Not all professional painting companies are the same. If you are a homeowner looking to have painting done, you need to know what to look for in estimates. From assistance in helping you choose the colors chosen to the professional clean-up, your painter should cover all the bases.
But it can be tough to know that you are getting a good one until it is too late! There are a lot of things to consider, such as paint types, preparation, coverage, and pricing.
Luckily, with a little prep work of your own, you can find a painter that fits your needs. We have created this guide to help you out!
Let us start by looking at what to look out for when it comes to getting a painting estimate.
Painting Quotes
When you are searching for a reputable interior and exterior painter the first step is to get multiple quotes. Typically, three quotes are sufficient. You can use search engines with keywords such as house painters and your city and choose a few of the highest rated companies to contact. The best way to find a reputable painter is to visit the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org and search for “accredited businesses only.” A reputable business with the BBB should have plenty of honest reviews from previous clients for you to check. You can really get a good feel for a contractor based on their previous work performance.
They will likely come to your home to see the interior and exterior. This will allow them to review the conditions of your home and give you an accurate quote.
All the estimates should be within 10-20% of each other. If there is one that is much higher than the others be sure to ask why. While price can obviously play a role in your decision, it should never be the deciding factor.
That higher priced company may offer other services that others do not. They also may have more experience and provide more details in their scope of work and the type of quality of products they use. If a company is noticeable cheaper, they may not provide everything you need and often use inferior paint coatings or perform a minimum scope on the most important aspect of a painting project, surface preparation.
Each contractor should be able to answer questions about their experience and credentials; if they cannot it is a red flag and that may not be the company for you.
It is also important to consider their communication skills at the beginning of the process. The contractor should be upfront and communicate a reasonable time to provide you with a quote. Keep in mind that the highly sought-after contractors retain a busy schedule so it may take up to a week to provide you with your estimate, depending on their backlog.
Talk to Your Neighbors
It can be a good idea to reach out to your neighbors to find out if you are getting a fair quote, or to refer a paint contractor for you to consider.
Check the Credentials
As mentioned above, it is important to thoroughly research the company before committing to working with them. You should ask them for references from other clients and/or look online for reviews too.
You can also ask for photos of other jobs they have done or visit their social media pages and website. Be sure to ask if they carry liability and worker’s compensation insurance and permits (if required). These are important and if they do not have them, it is best to find another company. Another good question is to ask if they use subcontractors for their painting work. Most reputable painting companies retain their own employees and only sub-contract incidental work scopes such as stucco, wood, and drywall repairs. There are several national painting franchises that sub-contract all or most of their painting projects, and thus have little oversight during the actual work This can also be a red flag.
Detailed Estimate
When you are getting a quote, you will want to ask for a detailed, professional estimate. This will tell you exactly where your money is going. It will also help you compare other quotes.
The estimate should have a detailed scope of work provided and include exactly what the estimate does and/or does not include. It should be thorough in nature, professionally written, and in some cases have reference photos of existing conditions. If the quality is not obvious in the time taken to produce a free estimate for you, it is probably an indication the quality will also be lacking during the performance of the work.
Cost
Before or during the time you are getting the quotes, you should have an idea of how much it is going to cost. There is a difference between the price of having the interior and exterior of your home painted.
Typically having exterior house painting costs more and is dependent on several factors, including how large and how many stories your home is as well as the type of surfaces that need to be painted. Interior painting prices are usually based on square footage and can vary on what surfaces are included such as ceilings, etc. They also can depend on how much furniture will be required to cover or move.
All painting projects, both interior and exterior, will vary on existing conditions and how much surface prep is required to ensure a quality, long lasting project.
Ask About Prepping
Some interior house painters will include the cost to prep your house and move furniture, however, you will need to confirm with them prior. Most reputable painting contractors have this aspect already built into their pricing structure. If the company does not provide that service, you will need to be available to do it or make arrangements for someone else to.
The painting contractor should use quality sealants, putty, and primers for bare or problem areas and should be able to communicate the extent of their surface prep standards they intend to adhere to on your project. Remember, quality surface preparation is critical to every successful painting project.
Have a Contract
A reputable and safe company will have a written contract or signed estimate that both parties sign before the painting process starts. This will protect you from negligence on the part of the contractor not performing the work you agreed to. It also ensures the contractor will receive payment from you upon completion of the work.
Sometimes, there may be unforeseen items or challenges that can present themselves during a project. This situation usually only occurs with areas that need repair that were not obvious during the initial take-off and estimating. Most reputable contractors perform these types of change orders on a time and material basis, but you can also ask for a repair estimate prior to proceeding. Either way, the contractor should communicate these issues if they arise prior to proceeding with repairs and thus additional cost to you above your agreed upon estimate.
Interior and Exterior Painting
Now that you know how to spot a good painting estimate you can get started hiring an interior painter. Contact us for interior and exterior house painting among other services.