What to Ask a Professional Paint Company

Posted on July 26, 2021

So, you’ve decided to hire professional painters… Now what? Before you choose a company and have the work started, there are some important things you’ll want to know about the professionals you’re considering. These questions should be asked well in advance of any official agreement or contract, and will help you determine the kind of value you can expect – not to mention weeding out the companies you definitely don’t want to work with.

Unfortunately, many people simply don’t know the important questions to ask when vetting a painting company. Whether or not you choose to work with CertaPro, asking these questions of any painting company you consider is the right move. This way, you’ll gather the information you need beforehand, avoid surprises or unexpected fees, and get a sense of who you’re working with well before the first drop of paint is applied.

When you’re shopping around for professional painting services, be sure to ask questions about each of these topics:

1. Insurance and Liability

This one’s a no brainer – you want your painters to be insured. A reputable professional painting company should have General Liability Insurance in place in case they damage your home during the job. It’s also a good idea to ask about Workman’s Compensation Insurance that protects the crew in case of injury. If nothing else, this lets you know that you’re working with a responsible business that cares about its employees. It’s okay to ask for proof, too.

  1. 2. Timeline

Before the job begins, you’ll want a clear timeline of how long the paint crew will be at your house, especially if they’re doing interior work. While things can change over the course of a job, setting expectations from the outset will let you know what to plan for, and ensure that the painting company has a plan.

  1. 3. Total Costs

Don’t agree to a contract unless you know absolutely everything about pricing. Be clear about your questions, and make sure to ask about any hidden costs, material costs, upcharges, or any other dollar amounts that could be tacked onto your total bill. If it seems shady, or you can’t get a clear answer, you probably don’t want to work with that company.

Reputable professional painting companies should be able to provide a clear pricing structure, explain any potential variables, and help you feel confident that you understand exactly what you’re paying for.

  1. 4. Warranty and Follow Up

While every company is going to be a bit different here, make sure you ask about warranties, work guarantees, the company’s policy on touch ups, and so on. Warranty terms may vary depending on where you are in the world (since climate affects paint function), but many companies will offer multi-year warranties to back the quality of their work. Whatever the terms may be – make sure you get them in writing! Unless you have the specific information in black and white, any discussion of a warranty is just talk!

  1. 5. Oversight and Cleanup

Make sure you ask about who’s in charge of the project once it gets rolling, and how they plan to handle scheduling, start and stop times, cleanup both during and after the project, and so on. Having a good sense of the on-site manager will help put you at ease, and a clear plan, couple with a clear management structure, lets you know that the professional painting company means business.

  1. 6. Materials

Ask the companies you’re considering what kind of paint they plan to use, and get as much detail as you can about why they’ve made that choice. Not only will this help you stay informed about the entire process, it will also let you know how a given company approaches the work they do. Are they focused on price and speed? Do they choose the paint they use based on quality and longevity?

Ask them to explain the materials they plan to use and why, and you’ll also get some important insight into their overall approach.

  1. 7. Licensing

Last but certainly not least, make sure you ask about licensing (and proof thereof). Licensing ensures that the company in question meets the basic requirements of the state, and that they can be held accountable if they don’t fulfill their end of the contract.

These questions will serve to protect you from a potentially harmful relationship with a professional (or not so professional) painting company, and any business worth working with will have the answers readily available. Be diligent when selecting your professional painters – it will pay off in the long run! For any questions about how to select the right professional painting company for your needs, contact CertaPro today!

License Info: MA 196235