Tip of the day: How to hire a painter

At some point, most homeowners will need to hire a contractor for work in their home. To make you feel the most confident and comfortable in your choice, informing yourself is recommended. Here is our tip of the day: how to hire a painter.

Meet

To find a contractor you are happy to hire, you’ll have to meet a few. Start with references or review sites and choose several that appeal to your needs. Typically, a reputable company will want to see your property to be painted before giving an estimate. Be wary of anyone willing to quote over the phone. There are often repairs and underlying issues that need to be addressed as part of the project. A phone estimate cannot take that into consideration and shows a haphazard approach to your work.

Estimates

You should meet with more than one provider for an estimate. This way you will have real numbers to judge each option off of. Avoid the lowest cost providers. If they offer you a cost far lower than the other painters, you could be setting yourself up for disaster. Low costs could mean the estimator didn’t understand the scope of work, uses sub-par materials or doesn’t carry the proper insurance to protect you and their employees. The same goes for astronomical prices. There should be estimates that hover near the same prices, which means the companies each understand what you need, use knowledgeable crew and utilize professional-grade manufacturers of supplies.

After your estimate appointments, you should receive a written estimate. This could be handwritten at the appointment or emailed to you later. Look for there to be two categories on this: parts and labor. One will detail out the intended paint and supplies that are necessary to complete your work. The other will be the best estimate of the crew and man-hours needed.

References

Do not be afraid to request references from each provider. If the estimator is hesitant or doesn’t have references to provide, take that as a ding against their reputation. More than likely, you’ll have a list provided to you with no questions asked. Feel free to contact those customers and have a frank discussion about their experience with the company.

Insurance

Do not ever choose to work with a company that doesn’t carry or cannot provide two insurance policies to you. You will want to see a Workman’s Compensation policy and a General Liability policy. The first will protect workers, should there be any injuries while they are working on your property. The second covers your property in the case of any accidents that require repairs. If your contractor doesn’t carry either policy, you, as the homeowner, could be on the hook for costs incurred with either issue.

Contract

Once you have chosen your provider, look for a document in addition to your estimate, though it will contain some similar information. The contract should include the contractor’s information including license and insurance. You should also get a list of work and repairs to be completed and paint colors chosen. Typically a contract will also lay out an estimated work schedule and payment plan as well.

Deposits

When it comes to hiring a contractor to work in your house, the industry standard is that a 50% deposit is expected when the contract is signed. This allows the contractor to secure supplies, dates and a crew. Be cautious if your contractor asks for more up front. Usually, the remaining payment is due upon completion of the painting.

Guarantees

Professional painters using standard brand paints should be able to provide you some sort of warranty on their work. Expect that the warranty will cover paint failure but not necessarily wear and tear. For example, if the paint starts to flake within the designated time frame, you will be covered. But if you bang a chair into the wall and cause a mark, that’s on you.

Schedule an Estimate

Our crew is thankful to be considered for your painting work. We are happy to schedule a no-obligation estimate appointment to discuss your project. Contact us today.