Choosing a painting contractor isn’t rocket science, but it can be a tough decision. You have to be careful not to let your fiscal sense overtake your common sense. Going with a pro will certainly cost you more money than if you were to tackle the painting job yourself, but the results are well worth the investment. Some of the reasons you might decide to go with a professional painter might be:
- Professional Results
- Need the Job Completed Quickly
- Your Painting Skills are Lackluster
- Everything You Touch Breaks or Gets Ruined
- Don’t Have the Time or Effort to Invest in the Project
Any and all of those reasons can be enough to make anyone want to hire out the painting project. But, how do you go about choosing a painting contractor? Whether you want to paint one room or your whole house, a professional painter can take a lot of stress off your plate. Here are a few tips that will help you sort through the process to find the perfect person or company to meet your every need.
Choosing a Painting Contractor: The Interview
When choosing a painting contractor, don’t be afraid to interview potential contractors. You’re hiring them to complete a task or job so you have total control on the people you choose to be in your home or business. You want to make sure you know and understand the conditions for the project. Start by laying it out in a detailed contract that explains your project from start to finish and everything in between.
One of the most important tasks you face during the interview process is to check the references of the potential contractor. Most legit agencies will offer you contact information to satisfied customers that you can contact and ask. You will also want to check the contractor’s standing with your local better business bureau or permit agency. They might have complaints or liens on file that you need to know about before hiring the company or contractor.
When choosing a painting contractor, make sure you interview multiple companies or people for the job. This can give you a wide range of expertise and personalities to weigh during your decision. This also gives you the opportunity to get multiple quotes from each prospective contractor. The lowest bid may not be the best man or woman for the job. Money matters so make sure you get the whole picture with knowing what each potential contractor would charge for your project. You’ll also want to make sure your project is laid out in writing so the contractor knows what he or she is bidding on. This protects you in the future because you’re able to make sure everything listed in your contract is completed before the final payment is made.
You’ll also want to ask all the right questions when choosing a painting contractor. Along with references and quotes, questions might be the thing that can make or break your relationship with a potential contractor. A few of the tough questions you need to know before hiring are:
- Company or Contractor Insurance
- Licensing
- Permits
- Extra Fees
- Expected Timeline
- Warranty
- Working Hours
Choosing a Painting Contractor: Payment Agreements
One of the biggest fights a homeowner can come to blows over with their contractor many times centers on money. Bad contractors can do half a job and run out on the homeowner leaving them feeling violated. Homeowners can pick a project to death and waste a contractor’s valuable time keeping payment for the job hostage until every demand is met. Neither scenario will help people have a good experience. When choosing a painting contractor, you have to have a little bit of faith in the person or company you hire. One of the easiest ways to keep the faith for both parties is to enter into the payment agreement with open and plainly stated benchmarks or milestones. That way everyone involved knows what is expected before the next installment is paid.
Here’s a tip you should follow when choosing a painting contractor. Never pay in cash. It’s safer for you and it’s safer for the contractor accepting the payment. Cash is easily lost or stolen. It’s also not as easy to track. If you were to have a problem with the contractor, proving you paid them in cash is almost impossible to do. If you write your contractor a check, the bank helps you follow the money trail if needed.
Another tip when choosing a painting contractor, never pay more than 10% down. You may be asked to make a deposit on services rendered. That’s good business practices in almost every business, but you should never pay in full up front. Ten percent is a fair down payment and it can help the contractor purchase the painting supplies he or she needs to start the job. Make sure your contract lists those benchmarks we talked about when paying in installment payments.
Make sure you keep all records of payment when choosing a painting contractor. It protects you and it protects your contractor. If they’re juggling multiple jobs, it’s easy to lose track of who’s paid what in what time frame. Your records can keep all parties straight.
Finally, make the final payment in a timely manner only when you’re satisfied with the job that’s been done. Remember those questions and project milestones you wrote into the contract? This can be your save grace if you need a do-over of some of all of the work. Make sure you’re fair while choosing a painting contractor. You want to be a fair employer. You also want to make sure you get what you’ve asked for and what you’re paying for from the workers.
Choosing a painting contractor can be a fun process if you follow the advice we’ve listed. It can also be a disaster if you veer off course and hire without the proper interview and contract in hand before the work begins. Painting your home or office doesn’t have to be stressful if you find the perfect painters who professional get the job done.
