How to pick a paint contractor!

1. The best place to get referrals for a painter is either from friends and family or by going to you local paint store and requesting the names of reputable contractors. Make sure to call at least 3-5 painters for bids.

2. When you are scheduling a painter to come and give you a bid, make sure to request that they bring along a list of at least 2-3 references and proof of liability insurance. Also, any bid should always be free of charge. If a contractor charges for a bid then you don’t want them.

3. When the contractor arrives, make sure that he/she is courteous, respectful of your home, and has a pleasant attitude. The actual amount of time a contractor takes doing a bid is not that important. However, a contractor normally will take measurements, inspect any problem areas, and ask relevant questions. If a contractor does not do at least 2 of these 3 things then a warning flag should be raised in your mind. When I was a painting contractor, I would rarely take more than 10 or 15 minutes for a bid. If a contractor spends an hour giving you a bid for one room, then that should also be a warning, as they are likely to take much longer than usual on your job or try to sit around and chat instead of working. Also, do not expect a contractor to give you a price on the spot. Most contractors prefer to take the information back to their office and work out a price. It is better that the contractor give you a definite price rather then just a quick estimate. During he bid be sure to make your desires known for the job. Make sure they are clear on what is being painted, how many coats of paint you want to be applied, what order you want rooms painted in (example: kitchen first then the den), how long the job will take, and any other concerns or questions you may have.

4. When you receive the bids, remember that the lowest bid is not always the best one to go with. The same can be said for the highest bid. You need to look at the cost of each bid, the details on the bid, and think about how comfortable you felt about each of the contractors. Many times the bid in the middle is the best one to go with, but not always. When you choose the contractor, make sure you spell out the terms of payment for the job. Many times a painter will request 50% up front for the job and the rest when they are finished. Also, make sure both parties are clear about the start date and on who is responsible for picking up the painting materials.

5. When the contractor arrives, do not hover around them. This distracts the contractor and I can say from personal experience that a client who hovers is a real irritation and tends to get in the way. However, don’t hesitate to stop in and check out the progress once in a while. If you see something that you don’t like, make sure to say something right away before it’s too late to fix. Remember, the contractor is working for you, and since you are paying the bill, you deserve to get the job completed in the way that you agreed upon. When the contractor is finished, make sure that they clean up after themselves. Lastly, make sure to walk around and inspect the job before you give them final payment and they leave.

6. If you find problems after the contractor leaves, contact them immediately. Any reputable contractor will stop by to correct the problem as quickly as quickly as they can. If you have a problem with a contractor doing a shoddy job and not fixing major mistakes, then you are well within your rights to call the Better Business Bureau and to threaten a small claims suit against them. If you take all of the steps listed above, then you will most likely never have to worry about this unpleasant situation.