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Otis Merry Painting
Carpentry Framing - Install, Carpentry Framing - Repair, Interior Trim and Decorative Moldings - Install,
About us
I grew up in San Diego, California. My father, a retired Navy Chief, ran the San Diego Sports Arena. On weekends we would work together providing painting and carpentry work on historical properties in the Hillcrest, North Park and Mission Hills areas. In 1994, I established my own professional paint contracting company and have been working continuously in the industry. This year, we are proudly celebrating our 16th year in business. I take pride in my work, providing excellent and professional service to my clients. The greatest compliment from a satisfied client is to be referred to their friends as a painter that they trust with their home or business. Our goal has always been to provide more than just a paint job. A personal hands-on approach to details and a passion for helping with just the right color continues to set the Otis Merry Painting standard for customer service. Otis Merry personally participates and supervises every phase of a project from the start to the final touches and cleanup. Otis Merry Painting is state licensed and fully insured. Our professional staff consists of long-term employees. Award winning.
Business highlights
Emergency services offered
31 years of experience
Services we offer
Residential interior and exterior painting, custom staining & drywall textures.
Amenities
Emergency Services
Yes
Free Estimates
Yes
Accepted Payment Methods
- CreditCard
Reviews
5.079 Reviews
| Number of Stars | Image of Distribution | Number of Ratings |
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Showing 1-25 of 79 reviews
Dana M.
Jun 2022
Otis Merry and his painters did an excellent job painting my house in 2022, and previously in 2013. Otis Merry is the type of contractor I am always hoping to find: long-term skilled employees, competent, hardworking, reasonably priced, responsible, reliable, respectful, and accommodating. High quality paint and related products are used. During this time of the ‘great resignation” and inflation, finding contractors with experienced and skilled employees is particularly challenging. Based on my prior experience with Otis, I knew that his business model was based on long-term employees and doing quality work that would ensure repeat customers. Otis Merry specializes in older homes like Craftsman and bungalows, etc, with lead paint, but paints all types of residences. His experience gave me confidence as my house is 94 years old. Since the use of lead paint was not banned until 1978, a high percentage of existing homes have lead paint. Many painters I have interviewed are not qualified and do not want to follow lead-safe practices as required by law. They seem to hope you won’t know about the regulations or know enough to ask them to follow the regulations. When I receive bids from this type of contractor they either submit outrageously high bids or submit low bids inadequate to do the job. Each time I obtained bids for the painting of my house, Otis Merry’s bids were in the middle range price wise. This is what you want as a homeowner to ensure your project can be done properly. at a fair price If you are a reasonable and fair person, you want a fair price for yourself and for the contractor doing the work. If you gouge a contractor, he will cut corners to make up for the low price. Otis Merry was on the job every day. The foreman and painters who painted my house were unfailingly hard working, skilled, courteous, considerate and accommodating. They seemed happy in their work. The foreman was very focused and committed to ensuring that I was happy with their work. The job site was cleaned up and organized at the end of each work day. The painters did not leave the job to work on another project. They remained until the project was done. Parking is very inadequate where I live with parking on one side of the street only. Because of the foreman’s approach, the dentist’s office next door happily worked with the painter to find the best solutions for the parking challenges. If you are anything like me in terms of the type of contractor you want, you will agree that Otis Merry Painting sounds like the type of contractor you are looking for. For your information, I am a retired architect.
Response from Otis Merry Painting
"Thank you for taking the time to review our company publicly on Angi. It has been my pleasure having you as my client for so many years. Each day you made an effort to express your appreciation for the efforts of my crew. Thank you for your business and all of the work!"
Maria D.
Aug 2018
We have used this company in the past and we knew we would get good service. Otis communicates well, responds to calls and presented an estimate in a timely manner. His crew is polite, cleaned up daily and did good quality work. We have more work scheduled to be done in the next few weeks. We highly recommend this company.
Stephen H.
Jan 2018
We had the exterior of our North Park Bungalow power washed, clear wood preservative applied and the trim painted. They also power washed and treated our wood deck. They refreshed the wood cabinets in the kitchen and repaired a problem with our unique wood kitchen counter. They also did painting in our bedroom necessitated when we had work done on our ceiling fan. We were extremely happy with the project. They gave a timely quote and communication with us was good. They started on time and finished in 2.5 days plus a half day in doing the power washing a few days before they started the work. Unlike other painters we have used in the past they had enough staff to get the work done very quickly which greatly minimized any disruption. The finished work looks very good. We would definitely use them again and would recommend them for anyone with an craftsman home. All of the staff were very professional and friendly and considerate. The price was comparable to the painter we had used previously (who is no longer available) and significantly less than the estimate we received from a much larger company. We also liked their consideration in picking a color for the trim work that was an improvement over the previous color.
