Today, homes are all about love. Loving the style, loving the furniture, loving the colors, loving the way it’s all put together. Loving both the interior and the exterior. If you don’t love your home both inside and out, you’re never going to be happy with it. And being unhappy in your own home can definitely throw you off your game and interfere with your life big-time. So what about the colors of your home? Do you love them? If you don’t, then you’re probably ready for a house painting project. But how do you go about finding a house painter that will do the job to your satisfaction? And how do you know you’ll get the most out of your hard-earned money? Here’s a list of questions to ask a prospective house painter before forking over a dime.
How long have you been in business?
It’s important to ask this question because you don’t want to hire somebody who just started painting a month ago. By the same token, you don’t really need to hire someone who’s been in business for decades. As long as your house painter has been in business for about 4 years or more, this should be sufficient, since most small businesses fail long before the 4-year mark. You also need to know if they’ve put up roots in the area, or if they’ll be hitting the bricks before they finish painting your house.
Do you offer warranty, and are you insured?
The last thing you need is for a house painting contractor to paint one or more rooms of your home only to find out they’ve done a poor job and you’re outta luck. You need to know all warranties that are provided and if they will cost any additional monies. All contractors you hire should also be fully insured.
Do you use subcontractors?
If subcontractors are used, you definitely have a right and a need to know this fact. It’s important to know that any estimates you receive that are substantially below the market’s competitive rates often mean that subcontractors, and poor ones at that, are probably going to be used.
Do you provide references and photos of work?
Ask for a list of at least 4 or 5 client references with phone numbers. Additionally, ask for photos of work they’ve performed to go along with the names and phone numbers, as anyone can just give you a list of names and numbers. You need to know that these are actual clients and what their homes looked like when the jobs were finished.
How do you handle cleanup?
Cleanup is vital! Whatever you do, do not forget to ask this question! Too many homeowners have come home to wrecked houses after house painters left them with havoc from dust, paint, and ruined furniture. Be sure to ask about preparation as well, since cleanup means nothing if proper precautions weren’t taken ahead of time.
What type(s) of paint will you use?
This question is very important, since some types of paint are not only of poor quality, but also can be hazardous if inhaled. Get specifics about the types of paint that are being used, and get those specifics in writing! Get house painting contractors to explain to you the differences between types of paint and why they’re using the kinds of paint they’ve chosen for your particular house painting project.
The great thing about house painting is that it’s the most inexpensive means of totally transforming your home into the living space of your dreams. Of course, you want that transformation to be a good one. You want the job to go as smoothly as possible. And, above all, you want to get the most value from your cash outlay. So, before you even consider hiring a house painter, prepare a list of questions that will help you determine which house painter is the right one for your project. And if you have interior design questions or exterior design questions, by all means include those in your list, just to keep prospective house painters on their toes. Above all, never be afraid to ask every question on your list, as you want to make sure the job will be done right the first time.