Evaluating Painting Contractors for Painting Projects
Choosing the right painting contractors for your upcoming paint projects is not always easy. When you open up the phone book there are so many painting contractors to choose from. It can be very confusing looking through all the different names and company names. How do you know which one is trustworthy and reliable? How do you know which one will keep their word and be there when they say they will be there? Well, you definitely will not find that out from a phone call or even a consultation. Many people will put their best foot forward when they first meet with you. They will make promises and really get your hopes up. Some will even give you a reasonable price. But does that mean they are the best painter for you?
Someone in your circle of friends, family, and co-workers is bound to have a house painter who they can recommend. While this may be the most obvious method to find a painting company, it is still very important to ask questions about them and their quality of work. And remember, just because the painter did a good job for your neighbor, doesn't mean they will do good work for you. Moreover, you may not know how to really judge a quality paint job.
Here are a few questions that you can ask the person that is referring their painter to you:
• Do they keep their word concerning the start date and end date of the project?
• Are they punctual?
• Do they work alone or with other painters?
• Do they leave the job neat and orderly at the end of the day?
• Do they stick with the estimate price that they give you?
• Are their prices reasonable?
• Were they kind and courteous?
• Do they offer a warranty?
Even before meeting with them, it is really good to know the type of person / company that you are dealing with. Obviously if the above questions were answered negatively you will want to find someone else. But it is guaranteed that if you ask around long enough you will come across someone who has dealt with a really great painter who they can refer. You may even be able to go and see their work for yourself.
Here are a few things that you can address while considering who to hire:
Experience - The first thing is their experience. Here are a few questions you can ask:
• How long have you been in business?
• Are you licensed and insured? Can I see proof of that?
• Can you provide me with a few references?
If they have only been in business for only a year, you may not want to risk hiring them unless you know for sure from someone that they are truly reliable. Another important factor is having the proper insurance. Insurance not only helps them, but it helps you too. God forbid there is some type of accident and the painter breaks something in your home – their insurance will cover the damage costs. And references are always good to have no matter who you are hiring.
Time - Time is a big factor in hiring a professional painter as well. Some painters have several painting projects that they work on at once so that means it will take longer to get the job done. You may not be the type of person that wants to leave your house in disarray for a long period of time. Be sure to ask how long the project will take from start to finish.
Cleanliness – Some painters just don’t pay attention to detail as others do. You may not figure this out until after they have started the job and they leave at the end of a day. This is why we included this question in the above list of questions to ask someone that is referring a painter to you. They can answer that. But if you are hiring someone from the phone book or internet, there is really no way to tell how clean they are. A possible test would be how they present themselves during the initial consult. But you can’t always rely on that because some will come right from a job with their work clothes on. Another option would be for you to ask them questions about how they protect the surfaces in a room.
When you do ask questions, how do they respond? Do they beat around the bush, or are they clear and direct. You can sometimes judge a person’s character by the way they talk and how they represent themselves – maybe not in appearance, but in speech and relational expression.
Better Business Bureau – If you are still concerned about the company that you are hiring for the painting projects in your home, check the company name on the Better Business Bureau website. If any complaints have been filed against them within the past three years, it will be listed there.
• Do they keep their word concerning the start date and end date of the project?
• Are they punctual?
• Do they work alone or with other painters?
• Do they leave the job neat and orderly at the end of the day?
• Do they stick with the estimate price that they give you?
• Are their prices reasonable?
• Were they kind and courteous?
• Do they offer a warranty?
Even before meeting with them, it is really good to know the type of person / company that you are dealing with. Obviously if the above questions were answered negatively you will want to find someone else. But it is guaranteed that if you ask around long enough you will come across someone who has dealt with a really great painter who they can refer. You may even be able to go and see their work for yourself.
Here are a few things that you can address while considering who to hire:
Experience - The first thing is their experience. Here are a few questions you can ask:
• How long have you been in business?
• Are you licensed and insured? Can I see proof of that?
• Can you provide me with a few references?
If they have only been in business for only a year, you may not want to risk hiring them unless you know for sure from someone that they are truly reliable. Another important factor is having the proper insurance. Insurance not only helps them, but it helps you too. God forbid there is some type of accident and the painter breaks something in your home – their insurance will cover the damage costs. And references are always good to have no matter who you are hiring.
Time - Time is a big factor in hiring a professional painter as well. Some painters have several painting projects that they work on at once so that means it will take longer to get the job done. You may not be the type of person that wants to leave your house in disarray for a long period of time. Be sure to ask how long the project will take from start to finish.
Cleanliness – Some painters just don’t pay attention to detail as others do. You may not figure this out until after they have started the job and they leave at the end of a day. This is why we included this question in the above list of questions to ask someone that is referring a painter to you. They can answer that. But if you are hiring someone from the phone book or internet, there is really no way to tell how clean they are. A possible test would be how they present themselves during the initial consult. But you can’t always rely on that because some will come right from a job with their work clothes on. Another option would be for you to ask them questions about how they protect the surfaces in a room.
When you do ask questions, how do they respond? Do they beat around the bush, or are they clear and direct. You can sometimes judge a person’s character by the way they talk and how they represent themselves – maybe not in appearance, but in speech and relational expression.
Better Business Bureau – If you are still concerned about the company that you are hiring for the painting projects in your home, check the company name on the Better Business Bureau website. If any complaints have been filed against them within the past three years, it will be listed there.
Be sure to always do your research whenever hiring any professional to do work on the interior or exterior of your home. Your best bet is to use a reliable source to find a quality painting contractor. You can use a reputable referral site such as PainterSource.com, or through the referral of someone that you know. But regardless of the source, be sure to ask questions. Find out about the painter’s experience, time frame, cleanliness, and character. Do not rush through the process. You are bound to find someone who is experienced, honest, punctual, organized, respectful, and within your budget.