Alex F.
Sep 2017
Having Otis Merry and his team paint the entire interior of our 1927 Adams North bungalow was a joy. Otis returned all my calls promptly. His quote was accurate and clear. Work began on day we agreed on with thorough preparation. This is a professional crew in every way. The process was orderly and the end result outstanding. White, lime green, dark brown. Plaster repair, old wood windows, salvaging french doors in poor condition, spraypainting kitchen cabinets-- they can do it all. Cheerfully and with good energy. We'll see Otis Merry again when it's time to paint the exterior :)
Richard S.
May 2017
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Sherry P.
Mar 2017
Fantastic paint job!! I had extreme paint deterioration on the fascia, eaves, and garage door so I had to have it tested for lead. I hired Otis Merry Painting since he's certified in lead abatement and so glad I did. This crew went above and beyond with scraping, sanding, and then painting to make my house look new again. The crew was very pleasant, professional, detail oriented, not to mention hard working!! Otis (owner) showed up everyday to check on things, kept me informed of everything going on, and made sure all my concerns were taken care of. I couldn't have asked for a better crew to paint my house. I still can't get over how great it looks!
Donald B.
Oct 2016
Excellent! Otis and his crew were able to finish the job on a tight timetable with no surprises and excellent results. His crew was professional, neat, and precise.
Anne B.
Sep 2016
Otis was great to work with. He came out reviewed what we would like done (power washing eves, repairing some wood damage, priming and painting windows and eves). He made suggestions of another contractor to use for termite treatment and replacement of a sliding door before he should start his job. He kept us informed during every step of his job. His crew was so efficient and professional, protecting plants and surrounding areas, and even putting up extra barriers to protect any spray that might have gone to our neighbors to protect his new solar system. The team repaired our garage door and frame, which I thought was above and beyond their painting scope but excellently done and gratefully appreciated. The crew was very respectful of our property in placing their equipment during the job and each day cleaning up. Our house looks like new and he stayed true to his contact, I would very highly recommend Otis and his crew.
Tim M.
Sep 2016
Our house looks fabulous! Otis Merry provided a competitive bid and shared his artistic expertise to review options for a lovely color choice with matching trim. His crew power-washed and prepped the house exterior quite nicely before priming and applying the topcoat paint. Meticulous attention to detail was evident after paint spraying and then hand painting the trim. Otis went the extra mile to ensure we were satisfied with the finished product. He even washed all the exterior windows and screens as an unexpected added bonus! I highly recommend Otis Merry Painting for your painting needs.
Jeremy R.
Aug 2016
From our first contact through project completion Otis Merry Painting surpassed my expectations. Otis was responsive to my request for a quote and on time for our appointment to walk around the house and garage. He was reassuring about the work needed (painting, as well as stucco and trim repair), but also realistic. Otis came to the house a second time after we accepted the quote to go over how to approach painting trim, accents and fascia, as well as color combinations, as we expressed an interest in changing colors and getting his input. He provided great suggestions and then got samples for us to evaluate on the house. He got our feedback on the samples and then offered additional suggestions. He applied a second set of samples that we selected and also some additional ones that he thought were what we were looking for. Ultimately, we chose the colors he developed based on our feedback, not those we selected. The colors he offered us demonstrated how he listened to our input and vision for the house. We scheduled a time for the power washing, prep and painting. Otis and his crew were friendly and professional, working diligently from the time they started on a Thursday and completing the job the following Wednesday. They were very clean and careful to move any items so as not to get paint on them. Otis inspected all of the work and went through with his team to touch up or fix issues he identified. We were particularly impressed when the work was by all appearances done on a Tuesday afternoon and Otis indicated they would return the next morning for a couple hours to finish all the touch ups properly. In my experience a lot of companies get that close to the finish line and call it a day, Otis and his crew were focused on getting it right even if a few more hours were needed. We could not be happier with the job they did and the colors they helped us select. We will recommend Otis Merry without reservations.
Sue W.
Nov 2015
unknown
Susan A.
Nov 2015
My bedroom hand not been painte in years and really needed an professional paint job. Lots of holes, cracks & gaps to be patched and repaired. Otis & his crew showed up on time and did an extremely professional job. I am so happy with how it turned out. Beautiful workmanship!
Toni M.
