The time has finally come: You’re tired of looking at your drab walls and dull exterior. You could do the work yourself, but you don’t want to spend dozens – or hundreds — of back-breaking hours painting your ceilings. Furthermore, you actually want the finished product to look professional. But selecting a painting contractor in the Denver area can be overwhelming.
A YellowPages.com search nets you nearly 300 commercial contractors in Denver that specialize interior and exterior painting. How do you know which is the right one for you?
First things first: Ask your network. Getting testimonials from your real-life and online networks can help you weed out the good commercial contractors from the bad. Asking your friends and your colleagues in the Denver area who they’ve used is a great way to get a first-hand account on the quality of work a painting contractor can produce.
Remember to evaluate overall opinions as a whole. Don’t get distracted by one negative reviewer who may have had an isolated experience if the majority of opinions are highly positive.
Get Quotes and Estimates:
Contact a few Denver area painting contractors to ask them an estimate on the cost of your project. There are several factors that should be weighed when selecting a commercial contractor, including:
Completion estimate: How long will the project take from start to finish? Does this sound reasonable compared to other estimates or is it significantly longer/shorter than other painting contractors? If the time is more or less than average, ask questions to understand why. In some cases, painting contractors may offer a longer time estimate due to increased attention to details like trim work. In these circumstances, you’ll need to weigh the additional time against the quality of work.
Additionally, ask if the project will be billed by the project or hourly. If a painting contractor bills hourly, consider the added cost should an unexpected complication arise that adds several hours to the project. In general, it’s best to hire a commercial contractor on a per-project basis to avoid unexpected overages.
Preparation and Preservation: Will the contractor take precautions when it comes to interior furnishings or exterior landscape? How will the team ensure the preservation of your home? Does the company go above and beyond to protect your belongings, or do they set up scaffolding without regard to your newly planted petunias?
Insurance and Warranty: Is the contractor insured and bonded? If something happens to a worker while on your property, you may be liable for the injury unless the contractor is insured. Most commercial contractors are insured and bonded, but request insurance documentation to be certain.
Also, be sure to ask about the warranty of the service provided. Does the company guarantee its work from defects, or could you be stuck with peeling walls after only a year?
Gut instinct: If your gut is telling you to steer clear, find a new painting contractor. You don’t want to feel uneasy with a team in your home for a week or more. If you’re uncertain, check for the contractor’s reviews and ratings with the Denver Better Business Bureau.
Once you’ve chosen your contractor, sit back and let them do the work. It won’t be long before you dull and drab Denver home is transformed into something you can be proud of. Zenith’s professional painting team is always available to answer your questions at 800-381-4601 and we can get you started with a free estimate.
[/column]