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Spring and summer are the best times to get started on our home projects. House painting is one of those projects that we can finally tackle after months of putting it off. A professional painting contractor should handle your painting project, regardless of whether you’re staging your house to sell it, painting the nursery, or just wanting to give your home a makeover. How do you start and who should you hire to paint your house?
Based on Yelp there are approximately 236 Chicago-area painting contractors. The most difficult and important part of any painting project is choosing the right one.
These are some tips to help you select the right contractor for your project. Continue reading to learn how to complete your painting project, whether it is to increase the value of your home or to improve your living area.
Budget Planning
Before you start looking at the options for painting contractors in your area, budget is a key factor. The quality of the materials, the size of the project and the amount of work required to make it affordable will all play a role in determining your budget.
Also, it is important to find contractors that charge reasonable but not low fees. Low fees could mean that you pay less for paint, are not as skilled as the painters and use lightning fast painting techniques. You get what you pay. You can also avoid price gougers who charge exorbitant amounts and hide behind “luxury paint services” promises. What is the best choice? The best option is to find a painting company that uses quality colors and standard painting techniques at a fair, mid-range cost.
It is a good idea to get quotes from at least three to five painting companies in order to compare their pricing and services. You will be able to estimate the cost of your painting project.
Consider a variety of options
There are many resources available to help you find painting contractors. You can search for local painting contractors by using Google, Yelp, and Angie’s List. Make a list of potential painting companies that you might hire. It doesn’t matter how cliché it may sound, it is important to clearly outline the pros and cons for each company in order to make the right decision. What is the most important thing you should consider when hiring contractors? The price? It could be the company’s reputation. Perhaps even the company’s proximity. Do your research on different companies before you make the common mistake and choose the first company that appears on Google Search.
Referrals can also be a great way to get insight and find great contractors. Perhaps a friend or neighbor has recently had a job painted. Ask them about their experience with the company and who they used. It is also an excellent way to assess the company by reading reviews left by past clients. Highly-reviewed contractors tend to be more concerned about quality and will work hard to satisfy customers.
Ask the right questions
Now that you have a list of potential contractors, it is time to interview them for the job. You can reach them via email, phone or chat in this digital age. Clients like you are often unhappy with contractors because they didn’t ask the right questions before hiring them. Here are some questions to ask when hiring a painter:
- What length of time have you been in the business?
- Could you please provide a list with at least three references from recent clients?
- Are you current on your insurance certificate that covers general liability, worker’s compensation, and auto?
- Which professional painting association do you belong?
- Which products are most cost-effective and best for the project?
- Will I have to purchase my own paint?
- Do you have subcontractors or employees who can work with your crew?
- Are you lead-safe certified This is an important question, especially if you have a house built prior to 1978.
- Are you able to offer a guarantee on your work?
- What time can you complete the job?
- Do I need to hire maids or clean up after the work is finished?
Get at least three estimates
Ask potential contractors the same questions as you and set the same expectations. After you have received the estimates, compare them carefully to ensure that they have the same amount and type of preparation, materials, and scope of work, as well as all necessary documentation.
Pricing is a major concern in any painting job. You should ensure that the estimate is clear and understandable. Ask the contractor to break down the numbers. It should include labor cost, time frame and materials. Ask about both indirect and direct costs. Indirect costs are indirect costs that are directly related to your painting job. These costs include overhead costs, utilities and rent. These costs are often overlooked by clients who get surprised when their overall estimate is higher than they expected. Direct costs, on the other hand, can be roughly compared to the usual costs you would consider when preparing your budget. What you need in an estimate is a clear definition of what you will be paying and how long it will take to complete the project.
Get a contract
You must ensure that all information about the contractor is included in the contract, including name, address, phone numbers and cell numbers as well as license number. It should be clear in the contract what is included and what is excluded. Reputable painting companies will also offer a written guarantee to fix any chipping or peeling, blistering or excessive fading, or chalking that occurs within x amount of weeks or months. This is in addition to the guarantee that paint manufacturers have on their products.
Do not panic
After everything has been agreed upon, the contractor should receive a 15-20% down payment. You don’t need to make a large down payment and you can withhold the final payment until all is completed to your satisfaction.
Preparation for painting
Now that you have found the perfect person to help with your painting project, what are you waiting for? Preparing for the actual painting job. We recommend these things because you’re paying your contractor to paint, not move stuff around.
- Moving Your Furniture
Be sure to keep your furniture out of the way of your painter. If there is enough space, you can move the furniture to another area. You can also place it in the middle of the room if you don’t have enough space. It will make it easier for your painter and the painter to paint your wall.
- Take out Outlet Covers and Switch Plates
Most outlet covers and switch plates made from plastic are difficult to clean once they’ve been stained. You will most likely end up purchasing a new one. You can save a few dollars by removing the switch plates and outlet covers, especially if they are vintage.
- Clean Your Walls
This one may be easy to overlook since you will have your walls painted. However, paint can actually bring out physical differences in walls because it sticks substances like dust to them. Permanently. Do you not want freshly painted walls to be accented by dust?
- Take care of your pets
Accidents can happen. While you’re waiting for the paint drying, your adorable puppy suddenly rubs its face against a new coat of paint. While you are painting, it is a good idea to keep your pets in a separate room.
- Create a room
Painters Pukekohe would bring all their equipment and set up a shop where they could store their paint, sheets, ladders, etc. It will make their lives easier and save them time.
It will save you both time and effort to hire a professional painter. Do your research on who you should trust with this project. Make sure you balance cost, schedule and quality and decide which one is most important. To help other clients, leave a review for the company that helped you with your painting project. A solid review is one way to thank them.
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