Oct 2015
I originally reviewed this company in March 2015 when they made many cosmetic changes and then painted the exterior of my house--and did an EXCELLENT job. (Other painters had told me the changes I needed were impossible and/or prohibitively expensive. Otis handled them all very economically with savvy and flare)
I'm adding to that review with the information that (6 months after the job was very satisfactorily completed), Otis sent one of his guys by to patch and seal a place where my window trim was pulling away from the stucco. This problem was NOT there when they painted, and their paint job didn't cause it--but they were nice enough to do this extra favor for me. No charge!
Again, A+ to Otis and his crew--professionals with style and grace.
They are my painters for life.
I'm adding to that review with the information that (6 months after the job was very satisfactorily completed), Otis sent one of his guys by to patch and seal a place where my window trim was pulling away from the stucco. This problem was NOT there when they painted, and their paint job didn't cause it--but they were nice enough to do this extra favor for me. No charge!
Again, A+ to Otis and his crew--professionals with style and grace.
They are my painters for life.
Mike B.
Oct 2015
Every attention is paid to every little detail. From a stucco wall merging into a brick wall
with no gap or even a detectable difference in material to a sixty year old
front door that looks like a new front door which would cost hundreds of dollars. And the sixty year old gate which was in
pieces and also restored to a working gate and it?s original condition.
I can only say that Otis Merry Painting, and his
professional crew delivered much much more than I expected. Days in preparation to fix every little piece
of dry rot and crack restored the house to it?s original beauty. Once this was done, the actual paint
application went rather fast.
The end result, absolutely stunning.
If you want it done right, hire Otis Merry Painting.
with no gap or even a detectable difference in material to a sixty year old
front door that looks like a new front door which would cost hundreds of dollars. And the sixty year old gate which was in
pieces and also restored to a working gate and it?s original condition.
I can only say that Otis Merry Painting, and his
professional crew delivered much much more than I expected. Days in preparation to fix every little piece
of dry rot and crack restored the house to it?s original beauty. Once this was done, the actual paint
application went rather fast.
The end result, absolutely stunning.
If you want it done right, hire Otis Merry Painting.
BEVERLEY H.
Jul 2015
My house ( a 1914 bungalow) needed a color change and Otis had some suggestions to make it look great. He did extra work and I loved it. I wanted to keep his sign out front forever. The paint job looked great and I received many many compliments.
GEORGIA G.
Jun 2015
Otis and his crew were exceptional! They arrived timely. They were responsive to all my needs, questions, requirements without hesitation. They were very respectful to me and my property. I have a bad back so if anyone saw me trying to lift or carrying something they would immediately jump up to help. Who shows that kindness anymore? Otis and his crew do. They cleaned up after each days work and did it with care and consideration. When the job was finished they washed my windows. Once again, who does that?
The exterior of my home looks fabulous. It is crisp, clean, sparkling. I could not be happier with the results. I will be hiring Otis Merry again in the fall to paint the interior of my home.
Anyone who wants a professional they can count on to do an extraordinary job in an extraordinary way should hire Otis Merry!
The exterior of my home looks fabulous. It is crisp, clean, sparkling. I could not be happier with the results. I will be hiring Otis Merry again in the fall to paint the interior of my home.
Anyone who wants a professional they can count on to do an extraordinary job in an extraordinary way should hire Otis Merry!
Toni M.
Apr 2015
, .Fabulous! Wonderful! Terrific! Gorgeous! Very affordable!
I have NEVER been so pleased with a service provider in all my years as an Angie's List member.
First, Otis did a very thorough eval/assessment of my home and the work that needed to be done. We walked thru every single window, porch, blemish--as he told me what he would do to make my house look exactly like it should.
He was unceasingly patient with me as we discussed colors, types of paint, etc. He brought up things that I would never have considered (who knew the thin metal flashing at the edge of my roof should be painted--with special metal paint--to match the roof???)
Some of my windows needed new wooden frames surrounding the vinyl--his crew did a beautiful job. But other windows needed only a careful application of the trim color--right on the vinyl frame. This saved me a lot of money. And the result is perfect.
His crew removed a very ugly lattice on the first story roof--a "decorative" element which I've hated for years. (Other painters told me it couldn't be done.) They also removed some strange "bump outs" under several windows, and re-stuccoed so you'd never see the difference from the original stucco.
The project took 6-7 full days--with a crew of 3-5 pleasant, polite, very skilled men working all that time. Otis came by daily to check progress and direct his crew. Considering all the workers, and all the excellent work they did, and how they cleaned up so well every day and at the end of the project, the price was a steal. I got way way more than I paid for.
And I will never have anybody but Otis Merry paint anything inside or outside my house ever again.
I have NEVER been so pleased with a service provider in all my years as an Angie's List member.
First, Otis did a very thorough eval/assessment of my home and the work that needed to be done. We walked thru every single window, porch, blemish--as he told me what he would do to make my house look exactly like it should.
