7 Tips for Hiring a Painting Contractor
Did you know it could take around three to four days to paint an entire house? That's on average, and for an average-sized home with no more than three people helping, chances are, it could take even longer if you factor in all of the prep work that goes into it. Not to mention, it takes that long for a professional painting contractor so imagine not being a professional taking on this task.
The fact is, painting a room can take hours, if not a full day in itself, and with an entire home taking days, homeowners just don't want to have to figure out the task on their own. Instead, finding a painting contractor is often the direction that many people decide to go in because it saves time and potential headaches.
Thinking of hiring a painting contractor for your next minor or major project and wondering how you should go about hiring a residential painting contractor? Here are seven tips to help you hire a great painting contractor for your next home project.
1. Ensure the Contractor Is Fully Insured: Here's Why
So, when you're looking to work with experienced painters that provide residential painting services, you should always ensure they are fully insured. This should be the first step because you may not want to work with anyone who can't guarantee the replacement or repair of something of yours if it's broken or damaged by the painter's fault. Professional house painters should always be insured, and if they aren't, the company could be seen as untrustworthy.
Don't let quickness keep you from vetting this step fully, either. If you need your painting projects completed quickly, still take the time to ensure the painter you work with is insured. This is because anything can happen, even in a short amount of time.
So, it's best to be sure this won't be an issue during your project. Generally speaking, every single painter should have General Liability Insurance.Their coverage should also be no less than $1,000,000.
2. Check Their Reputation and Reviews From Previous Customers
When hiring a painting contractor, always make sure that you check out their reputation and reviews from previous customers. This way, you can be sure that what you're getting in terms of work and effort is reliable, dependable, and high-quality. If they have an overall positive rating and reviews, this is a good sign that they are reliable and that you can hire them to do the job you need.
Don't let this deter you from working with a newer company that may not have reviews yet, though. In cases like this, you could ask house painting professionals things like;
What materials do you use?
How long would it take you to finish?
Do you interior and exterior projects?
Have you done any previous projects similar to this before?
What does your prep process look like?
The answers to these types of questions can give you enough insight into the character and reliability of the company if they are lacking in reviews. Additionally, if you know people that have hired contractors in the past, you can ask them how their experience was and get recommendations from there. This way, you can get a better idea of what a company does through someone trusted that has previously worked with the company that you're researching.
A company's reputation shouldn't only be checked in terms of its work but its actual process. This means the way they deliver their services. You should find out if the crew was nice and respectful of your property and your space.
You should also want to know if the service coordinator you speak with is friendly and easy to work with. Simple things like this could alter the experience you have if using professional painting services.
3. Always Look for a Painting Contractor That's Licensed
When hiring a painting contractor, it's also important to check if they're licensed. Simply put, they must have a license to prove that they have received the proper training and education to do the job and know what they're doing. Being insured falls within this as well.
Full insurance coverage and licensure is a way for you to know that their work will be of good quality and that they possess the skills to start and complete the project. Depending on the state that you live in, different licenses will be required. However, a contractor must have the necessary license or certification to provide residential painting service in your area and be able to prove it for legal purposes as well.
When hiring, it's also important to check to see if their license is current and valid. This means not just taking a simple "yes, we're licensed" without checking. Ask for proof because you want everything done right the first time.
4. Make Sure You're on the Same Page
Before starting any painting project, make sure that you're on the same page as your contractor. This means that you and your contractor should both be aware of the project details, such as;
The type of paint needed
How much paint it will take
How large the project is
How long it will take
If and when you need to be out of your home
These are only a few questions to get you started, but you should ask questions based on what you think you need. The reason for this is to reduce any mishaps or miscommunication throughout your painting projects. You want to be on the same page with the price and timeline, and you might even want to know how many people will be in and out of your home.
This is also a good time to express any certain requests you have. For example, all professional painting contractors will prep a room and protect furniture before getting started. They will also lay down plastic anywhere they may walk. It would be in your best interest to ensure they do this.
If you have light-colored carpets or hardwoods that you want to keep clean and protected during the project, ask about that. The rule of thumb here is to never assume that certain things will be done, even by a professional.
If you're unsure of the details or have any questions, make sure that you speak up and address them before the project gets started. This will help keep you on budget and on the project on time.
5. Ask What Types of Materials They Use
Keep in mind that while painting interior and exterior projects is a regular task, the paint itself can be quite harmful. Paint will often consist of toxins that are harmful to people and pets. The environment can also be affected by those toxins.
You want to make it known that this is a concern of yours as you want to ensure you aren't in your home or near the area being painted during the project. You may also want to know this if you're a pet owner so that you can have your pet in a safer area.
Also, the materials used for preparation can be harmful. From paint stripper and paint thinner to other chemicals, you should be asking about these things. You might not want to know every detail about every product, but you should ask for the basics.
That should include what you and your family should do when the materials are being used and if there is anything vital you should know about the products. Also, depending on the type of paint that you choose, the project might cost more or less, so it's important to always ask about the paint. This means that your health and your budget will be a concern when you're checking on this factor.
6. Get a Quote Upfront
Before you hire a contractor for any project, it's important to get a quote upfront. This will allow you to know how much the project will cost, so you can make sure that you have the funds to pay for it. It's also important to note that a contractor's quote doesn't always mean that the actual project costs will be exactly the same.
Make sure that you get a very detailed estimate to help guide the cost of the project. Before getting started, you should know how much you're paying.
Keep in mind as well that if they have to buy more paint or have to stay longer because the project takes longer than expected, there's a chance the overall cost could increase. This is why you want to be on the same page with the painting contractors you work with.
7. Always Ask the Contractor What You Will Need to Do Before the Work Starts
Before the work starts, always ask your contractor what you need to do before they start working. Depending on the type of work and project that you hire a contractor to do, you might have to do certain things before they start painting. For example, if you're hiring a contractor to paint your exterior, you'll likely have to power wash the house before they paint it.
Or, they may offer that, so it never hurts to ask. If you hire a contractor to repaint the interior of your home, you might have to move furniture and other items to a different room. You may also need to be out of the house for a few hours.
No matter what type of house painting services you hire a contractor to do or the type of paint that you use, you'll likely have to do something before the work starts. Make sure that you're aware of what you'll have to do and get it done before the contractor starts work.
Working With Trusted Professionals Makes a Difference
Hiring a high-end painting contractor can be a great idea for many homeowners because it allows them to tap into high-quality work and ensures that the job gets done correctly the first time. Before hiring, make sure that you check the contractor's insurance, that they have a valid license, and that they provide a detailed list of costs, including exactly what they plan to do.
Whether you need interior or exterior painting, TRICO PAINTING makes elevating the aesthetic of your home simple. Book a consultation today and eliminate the hassle of sorting through services.