What to consider in your search for a painting contractor
If you’re reading this it probably means you’ve got a painting project on the horizon! You’ve already decided it’s not something you want to tackle yourself, so you need to start shopping for a contractor. You get your list together, you contact them, set up appointments, and the quotes start rolling in… Now what? Before you rush into a final decision, there are a few things for you to consider and to avoid when you’re making your final selection!
Reviews, reviews, reviews
This is an easy and essential step that you can utilize before you even contact a company. What do their previous clients have to say about the quality of their work? How about their customer service or their punctuality? Google reviews and their company website are obvious starting points; but in this day and age, you’re also likely to find at least some social media presence, so don’t forget to check for a Facebook page for additional reviews. Somewhere in the 4-5 star range will usually be a pretty good indicator that you’re looking at a trustworthy option.
Project photos.
This one may seem unnecessary if you’re looking at a company with glowing reviews, but oftentimes people will leave reviews without the specifications of their job and/or photos of the finished product. Here’s a good example of why this could come back to bite you… If you’re looking to have your deck stained and you contact a contractor with a 5 star rating, but whose specialty and strength is interior painting, you’re probably not going to get the results you were hoping for. This is where a Facebook or Instagram page highlighting the various kinds of projects in their wheelhouse is going to come in handy. “A picture is worth a thousand words” is more than just a catchy saying. They will help you determine if your expectations are going to match up with their results.
pricing.
Maybe you read that and thought “um, duh”. Yes, obviously you need to consider the price. Here’s the thing, though…if you’re like most people, you probably already have some type of budget floating around in your head. But, keep in mind, you decided to hire a professional, not your neighbor (unless your neighbor IS the professional!) and the number you think makes sense…may just not be realistic. If you get a quote that is higher than you expected, don’t be afraid to ask why! If you receive two quotes that are in completely opposing directions, definitely ask why! You may be looking at the difference between a contractor who a. is newer to the business, b. doesn’t have insurance (we’ll come back to this!), and c. uses lower quality paint materials that cost less vs. a contractor who a. has years of experience under their belt, b. does have insurance coverage, and c. only uses the best brands in the biz. While it can be tempting to just go with the cheapest option, remember that sometimes that means having to pay even more to fix it down the line—something we can all agree is the w.o.r.s.t. An honest contractor will be more than willing to answer those financial questions.
Insurance
This one isn’t really negotiable in our opinion and important enough for us to mention it twice. If the company doesn’t have insurance coverage, you as the homeowner will be the one facing some serious payouts for any on-the-job injuries. An insured painter can also cover repairs and replacements for damages that happen to your property during the project. Never be afraid to ask for proof of insurance! The value of a contractor with insurance cannot be understated.
Contracts
The official contract is where the finer points of the company’s preparations, processes, and policies will be outlined. This is where you’ll find out about standards, warranties, owner responsibilities, and the like. Sometimes a company will send the terms & conditions at the same time as the estimate and other times you may just receive an initial quote range to first see if they fall in your budget window and then after you approve, they’ll proceed by sending you a contract. Either way, don’t overlook it. Those details are ones you should educate yourself on. It keeps you on the same page as your contractor, which you both want!
Questions
Do you still have questions? Probably and rightly so! And the contractor you choose should be willing and able to answer them! Maybe that seems like stating the obvious, but sometimes you have to remind yourself that you are the homeowner and no one is going to care about your home quite like you do! So ask away.
Who you choose as your painting contractor needs to be someone you can trust to take care of the details. Keep this list in your back pocket & finding the right fit will be a cinch! Or at the very least, much less stressful! You might even come to find that the company for you was the one right in front of your face…on your phone screen…authoring this blog… (us, we mean us. PJA Services. At your service!)
