Painting projects large and small may need the trained hand of a quality contractor to get the job done well and within your allotted schedule. When you begin to shop around for the best painting contractor pricing, you’ll notice a stark difference. This can be a result of several factors including the experience of the contractor, size of the crew, and the deadline you require for the crew to finish the job. Here are a few tips to follow when researching and comparing painting contractor pricing.
What Should You Consider During Painting Contractor Pricing?
List Every Service: To get an accurate estimate from any potential contractor, you need to be detailed on the services, and your personal expectations. Think through the project yourself and all of the logistics that may need to be planned and considered during your project. Are there multiple colors and details that need attention? Do you need trim work done? How about patching and drywall repair before the new color is painted? All of those expectations need to be addressed when asking for the painting contractor pricing. This helps the contractor know the end result you expect from them and it helps you receive an accurate estimate so no one is surprised at the end of the project.
Price per Square Foot: Another way you can calculate painting contractor pricing is the price per square foot. Before you begin researching local contractors, know the square footage of your project. While this takes a few math skills, it’s nothing your standard calculator can’t handle. Measure the width of your walls and multiply it by the height of your ceilings. The answer will give you the square footage of that particular wall. It helps if you draw a diagram of the room or rooms you need painted. Then, write the square footage of each wall so you know you’ve measured and calculated every wall in every room. Finally, take the numbers of each wall and add them together for a final square footage. That number, although might seem daunting, will help the contractor know you’ve done your homework and you know your stuff. They might have standard painting contractor pricing per square foot as an initial guide.
Ask About Clean Up Costs: Many homeowners don’t consider cleanup as an additional cost. If you hire someone to do the job, you might assume cleanup is included in the price, but that’s not always the case. When researching painting contractor pricing, makes sure you ask the right questions about clean up. Is cleanup included? What is your cleanup process? What do you consider clean? Do you use cleaners? Do I need to provide cleaning products? You don’t want to feel cheated at the very end of the project.
Are Online Calculators Accurate for Painting Contractor Pricing?
How do Online Calculators Work? If you type in painting contractor pricing in your Internet search engine, you are likely to pull up several websites and resources offering online calculators. The resources range from your local home improvement store calculators to local contractors trying to give you an idea of the cost of your project. Using one of these tools can help you calculate the size of your project by helping you accurately determine the square footage of the area you need painted.
Online Calculators vs. Contractor Estimates: While the online calculators are helpful in helping you set a budget for your project, it’s not the final cost of things. Even your contractor estimates won’t exactly hit the nail on the head when it comes to painting contractor pricing. Both online calculators and contractor estimates should be considered more of a guide, so do not depend too much on their accuracy. They are similar because they can be used as tools for you, and differ because the calculator estimates the costs while the estimates take labor into consideration.
Where to Find Online Calculators: If you want to use an online calculator to help you begin to budget your painting project, a simple search on the Internet should turn up several options. Think about your location and how it might factor into a difference in cost. Some of the larger chain home improvement stores will help you do that by asking for your zip code when operating the calculator. Just remember that calculating the cost of the supplies isn’t a fair estimate of the painting contractor pricing.
How to Avoid Scams When Scouting the Painting Contractor Pricing
Ask the Right Questions: There are always people out there who try to get something for nothing. The same is true when you look for the painting contractor pricing. But a savvy consumer knows the right questions to ask in order to educate themselves and make good decisions. Even if a company didn’t have the intentions of ripping you off, if you feel cheated, then you’ve had a bad experience. Walking into a contract or an agreement on your terms with all of your questions answered will help you feel in control of the situation. You should ask questions like:
What is your best estimate of the job’s completion?
How many people are on your crew?
What do you expect from your homeowners?
What cleanup does your cost cover?
Do you offer a guarantee?
Will you assume responsibility if something gets lost or damaged?
Compare Prices: Another way to avoid scams while scouting painting contractor pricing is to compare contractors side by side. This can be as easy as making a pro and con list for each person or crew you interview. Look at the services each team offers and then compare the cost. Make sure you check your gut on this one. Sometimes you might feel more comfortable with one crew in your home over another. That peace of mind can be worth the extra price.
Never Underestimate a Happy Customer: Finally, remember it’s okay to ask potential contractors for references. One of the best ways to find a good company is through unsolicited glowing references like such as a good friend. Maybe you know of a neighbor who just completed a big painting job in their home or business and you were impressed with the quality of work that went into it. Ask them about the contractor that completed the job. You may find the perfect person to lead your project. While painting contractor pricing plays a big role in your decision, there are other factors to consider like quality, timeline, and listening to your gut when interviewing potential contractors.
