Did you know that people typically spend more time researching home electronics purchases such as TVs than they do on choosing a professional painting contractor?
We have operated in Littleton, Lafayette, and the entire Denver area for years. It’s where most of our clients are from, and their referrals continue to be a great source of new painting jobs for us. It’s great to ask a friend or a neighbor to refer a professional painter they’ve been satisfied with, but many people choose to search for a house painter online. In both cases, customers should do some homework before and after meeting with house painting contractors. It just takes a few simple steps to ensure they hire the right painting contractor to paint their home or business. Here are some important steps to follow when hiring a painter:
1. Prepare a list of what you want to paint and any other details you need to discuss with a painter before you make an appointment with them.
2. Call your prospective house painting contractors to set up onsite appointments so that you can meet them in person. Be sure to schedule enough time to discuss the project with each painter. By meeting the contractor in person, you will be able to evaluate their appearance, timeliness, and professional knowledge.
3. Ask the following questions during each meeting:
a) Are they licensed and insured? Can they provide their liability insurance certificate?
b) Do they have workers’ compensation insurance? Can they provide a certificate of proof?
c) Are they members of a professional association?
d) What is their process? A good painting contractor should be able to educate you about what needs to be done and make recommendations.
e) Can they provide references?
f) Will they provide a warranty for their work? What kind?
4. Ask for a detailed project estimate that includes the scope of work, the schedule for work, details on preparation, products, number of coats, cost and payment schedule, and all workmanship guarantees.
5. After receiving estimates and gathering information, compare all the factors. At this point you should have a good idea of which painters are best qualified for your project. Be wary of unusually low estimates. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Choosing an above average estimate that is realistic and detailed will save time, avoid cost run ups, prevent redos, and result in a superior final product.
6. Sign a contract before the start of the painting project. Make sure the contract spells out the work scope, the pricing based on the provided estimate, and the guarantees. The contract should also have a clear payment schedule.
Ready to get the ball rolling? Give Zenith Painting a call at 800-381-4601 to schedule a free quote and start getting your questions answered.
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