Better Homes And Gardens Shopping Service

Choosing a Painting Service for Your Home

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Where to Start Your Search

When searching for a reliable painter, start off simple: Ask your family, friends and neighbors for recommendations, suggests HomeAdvisor. This is an especially wise move if you've visited a friend recently and were impressed by the look of their home's paint job. When asking for recommendations, don't just focus on the positives. Ask your friend if there was anything they didn't necessarily like about the painter. By doing so, you'll get a more honest assessment and avoid any surprises.

If you're on your own in this search, you might have to rely on online reviews from people you don't know. Don't just base your decision on star ratings; carefully read through any customer feedback on each painting service. A lack of online reviews isn't necessarily a bad sign, but it may indicate a newer painting service, so you'll want to conduct a thorough interview. Whether you're acting on a recommendation or doing an online search, visit each painter's website and look for examples of their past work and clients.

Meet Your Painters

Schedule an interview with potential painters at your house. Take note of how long each painter takes to assess the work area. The more time the contractor takes, the more accurate of an estimate you can expect, according to Consumer Reports. This is also a way to determine the painter's experience level, as a professional will want to take time to consider even minute details of the work space.

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Use this face-to-face meeting as an opportunity to make your expectations clear. Mention any time constraints and areas of concern around the house. For example, mention any notoriously hard-to-reach spaces and any areas where the wall's surface is uneven. You should also ask about the size of the painting crew and, if possible, get to know more about each painter and his or her credentials. You want to feel comfortable with every individual working on the project. After all, you're letting them all into your home.

Gather the Estimates

You don't have to settle for the first price estimate you hear from a painter. Try to get project price estimates from multiple painting services so you can compare them. Each estimate should reveal the cost of labor and materials as well as product information, such as brands and models, according to Consumer Reports. Also expect to see labor details in the estimate, such as how much prep work is required and how many coats of primer and paint the painter will apply throughout the project. With all this information in hand, you can begin your price comparison.

Don't hesitate to ask a painter why his or her price estimate is significantly higher or lower than another service's expectations. As you narrow down your options and begin to consider the contractual details, keep in mind that you shouldn't need to pay the painting service more than one-third of the total estimate upfront, according to HomeAdvisor.

Seal the Deal

A solid contract should include everything that was mentioned in the estimate, according to Consumer Reports. But the details shouldn't stop there. Basic information such as the contractor's name, phone number, address and license details should also appear in the contract. If certain tasks aren't included in the service � such as evening out a surface � this should also be noted. It's best to have as many details as you can in a written contract, in case any disputes arise during or after the project is completed.

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Make sure you're not liable for any injuries or other accidents that occur during the project. Ask the contractor for liability and workers' compensation certificates, and avoid hiring any painter who doesn't have the necessary coverage. Get job quality guarantees in writing, and remember that the warranties on those cans of paint don't count as labor warranties. When it comes to paint and primer, feel free to take the painter's recommendations, but the final decision is yours to make.