How to Select a Painting Contractor
Your home is your most valuable financial asset. Remember, when hiring a painting contractor, it is important to follow these simple, common sense guidelines.
Beware of painters who . . .
- Pressure you to make an immediate decision.
- Ask for money up immediately.
- Cannot produce an up-to-date certificate of insurance.
- Accept ONLY cash instead of a check or credit card.
- Do not specify the material to be used or make use of paint left over from another job.
Follow these tips for selecting a reputable trustworthy contractor…
- Remember not to be pressured into decisions from a pushy sales person. Collect quotes from at least 3 reputable painting companies. Then get a referral from a family member, friend or co-worker who has had recent experience from a completed project. Additional great resources include Google business ratings for businesses in your area, and Angie’s List.
- Be wary of contractors who require a substantical down payment before beginning work. An underhanded contractor will take your money and simply disappear. On larger projects, it is not unreasonable for a contractor to require a deposit of 30% when work begins and draws from it as the continues based on work completed.
- An upstanding contractor will be able to produce proof of commercial liabilty insurance. Liability insurance is necessary to protect your home and its contents in addition to the contractor for any accidental damages.
- Beware of a contractor who ONLY works on a cash basis. This could be an indication that they are not paying taxes and cannot be found if the project does not proceed according to plan. A reputable contractor is proud of his history, references, online ratings such as those on Google “Place” pages and Facebook and long-term advertising.
- All materials and products used on your project should be in writing. Beware of painting contractors who make use of left over paint from a previous project. Price and quality will travel together.
Remember to choose a painting contractor you can trust. Listed below are a few common-sense guidelines to consider:
- Get a complete written proposal detailing the scope of work, pricing and products. When collecting proposals from contractors, make sure to compare “apples-to-apples” so that the measuring criteria is the same for each contractor.
- Select your paint colors in advance to ensure a smooth start to your project.
- Keep in mind that you are allowing this contractor and crew into your home. Do you trust him and have a good rapport with them?
- Price alone shouldn’t be the deciding factor. Trust, paint quality, the business’ reputation and business history are simply a few factors that should be considered.
- Check on the warranties and guarantees offered on the workmanship and materials.
- Be specific on answers about the project duration and quantity of workers involved to complete the project in a timely manner.
- Inquire about incidental responsibilities including removing furniture or window coverings, as well as any clean up should be detailed in the contract to avoid confusion.
- Be aware of painting contractors who solicit door-to-door, and do not have a a local listing in the local phone book or have no online customer reviews in Google, Facebook, or Angie’s List.