Selecting a House Painting Contractor

Many people decide not to employ a painting contractor out of a sense of fear, fear they will receive a poor service, a bad job, be over charged and generally ripped off. Yet there are many contractors out there so it must be possible to find one who will provide a good service at a fair price. The secret is to know how to go about finding the right painting contractor for you.

So when you come to choose a painting contractor what are some of the things you should take into account? When you choose a painting contractor, you want to proceed with your plans using a smidge of wise caution. Do that and everything should turn out ok.

Fist start by visiting their website or place of business. These days, most businesses are online. This provides you with lots of useful information about any company right at your fingertips. While it is true this is information the company wants you to hear, it is a useful place to start and learn about the services they provide and how long they have been in business. Their website and place of business can also help you decide how professional they are.

Learn to spot a few things that will make a dodgy painting contractor stand out from the crowd.

*When your painting contractor wants to be paid in cash, only has a cell phone and doesn't seem to have a business address - these are real red flags. A true painting contractor acts just like any business, with a business address, business cards and accepting checks or other forms of payment.

*Be especially cautious if a painting contractor offers some sort of special discount "for families" or "for seniors" if they can get paid in cash - and they demand advance payment. These are all bright red flags.

*Confirm that they have insurance. Every painting contractor should have the proper insurance. A painting contractor without insurance is a big red flag - and you should run away from one as quickly as possible. If the painting contractor provides no information about insurance, ask them if they have proper insurance.

Ask for an estimate of how long the job will take. Many homeowners will likely think about doing this anyway as they start to look for painting contractors - but it is useful to gage their responses. It is better to work with a painting contractor who tells you that the job will take a bit longer if they explain why (it needs more manpower, extra time, etc.). This is preferable to someone who promises you the job will be done in a week and then still isn't done a month later. Request, in writing, confirmation that the job will be done within a certain time: most painting contractors will be glad to comply.

Request references from the painting contractor. This is a critical step that many homeowners seem to neglect. Obtaining references from previous and recent clients is very important if you are interested in hiring someone to work on your home. Call each reference and ask them about their own experiences working with this person and that company. You'll gain valuable information you simply won't get anywhere else. This alone can help you make a wise decision when it comes to choosing the best painting contractor for your project.