the house, back up toward the street and get each side.
Junk removal
The whole pile from a couple of angles. Open the garage door or stand at the bottom of the basement stairs. Tell me about any stairs and anything really heavy, so I know what I’m walking into.
Toilets and sinks
The fixture, the shutoff valve under it, and the floor or cabinet around it. If something’s leaking, show me where the water ends up.
Light fixtures and detectors
A picture of the fixture you want replaced and the ceiling around it. For smoke and CO detectors, just tell me how many you have and roughly where they are.
Floors and windows
For floors, get the whole room, the doorways where one floor meets another, and any soft or damaged spots. For windows, get the whole window inside and out, plus close-ups of anything worn, peeling or broken. Tell me which room each one is in.
Inspection reports and repair lists
Send me the list itself. A picture of the page works, or forward the PDF your realtor sent. Then add pictures of the items on it and I can price the whole thing at once.
A few tips for better pictures
- Turn on the lights and open the blinds
- Turn the phone sideways for rooms and walls
- Walk closer instead of zooming in
- Wipe off the lens, especially outside
- Don’t clean up first. I need to see it the way it is
Tell me a little about it
A sentence or two with the pictures saves a lot of back-and-forth. Let me know:
- What’s wrong and what you want done
- When it needs to be done, like a listing date, a closing or a move-out
- If you’ve already bought the paint, the fixture or the flooring
- What city the job is in
- The best way and time to reach you
If you’ve got several things that need doing, send them all at once. I can put the whole list on one estimate and get it done in one visit, which is easier for both of us.
Where to send them
Text them to 763-232-3468, email them to [email protected], or add them to the free estimate form. I’ll look them over and either give you a price or ask a couple of questions. If the pictures don’t tell me enough, I’ll set up a time to come take a look. The estimate is free either way.
Send them whenever you’re ready
Add a sentence about the job and I’ll take it from there. The estimate form takes photos, or you can call or text me.