Chooz Score Insights
Hands-On Leadership
Dean and Marie Brown don't just run this franchise - they show up. Dean personally handles many estimates and stops by job sites to check progress, while Marie coordinates scheduling and keeps communication flowing. The Chooz Score's owner engagement indicators are strong: Dean is mentioned by name in a significant number of reviews, and customers regularly describe direct interactions with the owners throughout their projects.
- Customers describe Dean walking through projects before and after, ensuring every detail meets expectations
- Marie stays in touch throughout the process, handling billing questions, color selection, and timeline updates with quick email responses
"Dean made sure the project was done right, which was difficult because he first had to repair the mistakes of the previous people. He met with us and discussed all details, and answered questions." - Atterratt A., Google Review
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Additional Questions Answered
How does the crew handle surface preparation on older Hudson Valley homes with plaster walls and architectural details?
Customers with century-old properties describe thorough prep work. Cynthia Larocca noted the team addressed "every single architectural detail including the drainpipes" on her 106-year-old Craftsman home. Christina Gust said they "were able to repair damage to the plaster and all the cracks flawlessly" in a church sanctuary with high ceilings. Belle Hoven, managing a remodel from thousands of miles away, praised the crew for repairing below-par work left by a previous contractor and producing "beautifully painted walls" despite a difficult color.
What role do owners Dean and Marie Brown play during a painting project?
Multiple customers describe hands-on ownership involvement throughout the process. Faran Edwards noted "one of the owners of the franchise, Dean Brown stopped by to make sure all was well." Atterratt said Dean "met with us and discussed all details, and answered questions" before bringing over painters who knew the work. Mark Lilakos praised Marie for making sure he "knew the process for bill payment and color selection" and being responsive to email requests. The Browns handle estimates, site visits, and project coordination personally.
How does the company manage communication and scheduling on multi-day projects?
Reviewers consistently highlight clear communication and reliable timelines. Debbie Stewart described her whole-home interior project completing in a week and a half with the team working approximately 8am to 4pm daily. Hilon Potter said the team "planned their work around our staying in the house while they were painting, were neat, cleaned up at the end of every day." Ron Green emphasized that "their communication is clear, their timelines are reliable." Macks Leighman, who hired remotely from 1,000 miles away, confirmed the process was "transparent, honest" and completed on time and within budget.
Can customers expect the same crew leader throughout a project?
Reviews suggest consistent crew assignments with named leaders. Jay Senor (referred to as Jason or Jay) appears across more than a dozen reviews spanning multiple years, handling both interior and exterior projects. Alex Hernandez is another frequently named leader, with Charlene Martin calling his painting "beautiful, not one imperfection." Francis led kayla n's interior project with attention to detail including caulking and seam repair. Thomas Crispino guided Faran Edwards through color selection on a porch project. The pattern indicates crew leaders stay assigned through project completion.
How does CertaPro Painters of Middletown-Kingston handle cleanup during and after a project?
Cleanup discipline is one of the most frequently praised details. Lorraine Goldstein said painters "cleaned up each day so we could use our house." Jason Foley reported the crew "cleaned up everything, not a spec to be seen anywhere." Elizabeth Toth described the entire process as "punctual, professional, informative, efficient." Multiple reviewers note that landscaping was protected during exterior projects, with D. Tucker Smith specifically mentioning that "our landscaping was handled with care."
How has the company responded to negative feedback about paint quality or project disputes?
The company has received 4 one-star reviews in the past two years. In the most detailed dispute, involving Sheryl Mamenko's exterior paint bubbling issue, the owner posted a detailed response explaining the substrate diagnosis and timeline of resolution attempts. Two other negative reviews, from Salvador Delecto about peeling paint and Lisa Anderson about a competitive dispute, remain without owner responses. Customers with concerns should contact the owners directly, as the review data shows most positive outcomes come from direct communication with Dean and Marie.
What is the licensing and business entity status for CertaPro Painters of Middletown-Kingston?
New York State does not require a state-level painting contractor license, and Orange County (where the Montgomery office is located) has no local painting license requirement. A related entity, Four Strong Winds Painting LLC (NY DOS ID 4285494), was filed in Orange County in 2012 and voluntarily dissolved in 2016. The business operates as a CertaPro Painters franchise under Dean and Marie Brown.
-Verification Sources: NY DOS Division of Corporations, NY Painting License Lookup