When you choose a painter for your home, you want to be sure that it will be treated as the prized investment that it is. The following is a list of the Top 5 Common Mistakes made when choosing a painter for your home:
1. Not getting a detailed quote Many painters operate on a ‘time and materials’ basis, but you want to steer well away from this. Painting is one of the few home improvements that can be accurately estimated ahead of time, and having a detailed, written quote will help save you headache and conflict later.
2. Hiring the jack-of-all-trades
While your local ‘do-it-all’ guy may seem like he can do everything, painting requires a special commitment to detail that may not be there. This is one of the reasons you will want to choose someone who runs a business focused 100% on painting: you want an expert in his field to paint your home, not someone who can also tile bathrooms and knit afghans. When painting your Harpswell home, this is particularly true; your painter should be committed to hand-painted craftsmanship, and be able to deliver his promises.
3. Hiring the biggest company
You’ve heard their radio ads; you’ve seen their signs; you know they spend big money on marketing; but can they actually paint?? The problem with hiring large painting companies is that you become “just another number”, as they can afford to lose a few unhappy customers. You also may not receive the personalized service and experience that a local company can offer. Often these larger organizations are only focused on the bottom line, meaning they may hire inexperienced (read: cheap) labourers, use lower-quality paints, or not go the extra mile to ensure you are satisfied.
4. Working with ‘under the table’ or ‘cash only’ companies
While hiring a ‘man with a brush’ may save you money in the short-term, the long-term risks quickly outweigh any potential savings. A few examples: if your painter does not have liability insurance, you will be hard-pressed to receive any compensation if he drops a ladder on your new truck, breaks a window, or spills paint on your living room carpet. Cash companies may not be lead-safe certified, putting you and your family at significant risk of lead-poisoning. Don’t risk it! Ask to see your painter’s proof of liability insurance and his up-to-date Lead Certification
5. Choosing a company based on price rather than personality
In general, painting contractor’s will provide quotes within 10% of each other. Because this is not a significant margin, you would be well-served to choose your painting contractor based on the individuals you will be dealing with instead. Call your local painting company, have them come out to you and provide you with a detailed written quote, and then make your decision based on the overall experience that they can provide. Be sure your contractor can communicate clearly, and is happy to answer any questions you may have. A little bit of prep work ahead of time can save you hours of headache later!