Find a painter by asking around for referrals or using review sites such as Angie’s List or Angie’s. Although they may charge a membership fee, these alternatives often prove more cost effective than hiring professional painters directly.
Be sure that the painting estimate details all costs clearly including labor, timeframe, materials and travel (if applicable). Also make sure that any indirect expenses are also considered in this calculation.
Ask for Recommendations
When selecting a painting contractor, it is wise to seek recommendations from friends, family and neighbors. When searching the Internet for local painters, search engines offer fast ways of gathering a wealth of information including images, prices and reviews quickly.
As part of your initial estimate, make sure that each painter receives an identical list of your needs for your project, in order to compare estimates more easily. Also be wary of any prices that seem abnormally low or high; those could be indicators that a painting company is cutting corners to save costs, leading to subpar work.
Enquire about the painting process, including surface preparation, paint application and clean-up. A qualified painter Melbourne should be able to explain all these steps clearly while answering any of your queries about them. You should also inquire as to which brand of paint they intend on using as any reputable painting company will never recommend inferior brands over their recommendations.
Check Online Reviews
Reputable painting contractors will put forth extra effort and put your needs first to earn excellent reviews from you.
Do your research by seeking customer reviews on Google and Yelp from past customers of any business you consider working with. If they’re not actively represented there or only have limited feedback available it might be best to look elsewhere for solutions.
Read up on what people have been saying about painters online reviews to assess whether or not they meet your standards for timeliness, cleanliness and professionalism – if a painter cannot meet this benchmark they may not be the ideal match for your job.
Keep an eye out for how painters conduct on-site estimates. If they seem impatient with you or seem less than committed to understanding your needs, they might not be an ideal match for you. Instead, seek painters who take time listening and addressing any concerns fully.
Check with the BBB
When hiring a painting company, don’t take their word for it alone; check with the Better Business Bureau first to see what other people have had to say about them. You might be amazed to discover a painting service with high reviews on Yelp but lower ratings with BBB!
Painters must obtain a license from their state, have valid insurance and register with the EPA as lead-paint removers if working on homes built before 1978.
Some painters work as one-man shows, taking jobs from friends, family and referrals from the community. Although these options tend to be cheaper, their quality may not match up. When searching for the ideal company to paint your house quickly with quality results. You should look for employees, insurance and customer testimonials/references before selecting one for a painting job. A full crew can speed up the project while cleaning up after each day’s painting session as well as at completion of project.
Check with the Contractor
Painting projects place great pressure on painting contractors. Before hiring one, do your research to make sure that he or she is licensed, bonded and insured – using sites like Angie’s List or Yelp can be useful starting points.
Search for a company with years of experience and before/after photos from past projects. Inquire as to their specialty (interior, exterior, wallpaper ceilings etc) as well as whether or not they provide power washing or deck and fence staining services.
Your first meeting with a painting contractor should involve a comprehensive walk-through of your home and property to assess its scope of the project. When discussing an estimate, be sure to consider indirect costs such as monthly payments for equipment or trucks used during work, overhead and benefits; this will ensure you fully comprehend it without any surprises later on. Additionally, ask if they employ or subcontract employees, if so make sure that if so they have been certified by the EPA as capable of using lead paint safely.