Anyone who’s worked on a home improvement project will tell you that things tend to get complicated fairly quickly, and I definitely understand why so many homeowners often feel so overwhelmed early on. That said, breaking things down into four essential questions can often make things far simpler while you’re doing your research and can help make sure that you’re paying for a high-quality paint job!
1. Do Their Services Line Up with Your Project?
Keep in mind that not all professional painters provide the same services. For example, some focus primarily on exterior jobs, while others deal exclusively with interior projects. Add in other services, like wallpaper removal, brick painting, cabinet painting, and beyond, and there is quite a lot of variety from painter to painter. If you’re just wanting to add some color to your kitchen or living room, you may not need a jack-of-all-trades. However, if you have a popcorn ceiling that needs removal, or you have multiple rooms that need new finishes, it may be best to find a professional who can handle every one of your specific needs.
2. Do They Have Proper Insurance and Licensing?
It’s always incredibly important to make sure that your money isn’t going to waste or that you’re trusting an unreliable painter. Here’s a simple breakdown of what to look for when conducting your search:
- Contractor’s or Painter’s License (if required)
- Not all states require professional painters to carry a license. Even if yours doesn’t, specific municipalities might require local licensing.
- Your professional should have a valid license number that you can search for on your state’s contractor licensing website.
- If something goes wrong, a licensing number will enable you to seek recourse through the licensing board.
- General Liability Insurance
- This is especially important in states that don’t require state-level licensing.
- Liability insurance covers damage to your home, neighboring properties, and accidental injuries.
- $1 million per occurrence is the most common.
- Worker’s Compensation
- This ensures that the company can’t sue you if an employee gets hurt on the job.
- Bonding
- This entitles you to financial compensation if the paint professional doesn’t finish the job or doesn’t fulfill the terms of your contract.
- Some states require this for all licensed contractors.
If a professional cannot provide proof of insurance, wants you to “pull the permit” for them, only accepts large cash deposits, or won’t provide you with access to a written contract, it spells bad news for your project, and you should consider other options.
3. Are You Impressed with Their Portfolio?
It’s the norm for professional painters to have a gallery of jobs they’ve completed in the past on their website for you to view. I highly recommend checking out these galleries, even if you’re not quite sure what exactly you’re looking at. If you don’t like the work they’ve done previously, chances are, you probably won’t like the work they’ll do on your project.
4. What Do Their Reviews Say?
It can be very reassuring to see what other people are saying about a painter that you’ve been considering using! Review sites like Google, Yelp, Facebook, and even Reddit can give you a good sense of what it’s like to work with a certain team of professionals. Be sure to keep a careful eye out for financial complications, customer satisfaction, and overall job quality. Also, keep in mind that multiple good reviews across different platforms are a good sign!
It’ll take a little bit of time, effort, and research to find the best home painter near you, but if you take these four things into consideration, you can easily choose someone you can count on. Trust me—a little digging is well worth it when it comes to home improvement!
About Platinum Painting
Our team here at Platinum Painting has served the needs of homeowners and business owners all across Dallas and the surrounding DFW metroplex for several years. We offer a wide range of interior and exterior painting services for projects of all sizes, meaning if you’re looking for a team to transform your home, you can count on us. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to set up a FREE in-home estimate, just reach out online or give us a call today for more information or assistance.
Tarrant County Telephone: (817) 697-2726.
Dallas/Denton/Collin County Telephone: (817) 993-4095.