He was unceasingly patient with me as we discussed colors, types of paint, etc. He brought up things that I would never have considered (who knew the thin metal flashing at the edge of my roof should be painted--with special metal paint--to match the roof???)
Some of my windows needed new wooden frames surrounding the vinyl--his crew did a beautiful job. But other windows needed only a careful application of the trim color--right on the vinyl frame. This saved me a lot of money. And the result is perfect.
His crew removed a very ugly lattice on the first story roof--a "decorative" element which I've hated for years. (Other painters told me it couldn't be done.) They also removed some strange "bump outs" under several windows, and re-stuccoed so you'd never see the difference from the original stucco.
The project took 6-7 full days--with a crew of 3-5 pleasant, polite, very skilled men working all that time. Otis came by daily to check progress and direct his crew. Considering all the workers, and all the excellent work they did, and how they cleaned up so well every day and at the end of the project, the price was a steal. I got way way more than I paid for.
And I will never have anybody but Otis Merry paint anything inside or outside my house ever again.
Jay A.
Feb 2015
Otis and his team started and ended as promised and quickly addressed a couple of very minor issues.
Mary F.
Nov 2014
He did a fantastic job. I found them through Angie’s List. They helped us with colors. It went very well.
Sandra R.
Oct 2014
Otis always had enough highly qualified painters scheduled to make the job flow properly. Everyone was clean, polite and professional, in addition to being great painters. I was also pleased that Otis accepts credit cards.
Gustav S.
Oct 2014
Given the stellar reviews for Otis I contacted him back in August for an estimate. He was rather late in getting back to me. He said he had been in the hospital for a week. He eventually came out to review my painting project. He said he had a couple of other projects he had to wrapped up before beginning mine. I signed a contract dated August 28, 2014. A few weeks went by and I followed up with a phone call to get a status. I got a story about his niece getting married blah, blah, blah. Finally I called him again last Friday, October 10th. I left a voicemail stating if he could not commit to the project quickly I would appreciate knowing so I could make other arrangements. Within 5 minutes he called back stating he was thinking of me and his crew would be at my house first thing Monday morning. I told him I would be out of town for the Columbus Day weekend, but they were more than welcome to start. (There is a lot of prep work that needs to be done before they actually commence painting.). They were a no show and I have not receive any communication whatsoever.
So, I've been strung along for over 1 1/2 months. I need to get the house trim painted before I have gutters installed. This has delayed gutter installation. (They claim a 2-3 week backlog.). Obviously I would want to get gutters installed before "rainy season" (assuming our drought stops.) I find his lack of professionalism and follow through particularly gauling given Otis' comments about "managing customer expectations."
Don't waste your time. Overall I would grade F.
So, I've been strung along for over 1 1/2 months. I need to get the house trim painted before I have gutters installed. This has delayed gutter installation. (They claim a 2-3 week backlog.). Obviously I would want to get gutters installed before "rainy season" (assuming our drought stops.) I find his lack of professionalism and follow through particularly gauling given Otis' comments about "managing customer expectations."
Don't waste your time. Overall I would grade F.
Response from Otis Merry Painting
"With all the effort that I have personally performed on projects with so many clients to earn their trust and receive such high compliments and reviews, it does not make sense that I would not respond. When we met at your home I spent a fair amount of time reviewing the project and made suggestions on options for you to consider as part of our sevice. I noted that your home was built in the year 1948. The current condition of your home has severe plaster failure and all of the dirt in the front yard has a significant amount of Lead Paint chips and constuction debris scattered throughout your property. I explained to you the requirements for performing work on your home required the use of Lead Safe work practices and that the previous work performed, window replacement, has caused contamination of your property and that this would need to be address (cleaned up) prior to begining our work. In fact, the amount of lead that is exposed on the property would likely be citied by a City Inspector as potentially hazardous and would require action. We did in fact appear as scheduled on Tueday October 14, following the holiday to begin our preparation. The current condition of the property remained the same with all of the constuction debris and lead chips. We were unable to begin working because of the current condition of your property. I sent to you an email explaining that we could not start until this was addressed and that I was unable to send out the lead inspector for a pre inpection of your property with all the existing contamination. I offered you our help to clean up the constuction debris and existing lead chips for $625.00. If I were to just start working on top of the dirt and concrete with all of these lead chips, the chips would continue to break down and further contaminate your property elevating the lead levels. Our work requires a Lead Clearance report for your property when our work is completed. That represents liability for my company and I recommended that a pre inspection from a third party lead inspection company be preformed prior to our work beginging. The cost of the report is $195.00. The workers that you hired to remove your windows and replace wood trim made no effort to contain the lead debris which is a requirement of enviromental laws. I do not feel is my company's responsibilty to assume the liability. Your bid was prepared with three seperate options. Option 1 for the painting of the wood trim two coats for $3675.00, option 2 the garage door $325.00 and the third option was for carpentry labor rate of $65.00 for wood single replacement. The wood shingles on the front of your home is severly weathered and has excessive paint build up. When estimating your home I shared with you your options based on the results you expected. I explained to you that the type of shingle and the age and condition of the wood does not permit scaping and sanding down paint because of the damage is causes the grooves in the shingle. Because of the front entry location I suggest replacement on those sections. I never received clarification as to your intention on how to handle this aspect of your project, so I prepared your bid with an option to move forward with a labor rate for time and material. I am always sensitive to the clients expectations and I try my best to evaluate the best approach to get the results. I am truely sorry that I may have fallen short on following up on scheduling. I did in fact have a difficult summer schedule and spent time in the hospital. I feel that your review here on Angie's List is to reprimand me publicly. I am dissappointed that we could not have resolved this misunderstanding in a more friendly spirit."
