Rip-off painters!

[sergio]

CElia, Argentina is like that. As a foreigner from a first world country you will always be cheated. Get an Argentine friend to pretend that he is the owner and let him do the negotiating.

 

[citygirl]

welllllll.. In defense of Argentina, contractors around the world tend to be famous for overcharging!

But the price is way too high. My friend had his entire house redone for not a lot more than what you were quoted for the bathroom

Recommendations are usually the first place to start looking for a contractor. If you have a portero, ask him/her. Usually there is a list of people that do work in the building. From there, if you're not 100% fluent, it's probably good to have a local call. And yes, it may work out better to have a man do it as well. And understand that it's bargaining and you can/should walk away if the price seems high.

 

[sergio]

The issue is not overcharging but overcharging based on nationality.

 

[Celia]

I don't think an Argentine friend telephoning could help in this instance, they always come to the house for quotes. Would my whole family have to go into hiding?

 

[MizzMarr]

Honestly, based on the quality of work that I've seen your average (trusted) contractor do painting you'd be better off doing it yourself. I used to share housing with an Argentine fellow so being a foreigner was not the problem. The work was extremely sloppy: they didn't use drop cloths or tape, and ended up getting paint all over the tile floors (and plants!) and later charging for their time to clean it up. Ridiculous, really. However, when selecting your paint go with a highly recommended brand that has a durable finish--I bought some without shopping around from a paint store and it's crazy how easy it gets marked up. I could swear one of the ingredients is chalk. I have to repaint because the walls cannot be cleaned.

 

[citygirl]

The point is that you're always better off having a local who knows what the going rate is do the negotiating for you. Again, that's a truism in every country, not just here. No need to hide the family

 

[sergio]

YEs, you would have to have the family clear out! I've gone through this nonsense for years. It's a great shame but that's the way it is. Few people in Argentina seem to think there is anything dishonorable about the custom.

 

[rihornos]

Hello Celia

We have the same problem of being overcharged for very simple things, when a plumber comes into a house and sees there are computers, televisions and a big refirgerator you are in trouble they think you are very rich. But my husband has solved this problem, we have a janitor next door (nowadays janitors know plumbing, etc) so the janitor does most of the small things at the house and doesn`t charge much because he knows we are going to call him, besides I have a flat that I rent and I also take him there to fix the heater, he fixed very well a wood table and varnished it after, so this is a good trick and I don`t pay a fortune since then, he does plumbing very well, painting I think he also does, try to find someone that speaks Spanish for you and first give a janitor you trust a very small work and see what happens, if he is good you can give him some more work and always ask first him how much it is. I live in Monserrat if you live nearby I can contact you with our handyman, I have 9 year olds triplets so there is a lot to do at home always! My husband is an Accountant has no idea of fixing things at home and doesn`t like either
regards
There is always a solution!
I forgot to mention that we are overcharged even being locals!!!

 

[MizzMarr]

Oh, you know I forgot to add--while sharing an apartment with the Argentine gentleman we needed to get the antebaño and office area in our apartment repainted. The guy who came to do the estimate wanted to charge double his normal rates just because it was *our* room and we are foreigners, no matter that we were renting a furnished room in a shared apartment at the time and living with an Argentine who was doing the negotiating. Unbelievable. So yes, maybe a good idea to hide the whole dang family!

 

[rihornos]

Hello
I have a flat rented to expats but when there is something to fix there I go with a person to fix things and I pay for it, this is on the owner`s not on the renters.
regards
Reina