Are you thinking of remodeling your home? Whether you’re looking to sell your home, refinance, or simply crave a new look, home painting can add considerable value to your property and breathe new life into it.
However, finding the right house painting company can be a hassle. With over 200,000 house painting and decorating contractors in the U.S., the options can be overwhelming.
When you contract a home painter, you expect the job to be performed professionally and at a reasonable price.
So, how do you find the best home painters? Read on to find out.
Consider the Kind of Work You Need
Before you can begin looking for professional painters, you need to figure out the size and scope of your job and decide on a budget. Making these decisions will make the process of finding a painter much easier.
Most home painting companies offer interior and exterior painting services, but some specialize in certain areas.
Do Your Research
The next step toward finding the best home painting company is to research companies in your area. Searching the internet for a local painting company is a great place to start and will show your multiple options close to your home.
Every reputable home painting company has a website in this day and age. It’s an easy way to advertise their services.
Take note of these companies and take a deeper look at each and every one of them. You’ll want to read testimonials on their websites and look for online reviews written by their clients.
Testimonials
Many of the top home painting companies feature client testimonials on their websites. Most of these will be glowing reviews from satisfied clients, but if a company doesn’t post these, it may be a red flag.
However, testimonials can give you some insight into the company. Do they mention superior quality? How about coming in under budget? If you notice these positive trends in their listed testimonials, it’s likely you’ll receive the same quality of work.
Online Reviews
Online reviews on websites like Yelp or Angi offer a more unfiltered look at a painting company, but you’ll still have to apply some critical thinking while browsing them. You’ll have to weed out reviews where the client seems to be asking for something unreasonable.
Of course, it’s not too difficult to locate a promising contractor by their online reviews. If a company consistently gets positive reviews and receives four-star or better ratings, it’s likely they provide a quality service.
Word-of-Mouth
Depending on your social circle, word-of-mouth reviews can also be a great source of information regarding a home painting company. Maybe a neighbor recently had their house painted. Ask them about their experience with their painter.
Interview Your Prospective Contractors
Once you’ve developed a list of promising contractors, you’ll want to talk to them face-to-face. Schedule a meeting at your home so they can your property first-hand.
Ask for an Estimate
Now is the time to ask for an estimate. Walk the property with your painter so they can get a sense of the size and scope of your job. It’s rather difficult for a painter to give an accurate estimate over email or on the phone.
You’ll want to get at least a few estimates, although more is always better. More estimates help you determine a fair price for the work.
Ask About Certifications and Experience
You don’t want to hire an amateur painter for your large home improvement project. Professionals will have an extensive portfolio of on-the-job experience and be ready to show it to you.
While house painting qualifications vary from state to state, most states require that a home painting company maintains a contractor license. This means that an individual has proven work experience and is competent at their craft.
Painters that work with lead paint are also usually required to pass the EPA’s licensing exam, which demonstrates their knowledge of the hazards relating to lead-based paint.
Ask for Proof of Insurance
To protect yourself and your property, it’s important that your painting contractor maintains General Liability insurance with a high amount of coverage. No matter how professional a company is, accidents happen at job sites.
You’ll want to retain a copy of their insurance information for your records should something happen.
Receive a Detailed Proposal
Once you’ve interviewed the contractors, ask the ones you like for a detailed written proposal. It should break down everything from the cost of materials to labor rates line-by-line. The proposal should also give details regarding the work you’re requesting.
Asking for a proposal keeps you and the contractor on the same page.
How to Compare Proposals
If there isn’t much difference in the proposed cost of the job, you’ll simply hire the contractor you liked the best. But, large painting projects often receive drastically different proposals.
Look at things like the cost of labor. If one company pays their workers considerably more than another, it’s likely their team is more skilled and can perform a better job.
The same is true for the cost of paint and other materials. If a particular company’s proposal includes a higher cost of painting materials, it’s likely to be of higher quality.
You’ll also want to consider the estimated time frame to complete the job. By now, you should only be dealing with professionals, so a company that claims it can finish the job much sooner than the others should raise a red flag.
This should underscore the importance of obtaining a detailed line-by-line proposal. With the proposals in hand, you can quickly compare companies and arrive at your ultimate decision.
Finding the Best Home Painters Is Worth the Effort
Painting contractors may be in abundance, but finding the best home painters requires some leg work.
You should scour the internet for reputable companies, interview the best ones, and get proposals in writing.
Looking to hire a high-quality home painting company with decades of experience and plenty of satisfied clients? Classic Coats has you covered. Head to their website and get a free quote for your painting project.
