When you are looking to repaint the interior or exterior of your home or business, you normally have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to hiring out the job. When you’re researching how to find local painters, you should think about three main things. First, think about who is in the local area by those investing in local advertising. Next, you should think about the pros and cons to hiring a smaller mom and pop operation versus a larger company. And finally, when researching how to find local painters, you should ask for referrals. Whether the job is big or small, those three keys will help you unlock the mystery of how to find local painters.
How to Find Local Painters: Local Advertising
Finding local painters isn’t hard. Just look around you. Many times companies, both large and small, will invest in local advertising. When researching how to find local painters, scan through your local newspaper. While there are some credible ads placed in the local classified section of the newspaper, most can be shady or questionable at best. Instead, look for the ads featured in the local happenings sections. You might also scan through your local paper’s website. Many times the media sources will offer coupons or deals if you visit its website and click on the advertiser’s link. It shows the company’s ads are working and you might get a free room painted or a percentage off your job. Let local painters you interview know where you found them and ask for a deal if you can’t find one online.
Television and Internet ads on social media sites can also help when you’re asking how to find local painters. Businesses are trying to connect with customers and potential customers in any way they can. That’s why they drive you to the websites. You input your email address to get a coupon emailed to you for a free estimate and you’re hooked.
How to Find Local Painters: Mom & Pop vs. Large Companies
While searching for local painters, don’t shrug off the idea that a mom and pop operation isn’t worth the time. There are pros and cons to dealing with both small and large companies.
Mom & Pop
Pro: One of the pros of working with a small local company is that they not only want your business, but they need it. When asking how to find local painters, it’s easier to get time with a smaller company to interview them for the job. Ask them questions like:
- How long have you been in business?
- Do you have the necessary licenses to work in my city?
- What products do you use?
Con: When asking how to find local painters, one of the cons of working with a smaller company is that there might be a limited workforce so your job could take a little longer than if you went with a larger company. Always check with your local Better Business Bureau before hiring a contractor.
Large Company
Pro: One of the pros to hiring a larger local company is that, at least most of the time, they can afford to offer you a competitive rate. Another pro when asking how to find local painters on a larger scale is that they have a larger pool of workers. Many times, if things are slow, companies will pull workers already on the clock to knock out a job faster. Some of the questions you should ask a potential painter are:
- Do you have insurance and bonding?
- Do you subcontract your work or complete it yourself?
- Do you offer guarantees?
Con: One of the cons of hiring a larger company is a feeling of things falling through the cracks or being impersonal. This certainly isn’t the case with every large painting company. It’s just something you should keep in mind when researching how to find local painters.
How to Find Local Painters: Referrals
Another great thing you can do when researching for local painters is to ask for referrals. Referrals are opinions on past experiences from people who have hired the companies or individuals you’re researching.
Family: You will first want to ask your family and friends for ideas and referrals. These are people you know you can trust to give you honest opinions about individuals and companies they’ve done business with in the past. You can solicit referrals through conversation by simply letting your family know you’re researching how to find local painters.
Friends: Don’t forget the power of social media when it comes to asking for people’s opinions. You already read much of those opinions on everything else floating around your news feeds. Now, you can put those opinions to use and solicit referrals from your online friends. When you’re trying to find out how to find local painters, ask your online friends about companies they used and liked. Sometimes you may get more negative responses than positive ones, but you’ll be able to know and recognize the companies you might want to steer clear of in the future.
Ask the Prospect: Never underestimate the power of simply asking a question. As you’re doing research on a painting company or local painter to hire, ask the very people you’re investigating for referrals. It’s important to understand that the companies will only hand you glowing recommendations, but ask to speak with the individuals on your own. That’s when you can ask the tough questions.
As you’re learning how to find local painters, these three main points can help in your search. Additionally, you’ll want to set up an interview with several prospective companies. Make sure you write down the questions you want answered before the meeting. That way you can focus on the answers instead of thinking ahead to your next question. Next, you’ll want to ask about guarantees and contracts. Make sure you always put the terms of your agreement in writing. This protects you and the company. Ask for copies of permits, if needed, for your project. And make sure you have a clear understanding of budget, what the price includes, and an accurate guesstimate of when the project will be completed. Following these points and asking the right questions is exactly how to find local painters.
