How To Choose The Best Painting Contractor in the Bay Area
What makes a great painting contractor? Great question, and certainly one that every homeowner or businessperson in the Bay Area should ask themselves before their search begins outright. It is simultaneously the most important and difficult step in the process.
Many Bay Area residents opt for finding a company online or in the Yellow Pages. Take a look at reviews on Angie’s List, City Search, Google Reviews and Yelp. These sites will give you a sense of who might be the right fit and which companies should be avoided. In this digital age, online searches are often the first step in charting a discerning course for quality painting done at houses or business spaces.
Like any profession, painting companies are broadly arrayed according to size, experience, craftsmanship, technique and business practices, amongst other things. The person researching painting companies should ask a number of questions. What is the company’s history? Is there an immediate sense of professionalism amongst the company’s leaders and employees? Are they licensed and insured?
Many people find their painting contractor by way of referral through friends and family or at the workplace. Those who have had solid, fruitful dealings with a painting company will provide answers to many of the above questions.
That said, don’t be afraid to make further inquiries once you’ve been given a referral. Schedule a telephone conversation or an in-office visit to get a sense of the company and their management. A true professional contractor will gladly provide you with all of the details you will need to make an informed decision. This is especially important if you are comparing notes on contractors without the benefit of referrals.
To aid in your search, it also helps to be very clear about your job and make sure that you emphasize that you will always be available to the contractor if he or she has any questions. This helps build a rapport, which is vital, and will go a long way in insuring a positive experience for both parties. It is at this stage in the process that you will get a good idea of how attentive the contractor is to your needs and how well they communicate. The last thing you want is a contractor who, after impressing you with their craftsmanship and record, forgets to return your phone calls and seems disorganized.
Another great resource is the Better Business Bureau, which will have records of any serious complaints lodged against the painting company. Ask to see some of their recent work and speak to clients. Look at their website or Facebook page, for instance, which will have client testimonials.
Once you’ve gathered the requisite information about each prospective contractor, compare notes on each and make your decision.
The process may seem time-consuming, but—rest assured—the benefits of this degree of exactitude outweigh the costs.
And, if you think about it, the only real cost is an unpleasant experience and a painting job that doesn’t last.
