The rules of engagement, in plain English.

1. Proposal approval is the agreement

When you approve a written proposal from Painting By Lee, that’s the binding agreement between you and us for that project. The scope, products, timeline, exclusions, and investment amount listed in the proposal are what we’ve agreed to. Any changes after approval require written confirmation from both sides (an email reply is fine).

2. Deposits and payment

• Materials are paid upfront. We don’t front material costs — the materials line of your proposal is due before we order.
• 30% down on labor secures your spot on the calendar.
• The remaining balance is due at completion, after the final walk-through.
• Larger projects may use a custom progress payment plan that Lee builds personally for the scope of your project. We never invent or automate custom payment milestones — those are always written by Lee.
• Accepted payment methods: Zelle to (423) 483-7193, check made out to Painting By Lee, or a Stripe payment link sent after your proposal is approved.
• Card details are never stored by us. Stripe handles that.
• Late balances may accrue a reasonable late fee starting 14 days after the completion walk-through. Lee will communicate any late fee before applying it.

3. Scheduling

Scheduling is confirmed only after deposit is received AND calendar review. This is the most important sentence on this page.

• We never hold a date before deposit. No exceptions.
• Stripe deposits typically settle in 1–3 business days. Your calendar booking link unlocks once Stripe confirms the deposit.
• Zelle and check deposits are confirmed once Lee verifies receipt, usually within one business day of cleared funds.
• Calendly is the source of truth for available windows. What you see is what’s available.
• Once you book a window, Lee will reach out 1–2 days before your start date to confirm logistics.
• Weather may move exterior work; we’ll communicate and reschedule the soonest available window.

4. Project changes

Want to add a room mid-project? Want a different color than approved? Want to change the trim too? That’s a change order.

• All changes must be confirmed in writing before we do the additional work.
• Some changes affect pricing.
• Some changes affect timeline.
• Lee will walk you through the impact before we commit.

5. Customer responsibilities

For the job to run smoothly:

• Give site access on scheduled days.
• Move valuables and breakables out of work areas. We can help with light moving but it adds time.
• Clear walls of artwork and decor before paint day.
• Make color decisions before paint day. For final color decisions, we strongly recommend Sherwin-Williams peel-and-stick samples viewed on your actual wall in your actual light.
• Keep pets and children clear of wet paint and out of work areas while we’re on-site.
• Tell us about any sensitivities, allergies, or medical considerations in advance so we can plan ventilation and materials accordingly.

6. AI guidance limitations

Painting By Lee uses AI tools to make the customer experience clearer. The AI is a helpful advisor, not a licensed professional. Specifically:

• Ask Lee™ provides general information based on Painting By Lee’s expertise. It is not a substitute for an in-person inspection on complex jobs.
• Color renderings are AI approximations of how paint might look in your space. They are not exact color matches. Lighting, surface texture, and the actual paint product will affect the final appearance. We recommend Sherwin-Williams peel-and-stick samples on your wall for the final decision.
• Project Briefs and Draft Proposals generated by Ask Lee™ are starting points for Lee’s personal review. The final proposal you receive comes from Lee after his review — the AI does not set the final price or scope.
• For final decisions on color, scope, structural questions, lead-paint or asbestos concerns, or anything involving safety, Lee’s personal review is the source of truth.

7. Warranty

We stand behind our work. If something we painted fails because of our preparation or application within a reasonable timeframe, we come back and make it right.

Specifically, the warranty covers:

• Premature peeling, blistering, or flaking caused by our prep or application errors.
• Visible defects in our workmanship that show up after the final walk-through.

The warranty does not cover:

• Wear and tear from normal use.
• Impact damage, dings, scratches, or scuffs from daily life.
• Failure of customer-supplied materials we didn’t recommend.
• Mildew, mold, or moisture failures caused by an underlying leak, ventilation problem, or other source we identified to you.
• Damage from external events (storms, flooding, fires, etc.).
• Color fade beyond normal expectations for the product used.

The warranty applies to work we completed within our standard service area.

8. Limitations of liability

Painting is craft work. We do our best to anticipate everything, but some things are beyond our reasonable control.

• We are not liable for hidden defects (rotted substrate behind paint, undisclosed prior repairs, structural issues, etc.) that we could not have known about without invasive investigation.
• We are not liable for problems with materials we did not supply.
• We are not liable for delays caused by weather, supply chain, illness, force majeure, or other events outside our control.
• Our maximum aggregate liability for any claim related to a project is the amount you paid for that project.

9. Cancellation

• Before work begins: you can cancel for any reason. We’ll refund your deposit minus any materials already purchased that are non-returnable (custom colors, specialty primers, etc.). We’ll itemize this for you.
• After work begins: either party may cancel for cause. Completed work and used materials are billed; unused deposit is prorated and refunded.
• If we cancel because site conditions are unsafe or significantly different from what you described in your Project Assessment, we’ll refund the unused portion of your deposit and walk you through what we found.

10. Disputes

If something goes wrong, we resolve it in good faith first. Call or email Lee. Most issues are misunderstandings that get sorted in a single conversation.

If we can’t resolve informally, Tennessee law governs this agreement. Any formal dispute will be brought in the appropriate court in the state of Tennessee, in the county where the work was performed.

11. Messaging Terms

By opting in to text messages from Painting By Lee, you agree to receive booking links, appointment confirmations, and customer-service replies. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. See our Privacy Policy for how mobile data is handled.

12. Updates

We may update these terms from time to time. The version that applies to your project is the version in effect when your proposal is approved — not whatever the current page says months later. The “Last updated” date at the top reflects the most recent revision.

Questions about anything on this page? Email Justine@Leeholdingsgroup.com or call (423) 483-7193. We’d rather you ask now than discover a misunderstanding later.