Discovering The Truth About Experts
Tips for Choosing a House Painter
Few things can be more refreshing than a home with a nice new layer of paint. A paint job can give your home an instant but dramatic facelift. Definitely, the best way to get the best results is always hiring a professional. Painting may seem all so simple, but you may be surprised. If your home was constructed earlier than 1978, it’s likely covered in lead-based paint, which an expert can take care of.
If you’re ready to hire a professional house painter, let the following tips help you:
Written Quote
Ask your potential painter to give you a quote on the paint job you want. Clearly, he needs to come and personally check out your home while you tell him your expectations. Be very specific about the color or colors you want, even showing paint samples if you have any. If you’re uncertain, ask the painter to help you.
License and Insurance
As soon as you’ve found a few prospects, ask each if they are licensed (if required by the state where you live in) and insured. A license is no guarantee of a great job, but you do have a better chance of getting one with it. Of course, insurance frees you from liability, in case somebody hurts themselves on the job.
Previous Projects Client References
When you research painters on the Internet, you may find several pictures of projects they’ve completed. Don’t count on these images though. Instead, ask your prospect to personally show you at least two projects similar to yours, which are three years old or older. It’s important to see how the materials and colors used held over time.
Checking references is a vital part of finding a professional house painter. You’ll want to know the quality of work your prospect is capable of, straight from the mouths of those who have hired him before. If your prospect won’t provide references, he probably has something to hide so go look for another painter. Remember to read online reviews as well, especially if you found the painter without anyone’s recommendation.
Contract
The contract you have with a house painter should to be very detailed. All the pertinent information should be included, including the project’s start and end dates, materials to be used and a cost breakdown, and the schedule of payments. Even the paint manufacturer’s name, color, grade, etc. should be mentioned, along with where the paints will be applied and how many coats should be applied. The application of a primer must be specified in the contract too. Lastly, the document should state that cleaning up will be the responsibility of the painter.