As a painting contractor for many years, I have heard many stories from customers about their past experiences with hiring painting contractors. Many customers have told me that they have lost money from people who claim to be professional painting contractors, obtain a deposit from the customer and then never return to complete the job. Another story that I hear quite often from customers is that they have hired a painting contractor in the past without checking their references and once the painter began to work, their work was so bad that the customer had to ask them to leave. In this article I will tell you how to avoid some of the pitfalls when you decide to hire a professional painting contractor.

There is a number of places where you can find a good painting contractor. A few examples are the yellow pages, the internet and your local newspaper. However, the best place to find a good professional painting contractor is to ask your friends or coworkers for a reference. If you are fortunate enough to receive a referral from someone you trust, be sure to ask the person a few questions about the contractor before you call for an estimate. Ask them about the quality of their work, if they would hire them again for their next painting job and also if the price they charged them was fair and reasonable. If you cannot obtain a referral from someone you know you can check with your local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau and ask if they can refer someone to you.

After calling a painting contractor for an estimate, ask the contractor for a certificate of insurance. Quality contracting firms will provide you with copies of their certificates of insurance. Business registration with your state and municipality is generally a minimum requirement for most states.

Obtain references from the painting contractors you are thinking of hiring. Call and speak with the references honestly and openly about the services that the painting contractor provided to them. You want to be certain that you are hiring a professional painting contractor who will give you a quality job at a reasonable price.

It is extremely important that you obtain a written contract from the contractor. Professional contractors always encourage the use of a written contract. This contract should clearly state the scope of the work to be performed. It should also cover such items as all of the surfaces which are to be painted, what application methods will be used, the extent of surface preparation, time schedules for the project, and payment schedules.

A few other questions to ask include, how long has the contractor been in business? Be sure to hire someone who has been in business for at least a few years. Ask them about the experience levels of the companies workers, because there are some companies who will hire people with no experience to keep their overhead cost low. Also ask what type of preparation the painting contractor will do on your job, preparation is the most important step in painting any surface.

Next you will need to ask if a paint warranty is included? If a paint warranty is included find out the length of time that the contractor will guarantee their work. Just telling you that there is a warranty is not enough, you must get the warranty in writing including any limitations.

Many contractors will ask for a down payment upon signing the contract. This is normal, however before giving a down payment be certain that you have completed checking all of your references and are that you feel comfortable with the contractor.

Finally, compare all your estimates very carefully. Remember that the lowest price is not always your best choice. Obtaining the lowest price should not be your primary consideration. You want to hire a skilled, experienced painting contractor who is honest and reliable at a fair price. If you want good quality and professional service, you must be willing to pay a little extra.