How To Find & Hire A Good Painter

When a person hires a reputable painter, you take all the stress out of a tough job. If a person who doesn't have much experience painting tries to do it themselves, they risk messing up the paint job or worse. If this happens, you need to pay to repair or redo the job later. Professional painters guarantee their work, and the people who hire them have a layer of protection against a botched job. It's important for people to take the following into consideration when hiring a painter:
Referrals: Good Start

Reputable painters should have a long list of satisfied clients and many of them keep a portfolio of their successful work. When a painter has many referrals, it's likely that they do a good job. Like all businesspersons, reasonable painters will only provide potential customers with a list of satisfied references. People can find a quality painter by asking their referrals a few questions:

    Did the painter complete the job on time?
    Were they punctual?
    Did the contractor run into any problems? How did he or she fix them?
    Did they do a proper job cleaning up?

Friends, neighbors and family members are a great place for people to get honest referrals. Friends and family are always likely to give honest reviews. When people depend solely on referrals that the painter gives, they leave themselves vulnerable to dishonest reviews.

Painting
Interview Multiple Candidates

Most people have no idea how much a paint job should cost. If they only interview one candidate, they run the risk of overpaying or receiving less than quality work. When multiple contractors are interviewed, it gives people a good idea of how much their paint job should cost. Most estimates should fall into a similar price range. When people interview multiple candidates, they can pick out estimates that aren't within the average. If an estimate is too high, homeowners can talk to the painter to see why they are inflating their price. If the price is too low, they can ask what corners are being cut or if there are any additional fees that are not quoted. People need to give their contractor specifics. When the painter can see the area, they're able to give a better estimate. It's important for people to show them problem areas that might inflate the price. Specifics should be provided about walls, trim, ceilings and anything else that's relevant. For this reason, phone estimates are not recommended.
Lots of Questions

When people ask candidates a lot of questions, they can figure out if they're a good fit for the job. It's important to ask:

    How long have you been in business?
    Do you have the proper license?
    Are you insured?
    Do you subcontract your work?
    Do you give written guarantees?

When a painter answers these questions satisfactorily, the people hiring them can be sure that they're going to take the project seriously. People should look for a licensed and insured painter who has been in business for a while. Additionally, it's often preferable to hire a painter who does not subcontract their work. Subcontractors don't work directly for the painter, so their work might not be up to par.

When a person vets a painter before hiring them, it takes a little time and research, but it's still faster than hiring a painter who doesn't do a good job. Quality professional painters get the job done quickly and ensure that it's done right the first time. People who ask questions and get references tend to have an easier time later in the process.
Conclusion

If you have never tried your own DIY painting project, I highly recommend you do so. Some see it as a challenge, but most agree that hiring a professional is well worth the money. If you do plan on talking to a pro, be sure to always ask these questions as you weed out your possible options.

source:improvenet.com