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Whether you are selling your home or just wanting a new look, a fresh coat of paint can give your house a rejuvenating look and feel.  Exterior paint is a little different than interior paint. It will take up a lot of time and can make a mess if done by yourself in some cases.  The way around this is to hire an exterior painter to come to your home and paint it for you.  Care should be taken when choosing the contractor that will paint your house.  Cost, efficiency, choice of paint, and reputation should be taken into consideration when you choose a contractor.  The most important factor in hiring a contractor is often their reputation.  If they are known for doing a bad job, then you would obviously not want to hire them.  The best practices for hiring exterior painters are:

•    Cost
-    One of the most important factors of hiring any contractor is the cost.  You will have to consider your budget and how much you can afford to hire an exterior painter.  However, if you choose a contractor that has great knowledge and a good work ethic, then it may be worth the price they ask in many cases.

-    Most contractors choose their cost by the size of the job, time it takes to paint the exterior, and the paint that is going to be used.  If the exterior of your home is large and difficult to paint, the cost will go up. If the exterior is smaller and easier to paint then the price will go down accordingly.

•    Efficiency
-    If a contractor is charging by how long it is going to take to paint your home then you want to make sure that the contractor is known for working efficiently.  If a contractor is taking longer to do a job than it should take then you should consider using a different contractor.   You do not want to hire a contractor that is going to waste your time or overcharge you.

-    Your contractor will not be able to immediately paint your house, first they will have to prepare your house for painting. Preparation includes: fixing holes in siding, pressure-washing, sanding and general covering of surfaces that should not get paint on them (your car, neighbor’s houses, bushes etc…)

•    Choice of paint
-    The contractor that paints your house exterior should choose a good quality outdoor paint that will last and won’t need to be touched up frequently.  They should discuss the potential paints with you including the ups and downs of the paint you finally decide to use.

•    Reputation
-    Knowledge based reputation is a great way to choose the painter you want.  If they are knowledgeable about what they are doing they will most likely perform high quality work.  They will also be able to save you money by choosing a paint that you will like and that will last you longer than paints.  Their knowledge and ideas won’t just save you money upfront, but also in the long run when it comes to future painting of the exterior of your home.

-    Word of mouth reputation is perhaps the greatest marketing strategy a company can have, a contractor that a friend, parent, or coworker suggests will likely do great work. However, just because someone you know had a good experience doesn't mean the painter is great - even a broken clock right twice a day. You still should do you due dilligence, check a few references and get some comparison quotes from other painters.

You will also want to be sure the contractor knows exactly what you are looking for and you may want to work with them to show you a test spot somewhere on the house. This is especially important if you are choosing a new color for your home. A bright blue may be pretty on a paint card, but you do not want to come home after the first day of work and realize your home now looks like a bird house or something out of a cartoon. Most contractors will be more than happy to discuss your decisions and needs with you thoroughly. Most will come out to your home and evaluate the site and the house and include time to speak with you during their visit. If you feel that the contractor is rushing you or pushing you into something you don’t want, you probably haven’t found the right person yet.

You can always find the RIGHT person, by taking advantage of our online directory of qualified painting contractors in your area.  They can help you take the pressure off if you need the exterior of your home painted.