Selecting a House Painting Contractor

So you've finally decided to give your home its very own Extreme Makeover? Before you run from room to room choosing which furniture to toss out on the front lawn, take a look at our tips when it comes to selecting a painting contractor. When you choose a painting contractor, you want to proceed with your plans using a smidge of wise caution.

Visit 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 the information the company does want you to hear, it is useful to help you learn what 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 dodgy painting contractor. 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.

Check with the Better Business Bureau. Your first call after locating a painting contractor should be to your local Better Business Bureau. You want to check if there have been any complaints about the painting contractor and if they have any further information. The painting contractor may be a member of the Better Business Bureau and they will inform you what year their membership first began. Checking with the Better Business Bureau is free and you can call with any company you'd like information about.

Confirm that they have insurance. Every painting contractor should have the proper insurance (may vary from state to state and county to county). This information is likely listed on their business card, including the business license number, so if you wanted to call and confirm that their business license is active, you could do so. 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 the proper insurance they do need by law.

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 job references from the painting contractor. This is a critical step that many homeowners seem to neglect. Obtaining job references 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.