It’s important that your home be a reflection of you: your tastes, your interests, your likes. One of the easiest ways to tailor your house to be all that you want it to be is to have it painted. Now, you can certainly paint your house – inside and out – by yourself.
But sometimes you don’t want to deal with the hassle of getting each wall perfectly painted. Or maybe you don’t have time to spare. When that happens, hiring good painters is your best option. You don’t want to hire scammers or unprofessional workers, so we’ve collected a list of five questions you need to ask before hiring a painter.
1. WHEN WILL WORK BEGIN AND WHEN WILL IT END?
Painting large portions of your home (or all of it, for that matter) can be time-consuming and you need to know how long it will be before your home is your home again. Make sure you get starting and ending days, preferably in writing. Also make sure that the terms and conditions applicable to overtime are included in whatever contract you sign. And remember that an inability to project a reasonable date of completion can be a sign of unprofessionalism.
2. WHAT LEVEL OF QUALITY CAN I EXPECT IN THE MATERIALS YOU USE?
Not all paints are the same quality and it is vital that you find out just what type of paint the painters plan on using before you hire them. The last thing you want is a sloppy job done with thin paint that chips and flakes away at a moment’s notice. Try to get the highest quality painters and materials that your budget can afford. The work might take a little longer, but you will be far happier with the end results.
3. WHAT ARE YOUR REFERENCES?
Your conversation with a potential painting service should be conducted like a job interview – because that’s what it is. References are a must-have, even if the painting business is relatively new. Take the time to go over the references they give you to make sure they’re legitimate and to hear what previous clients have to say. Checking online reviews isn’t a bad idea either – try to get as much information as possible before signing a contract.
4. DO YOU CONDUCT BACKGROUND CHECKS ON YOUR EMPLOYEES?
If the answer to this question is ‘no’, then move right on to the next home painting service in the business directory. Every reputable painting service (or any business, for that matter) should run a background check on potential employees before hiring. You need to be able to trust the people who are working for you.
5. DOES YOUR COMPANY HAVE LIABILITY INSURANCE?
Best case scenario is that you’ll never need liability insurance. But if the worst case scenario happens and your home or belongings are damaged, you’ll want insurance to be in place. Otherwise, if you chose to pursue damages, you could be involved in a lengthy, costly court case. It’s better for everyone if the home painting company already has insurance available for you, the homeowner.
