FINDING A GOOD PAINTER IN OHIO
NEED A PROFESSIONAL TO GET YOUR HOME PAINTED? WHETHER YOU PAINT THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME, YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A PAINTER.
If you want to know how not to get ripped off then you need to get this free report from Columbus House Painters and find out the do’s and don’ts to this entire process. Be prepared with Columbus House Painters News for what to do and what not to do. Go get your free report from the leading information guide online at Columbus House Painters right now so you can learn to be safer with your home and your money.
STEPS TO TAKE:
1. Be sure that they have a contractor’s license.
2. Make sure they have two or more references.
3. Find out how long they’ve been doing the business.
4. To make sure they aren’t over-charging you, get at least one other bid for the job.
5. Find a painter that will give an estimate over the phone for small jobs.
6. Make sure that you know what the flat rate estimate is beforehand.
The best way to find a good painter is to ask family and friends. Other good people to ask are your local paint supply store, contractors, or real estate agents. And you may be able to find painters in your area if your city provides a list of recommended painters. Make sure you know what types of job the painter does when you ask people for referrals. And find out if the painter specializes in commercial or residential work.
WHAT YOU SHOULD ASK:
Does the painter provide quality work?
Everybody has their own ideas of quality, so you should take a look at their house and judge for yourself. See how they did with the trim, windows, and doors. Did they apply caulking in straight lines? And the surface preparation needs to be good, whether it’s inside or out.
Was the painting contractor able to protect the areas that shouldn’t get paint on them?
For exteriors this includes concrete, roofing and plantings. And the interior furniture and floors need to be protected. If you don’t like the quality of work they have for one job, then they’ll probably have the same quality if you hire them. If you are left to clean up after your painter this wil cost you more time and money and frustration.
Were they polite?
This is something you should know. You want this to be a good experience so you aren’t stressed out about it. It’s nice if they also like their job. This should be the first question you ask. If you don’t think they’re nice, then don’t hire them.
Do they include a warranty?
The warranty needs to be for at least 3 years if they have one. Just saying they have a warranty isn’t enough. So you know the conditions, make sure this is in writing. Warranties are what good painters shouldn’t be scared of. A good painter will use quality materials and know what level of expertise they are. If they don’t offer a warranty, then there’s a problem.
HOW TO HIRE A PAINT CONTRACTOR
Think about how you bought your last car. You probably didn’t look a dealership up in the phonebook and buy a car from the first place you went to. But, finding a painter is done like this often. But, similar to buying a car, you should research and compare prices.
ASK QUESTIONS
HOW DO THEY PREP THE SURFACE BEFORE PAINTING?
Prepping the job right results in a good paint job that lasts longer. Check out your contractor’s plan for scraping, washing, and sanding the surface.
BEFORE CAULKING AND PAINTING, DO THEY PRIME THE SURFACE?
Surfaces that haven’t been painted usually need a primer. A primer isn’t usually needed for surfaces that have already been painted.
WHAT AREAS ARE THEY PLANNING TO CAULK?
The paint doesn’t need to be real expensive, but you should try to find quality paint, not cheap paint. See if the painter can tell you why the paint they’re recommending is a quality one and also get the manufacturer’s warranty information and product data.
FIND OUT THEIR PRICES
Have them write down how much the job will be after they check it out. In the quote also ask then to specify the time it will take to complete the job. You’ll want to know how long your in this for. And things such as areas to be painted, how many coats, etc should be included in each quote you get.
MAKE SURE THERE’S A CONTRACT
Make a contract that includes total cost, payment schedule, start date and the estimate of when it’s done, and what will be done. The paint brands and colors they’ll use, where they’ll use it, and how many coats it’ll take, should also be included in the contract. And finally, it needs to specify that the painter is in charge of cleaning and removing the paint from any surfaces it may get on, such as the windows or floors.
LOOK FOR THESE THINGS FOR A GOOD PAINTER
There are plenty of things that can make a professional painter better then others.
1. NEED INSURANCE — The prospective painter need to be insured with workers’ compensation and liability insurance. They should show you a copy of their insurance policy.
2. THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU SHOULD BE CONTACTED — To find out if anyone else has had problems with them, contact your local better business bureau.
3. To see if anyone has said anything about this person, check out www.angieslist.com. If a painter has good reviews on angies list then it is a good bet they will do good work for you too.
SAFETY
It’s possible for accidents to happen with any home improvement project. So that injury and property damage are avoided, ask them what safety precautions they take. A good, experienced painter won’t mind these questions. They Have attention to detail and a cognizant of this when working.
CLEANING UP AFTER THEMSELVES
Find out if they plan on cleaning up after themselves once the job is over. You don’t want to be cleaning u after a painter for hours after they’ve left your home. Also, ask about disruption during the project.
QUICK TIPS TO KNOW
* Look for small business painters because they’ll give you lower prices.
* If the job is big, then get an estimate from various painters and choose one that is in the price middle range. The cheapest will have underestimated and will sting you for it later and the most expensive doesn’t really want your business, probably because they have work up to their eyeballs already.
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