Hiring a House Painter? | 10 Important Questions to Ask

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Irrespective of your reason for hiring a house painter for your home, getting the right professional to do the job can save you money, time, and more importantly, a high-quality delivery. Asking the right questions will help you assess the house painters that you want to hire, and get the best among them. 

In this article, we list the ten important questions to ask your house painter to get the best outcome. Need more info on hiring house painters? Check out our website at thekansascityhousepainters.com.

1. Can you provide examples of past work?

A professional house painter must have worked with many clients in the past. They should not have any problem providing you with a portfolio of completed projects and references from at least three past clients. If the nature of your project is of a technical kind, you want to check that the painter you want to hire has experience with that kind of project. 

Basically, your painter should be a well-established contractor with evident work history. Take a step further by doing some online research about them. You may come across pictures that will give you an idea of the quality of work they provide and what customers have to say about them.

2. Do you have the necessary qualifications?

Before you choose to work with any house painter, you want to ensure that they have the necessary qualifications and documents. So you should ask to see their license and insurance.

While the requirements for getting licensed may not be the same across all states, they typically require evidence of liability insurance and a level of experience, which can be in form of an exam. 

It is expected that a house painter should have liability insurance. This will ensure that the subcontractors are financially protected if the main contractor fails to pay them. 

Male hand painting wall with paint roller. Painting apartment, renovating with blue color paint

3. What are your payment terms?

Ask the house painter for a comprehensive estimate of how much you will be spending on the project. This should also include payment terms including the details of when and how the payments should be made. You also want to confirm that the quote includes prep work, paint, and other needed materials in the costing. 

Note that there are many factors that can influence how much the painter will charge you. For example, if the painter will be required to paint the ceilings, tall walls, extras such as baseboards, or complex things such as crown molding, the cost will definitely increase. Labor costs are usually charged by the hour or by square foot. According to Angi.com, it would cost you between $2 and $6 per square foot to paint your house interior, excluding materials.

Be wary of house painters who require that you pay 100% upfront. It is common to see painters that will require that you first pay between 25-50% of the cost upfront, and then balance upon completion. Some contractors may accept paying in installments throughout the course of the project.

4. What is included in your contract?

Once you have gotten a quote from them and you are impressed by what you learned about their background, it’s time to ask them for a written contract before beginning the project. This step is especially important if your painting project is a major one. If things go awry, the contract will give you a level of protection.

If the painter is reluctant to provide a written contract, it is time to look elsewhere, as this step is a common practice in the industry.

The contract is expected to include things such as cost breakdowns, payment terms, job requirements, type of paint, number of coats, type of finish, cleanup work, timescales, access to the home, the consequence of damage to any property, etc.

5. What type of materials will be used?

Ask the house painter about materials such as the quality of paint and finish that will be used for your project before the work begins. If the formula is of high-quality, fewer coats will be required, and the longevity of the paint job is guaranteed. A good house painter will recommend quality materials. However, if you have your preferences, let your painter know from the outset.

6. What Prep work will you do?

The finish and longevity of the painting can be affected by the preparation work that goes into the project. A good house painter should never take this aspect of the project with levity. The preparation work might include removing old, thick coats of paint, washing walls, doing surface repairs, protecting the space from paint splashes, removing mold, mildew, or rot, etc.

House Painter1

7. How long will the project take?

Even with a seemingly perfect work schedule, unexpected circumstances can cause delays during the project. If the project delays much longer than expected, it can cause some disruption to your normal life, especially if you have to leave the house or move to certain rooms while the project is going on.

A reputable house painter will give you a concise timeline for the project, breaking down their daily work schedule. Should any delays come up, they will communicate clearly with an explanation.

8. Who is on your team?

If your painting project is a big one, your painter may need to work with subcontractors. These professionals may be the ones to work on prep work, specialized finishes, or clean-ups. For even larger projects, you may want to hire a general contractor, who in turn brings in specialist painting contractors.

If the house painter does not give enough details on how they will ensure the smooth running of the project, then you have something to worry about.

9. Who cleans the mess?

A top-notch house painter is not likely to leave you to clean the mess at the end of the project. However, you should not just assume. Read through the contract to confirm that the painter will take the dirt, debris, and equipment off the site after the completion of the project.

10. What warranties do you offer?

Although most exterior painting projects come with work warranties due to their exposure to the elements, not all house painters provide this type of warranty for interior painting. That does not mean that you shouldn’t bother to ask. Often, you are given a year warranty to cover defects that can be proven.

Conclusion

The process of hiring a house painter can sometimes be overwhelming, but if you do enough research, and ask the right questions, you will be able to vet the prospective painters and choose the best one for your project by the responses they give.

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