Finding A Great Painting Company Is Just As Easy As Following These Tips
Finding A Great Painting Company Is Just As Easy As Following These Tips
Blog Article
Exploring Your Options When Meeting With a Painting Company
Painting businesses that are long-established will have a strong reputation and a solid business plan. They're more likely to be around to fulfill a warranty or guarantee on your work.
Newer painting companies might not have the same level of experience and won’t be members of any trade organizations. They're also more likely to have higher prices due to overhead costs like workers' compensation insurance premiums.
Do Your Research
Many online review platforms make it easy for you to sort through a painter's overall star rating and past customer comments. While this is a good starting point, you should also do your own research to ensure that the painting company you are considering is legitimate.
A reputable company will provide you with a quote that lists all materials to be used, labor hours and the estimated cost of the project. This will make it easier to compare quotes and understand what each contractor is offering.
You should also ask about the company's training programs for their employees. A company that trains their own crews is more likely to maintain consistent standards for their work. They are also more likely to be able to honor any warranties that they offer.
Avoid companies that subcontract their labor. They often use low quality or less expensive products to save money. This can lower the lifespan of your paint job and may cause problems in the future.
Ask for References
Many painting contractors will be able to provide you with names and contact information for previous clients. This is a great way to see the quality of their work and the level of professionalism that you can expect from the company.
Be sure to ask about the specific conditions that their paint has held up under – for example, moisture in bathrooms, high traffic areas or surfaces with lead paint. You may also want to ask about the company’s training program and their commitment to safety.
Lastly, you should also find out if they use their own employees or subcontract labor. If they are using subcontractors you should request that their background and drug tests be made available to you before the job starts. This is especially important if you have children or pets at home. You also want to be sure that the people who will be in and around your house are experienced, professional and insured.
Get an Estimate
Getting an estimate from a potential painting contractor lets you know if they are the right fit for your project. They should clearly describe best neutral paint colors for whole house the scope of the work to be done and provide a comprehensive estimate that includes all associated costs.
Insured painters also factor their insurance expenses into the estimate, such as general liability and worker’s compensation. This might make their estimates slightly higher, but it protects you from paying for damage to your property or injuries on the job.
A reputable painter will take the time to walk through your home with you and get a better eyes-on understanding of the work that needs to be done. They’ll also take into account any special requests, design elements or finishes you want to add to your project.
Make the Right Decision
A few extra considerations can help you make the right decision. Look for a painting company with BBB membership, local chamber of commerce membership, and/or trade association affiliations. These are all a good indicator that the company is well established and committed to providing quality service. It may also offer low- to zero-VOC paint options, which are increasingly being preferred by environmentally conscious customers.
You should also ask whether or not the painting company is a corporation. This is important, because it means they have separate business assets and liabilities from personal ones, which can protect you against any financial consequences if things go wrong on a job.
A corporate structure will also give a professional appearance that signals stability and seriousness, which is especially helpful for smaller painting companies competing with larger, more established competitors. It can also make it easier to get a loan to launch your painting business. If you decide to create an LLC, consider also crafting a detailed operating agreement that clearly defines expectations and mitigates conflict.