LAURA I.
Sep 2014
My trim was in pretty bad condition because a previous painter didn't do a proper job. South side (sun-facing) windows were the worst. The main part of this nasty job was repair,prep and prime and then they applied two coats of color.
Otis Merry's crew were on time early every morning. They were polite and got right to work and obviously were experienced at what they were doing. They also seemed to work well together as a team.
Otis came by occasionally to see how things were going, however, the painters were good about answering any questions or concerns that I had. They also added a few things I wanted done without complaint
They were very good about cleaning up and securing their equipment each day and, at my request, worked around my tenant's schedule.
I
would not hesitate to hire Otis Merry and his crew for future painting projects.
Otis Merry's crew were on time early every morning. They were polite and got right to work and obviously were experienced at what they were doing. They also seemed to work well together as a team.
Otis came by occasionally to see how things were going, however, the painters were good about answering any questions or concerns that I had. They also added a few things I wanted done without complaint
They were very good about cleaning up and securing their equipment each day and, at my request, worked around my tenant's schedule.
I
would not hesitate to hire Otis Merry and his crew for future painting projects.
Wendy W.
Aug 2014
They did a fantastic job and were very professional. They were very fast and respectful of my home as well.
Peter S.
Jul 2014
We chose three top rated painters from Angie's List to quote our project because we value quality work. Otis was not initially the low bidder but we chose to work with him because of his professional approach to our project and excellent reviews. Our decision was validated by the quality of his crew and his willingness to work with us on price while rearranging his work load to accommodate our very tight schedule. He also was very helpful with color selection and trim details. When it came time to work five journeymen painters showed up and worked tirelessly for three days in 90+ degree heat to restore our 40 year old neglected stucco home. I was very impressed that Otis came the first day and did a project walk through with the crew to clearly define the scope of the included work. The crew was very professional and easy to work with, addressing every comment that I had. They clearly enjoyed doing quality work and even complemented each other on their efforts (I've never seen this before with a work crew). Otis followed up with me to make sure that I was completely satisfied. He and his crew are clearly the best of the best and I would not hesitate to have them back.
Debbie S.
Apr 2014
I received three bids for repainting the exterior of my Spanish Revival home. My house is 2000 square feet large and was last painted in 2004. Otis came out and looked at the project shortly after I first contacted him. He was friendly, professional and had some good input on how to approach the job. His bid arrived two days later and ended up being in the middle of a higher and a lower bid, but the lower bidder was unable to do the job for another month which didn't work with my plans. After accepting Otis' s bid, he came over and worked with me on the colors to be used. I requested sample colors to be painted on the house. No problem. I wanted a different sample tried. No problem. I picked my colors, the work was scheduled and workmen arrived promptly on the start date. The job was done a week later. I was very impressed with how friendly all of the guys were. They were great to have around the property and were really efficient and clean. The place was cleaned up every night! I saw Otis almost daily, checking on the job. I had no problem reaching him by phone if there was a question. I would highly recommend this company to anyone considering a painting project. Everything went smoothly, and the house looks great. The people were wonderful to work with and NO surprises. I was told what to expect and that's what happened. Lovely!!!
Licensing
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FAQ
Otis Merry Painting is currently rated 5.0 overall out of 5.
Otis Merry Painting accepts the following forms of payment: CreditCard
Yes, Otis Merry Painting offers free project estimates.
No, Otis Merry Painting does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Otis Merry Painting does not offer a senior discount.
Yes, Otis Merry Painting offers emergency services.
No, Otis Merry Painting does not offer warranties.