For a lot of property owners, hiring painting contractors feel like stepping up to a roulette wheel. It is always a gamble with unknown odds. A lot of people give up early in the hope of finding an excellent and reputable painting contractor at a great price.
But property owners can eliminate risks by following simple rules when finding a reputable contractor who can complete the home-improvement project. Here are some rules property owners need to abide by, when looking for a contractor who they can be confident will get property improvement tasks done right.
Reputable and honest contractors will never ask for a deposit
While some painting firms may request clients a small amount of money as a deposit before starting the job, successful and well-established professionals have enough operating income. They can afford to buy materials and pay their workers. Be careful of contractors who ask for money as a deposit.
If they are unable to buy materials, there is a big chance that they cannot pay their staff too. Every year, a lot of homeowners fall victim to this kind of contractor, who just walk off the project, possibly out of town, with a large sum of money paid by their clients as a deposit in their pockets.
If homeowners agree to pay in advance, they need to make sure that the materials have been bought and are on their property, leaving them some kind of insurance or leverage, should the company default on the job. The bottom line is that reputable contractors should never ask for money in advance as a deposit before starting the project.
Reputable organizations present proof of insurance
While a good contractor may tell their clients that they are insured, an excellent one presents a copy of their insurance policy, proving the coverage they carry for both bodily injury and property damage that may result from the firm’s work. By nature, materials used in this job, like paints and thinners, are flammable. In case of accidents (or incidents), property owners need to know the contractor is appropriately insured.
For more information about liability insurance, click here for details.
They have the right state and local licenses
The last thing homeowners want to realize halfway through the project is that the firm they hired is not the professional company they told them they were. The best way to avoid this type of situation and make sure this does not happen is to ask for their licenses if they do not provide them independently. State and local licenses are proof that they are legitimate and know what they are doing. This way, clients will have their needed peace of mind that they are not getting scammed and hire a reputable organization.
They offer their clients a written warranty
Clients can tell a lot about the firm by their warranty. Reputable companies with established reputations are respected by suppliers who will pass on extended or lifetime warranties on their painting materials. It is because they know the product will be applied to the property the right way. For most reasons, less experienced painting companies may not have the necessary relationships with various suppliers.
On the labor aspect of the project, reputable painting organizations work with skilled and trustworthy painters whose jobs they know can stand behind with extended labor warranties. That is why before hiring someone to paint the property, homeowners need to talk to them about warranties and make sure they are adequately covered.
Check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primer_(paint) for more details about paint primers.
Reputable painting organizations provide professional and detailed quotes
Believe it or not, more goes into property painting than putting fresh paint on the wall. There are prep works, cleanups, priming, as well as other details that need to be addressed, which need to be included in the initial quote. Before homeowners sign on the contract with a company, they need to get a detailed quote that lists every step being taken and how much every service will cost the client, including:
Caulking, priming, and sanding
Power washing, Stucco, or wood repair
Application methods and details of painting products
Cleanup and touch-ups
In addition to the quote’s accuracy and content, are the quotes presented professionally?
Are the quotes printed on the firm’s letterhead?
Does it show their license number?
Do they use local landline phone numbers when contacting clients?
Do they have a tax identification number?
Does their work guaranteed and relevant products they use have warranties?
Inexperienced painting organizations using standard business forms bought at office supply shops could suggest that they have not invested a lot in their business and may not be adequately licensed. Not only that, these firms may not be paying the right income taxes (or not paying at all), a risk all homeowners do not want to take when hiring contractors. There is a reason professionalism is paramount, even when it comes to these technicians.
These professionals have a good or positive rating with the BBB or the Better Business Bureau
BBB or the Better Business Bureau is a reputable consumer rating organization that grades companies or businesses based on certain criteria. In addition to finding their rating, homeowners need to check how long the painting organization has been a BBB member. Clients also need to confirm that all complaints from previous clients have been appropriately resolved.
The Better Business Bureau will still afford an excellent rating if the company has addressed problems promptly. Questionable professionals will have either a lower rating or no Better Business Bureau affiliation at all. Clients can also find painting contractors on Foursquare to make sure everything is accessible. This platform also has ratings that can tell future clients about the quality of the firm.
Investing in your property’s value and appearance with a reputable painting professional is a crucial decision. Now that you know the trade secrets in finding a reputable contractor, you can enjoy a successful and smooth improvement experience.