Expert Advice: How to Hire a Truly Great Painter for Your Home

Catchlight feels like old friends after completing several interior and exterior projects at my house. I was curious if there was a way to ensure that you hire the best house painters in hamilton. He said that it was a wild west when it came to painting contractors. Anyone can use a brush and be a painter. He explained that there are signs that a company is trustworthy and steps homeowners can take to ensure they hire the best painting contractor for their project.

Step 1: Begin with online research.

Asking a friend or general contractor for recommendations is a good place to start. My Cape Cod cottage was painted by a talented painter who also painted the homes of my aunt, an architect, and my cousin, a contractor. However, prior to this painter I had hired another guy on the recommendation from a friend who owned a similar historical house. Disaster! The paint job didn’t last for two years. Even if you have been recommended, we recommend that you conduct some research online. Ask your friends and family to rate the work of the contractor. Also, ask if they have worked on houses similar to yours. Modern and vintage houses are two different things when it comes to painting.

Find reviews online.

Google and Yelp lists (mostly) have independent reviews from real customers. It is possible to “game” them. However, we have some suggestions on what to look out for.

• Detailed reviews are better than vague or general reviews. The latter indicates that the reviewer has actually worked with the company. Their detailed descriptions will provide more information about the company’s policies and job performance.
• Multiple sites have different reviews. If there are inconsistent reviews on different sites, it could indicate that reviews were manipulated.
• Yelp does not recommend reviews that are too long. Yelp prioritises reviews that have frequent reviews. Non-habitual reviews (a.k.a. The featured reviews will include reviews by the non-habitual (a.k.a. “not recommended”), which can be found at the bottom of each review. These comments are often from clients motivated by a very good or terrible experience and can provide valuable feedback.
• Responses from the company owner If you have a negative review, you want to be able to get a response explaining what went wrong. Even a simple “thank you” for a positive review is a sign of superior customer service.

Please also note:

• This can indicate a potential problem if a company does not have an online review profile.
• Brokerage sites that offer referrals should be avoided. These brokerage sites often make money on referrals and not jobs booked.

Visit the website of the company.

You can learn a lot from the contractor’s website. These are the things to look for:

• Portfolio of past projects. Photos of different projects are a sign that you have more experience. Close-ups of detail work should be included in the images. You can also see the progress of the company by taking photos. You should look for evidence that the crew is using proper equipment and following safety protocols. Particularly for older homes with intricate details or lead paint, it is important to see pictures that show that the company has considerable experience with these types of properties.
• Crew page, with bios or images of crew members on-site. These pages will allow you to gauge the experience of your workers and will give you an idea of who will be arriving at your home.
• Blog. Blog articles can be a sign that the contractor is proud of their work and business. You should look for original posts by the owner, which show actual projects done by the company. Boilerplate articles can be used as a selling tool.
• Information about the length of time that the company has been in operation.
• Awards and professional affiliations
• Information about Lead Paint Safety

Google the founder/owner of the company.

• You don’t want to hear about lawsuits. A proven track record, announcements from professional affiliates, and possibly even an interview for the local newspaper or trade magazine are all important.

You can search for the company in the EPA’s Lead Paint Certified Database.

You may have lead paint if your house was built prior to 1978. It is important to learn about the current RRP (Renovation, Repair and Paint), laws through the EPA’s site. This site also allows you to look up the name and certification of contractors who handle lead paint.

Above: Make sure that your painter is qualified for the job. If their photos show interiors, your project will be exterior. Keep looking. Particularly for historic houses like London’s The New Road Residence, it takes special knowledge and skill.

Step 2: Interview the artist at the job site.

After narrowing down a list to semi-finalists via thorough online research, you can schedule a few appointments to get an estimate. These meetings can be viewed as interviews. This is your best chance to get to know the company and to share your expectations. Make sure you’re there when they visit.

*Note: He does not recommend a minimum or maximum number bids. Instead, he suggests that you let your research guide your decisions. Five contractors is a good number if you are really interested in them. Even if you only have two contractors, it may still be enough to find the right match. You can always return later to get more.

These are the signs of a trustworthy company.

• Look for someone who is passionate about craft. Is the owner interested in the chemistry behind paint? Are they willing to share stories about past projects? These are all signs that the owner of the company takes pride in what they do.
• Are they able to spend time on the property walking with you? Are they able to point out any potential problems and ask questions about your expectations? Your contractor will spend more time with you and your house to get a better understanding of your project and provide a more accurate estimate.
• Are they able to make specific recommendations for your home? Are they able to spot problems that you might have missed, such as excessive moisture or paint buildup? These observations will not only show knowledge, but also educate you. You will need to know the details of your project, especially if it involves lead paint.