7 Things To Consider When Choosing A Paint Contractor

7 Things To Consider When Choosing A Paint Contractor

If you’ve decided to hire a professional to do your next painting project, your next big decision is going to be how to choose the right company. There is a myriad of painting contractors out there and it can seem overwhelming trying to pick one! Price is usually an obvious consideration for a lot of people and we’ll talk about that, but price alone isn’t the best factor to rely on. Here are 7 things to keep in mind when deciding which painting contractor to hire:

What kind of paint job are you looking for?

Do you just need a fresh coat of paint to spruce up your rental property or your house before selling? Or are you looking for a high-quality, lasting paint job for your home? If you’re looking for the latter than you will want to find a contractor with a strong focus on prep work. Like we talked about in our “Should I Hire a Professional Painter” blog post, a great paint job is really all about the prep work. A job that puts a lot of emphasis on doing thorough repairs and surface preparation will likely not be the fastest or cheapest.

Is the contractor fully insured?

This is a BIG one! For your protection, you want to ensure that any contractor you hire carries both liability insurance and workman’s compensation. Many contractors will skip carrying workman’s compensation due to the high cost, which can leave the homeowner liable for an injury that occurs on their property.

What is the true cost?

Price is naturally a concern when hiring any contractor, but as we mentioned before, finding the lowest price should not be your first or only consideration. As the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” You will want to look for a painting professional with skill, experience, and proper licensing. Someone who is reputable and that you can feel comfortable with being in your home. They may not necessarily give the lowest bid. They may not have the highest bid either. Just be sure to look at the whole picture when choosing rather than focusing on price alone.

Will the painting contractor care for me my home?

A painter is someone who is going to be working inside of your home, so you want to look for a company who emphasizes care and protection of your home, your belongs, and your family. Look for a company who will treat your home as if was their own – that means going the extra mile to protect surfaces and furniture with plastic protection and drop cloths. Someone who can recommend the best products for your family and lifestyle and who understands that the how of painting is just as important as the end result.

Does the contractor have positive references and reviews?

What better way to get a sense of a company than by talking to or reading reviews from past customers? A contractor should be willing to provide you with a list of past customers that you may contact as references. And positive reviews on Google, Facebook, etc. is a great sign.

Did they provide a formal estimate?

When getting an estimate did they provide you with a written or typed formal proposal? Before signing onto any project, there should be a clear understanding with the contractor as to exactly what services they will be providing (including the specific areas of your home they will be working on, agreed upon products, specific repairs to be done, etc.) and exactly what you, the customer, will be expected to pay.

Does the painter use employees or subcontractors?

In general, it is best to find a company that uses their own employees – these are men and women on their payroll who the employer knows well, trusts, and who operate in line with the company’s values.

We hope this helps next time you are looking to hire a painting professional! Is there anything we missed or something you wish you had known before you hired a contractor? We’re always happy to chat!