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What To Ask the References Your Painter Gives You

 What To Ask the References Your Painter Gives You

So, you’re doing your due diligence, researching your painting contractor, and you’ve collected a few references. What should you ask them, maximizing the value of your questions?

First, if it’s a reference, you know that the person had a positive experience. The key now is to dig deeper, leading them toward an explanation that will help you to really know if this is the right painting company for you.

#1: Tell me about your painting project! What kind of work was done, and when?

You can still glean helpful information if their project was drastically different from yours, but in a perfect world the scope was at least similar to what you’re considering.

#2: Were you happy with their communication?

This is huge, and it transcends the type of project that was done. No matter what, you need a painting contractor who communicates clearly, consistently, and courteously.

#3: Were you able to stay close to your original quote, or were there changes along the way? How were they handled?

A contractor should always do their best to stick to the original quote, but sometimes changes are necessary. As an example, if there is a larger wood rot problem that you couldn’t possibly know about until the work is underway, the scope of the project has to change. That scenario is far different than a contractor who just miscalculates. If your referral had no changes, great! If they did, make sure you ask about how they were handled.

#4: Was the job site respectful and organized?

A great result doesn’t compensate for a stressful experience. Make sure you consider what you hope the job site will be like, and confirm that your painter can and will deliver. End of day cleanup? Punctual arrivals? Uniformed employees? Protecting your landscaping?

#5: What kind of warranty did you receive, and have you needed to use it at all?

If there was no need to utilize the warranty, that can be fantastic news. But if something did come up, you’ll want to be sure the process was handled promptly and thoroughly.

#6: Would you use this painting contractor again? Why?

The “Why?” is especially crucial here since it makes the person elaborate beyond a simple yes or no. Take note of what they valued. It might shed light on a different aspect of their experience that you weren’t aware of, or may not have considered.

The takeaway?

Never be afraid to ask questions. Referrals can help, and your painting company should be an open book as well. The best, most successful projects are built on clear communication and expectations.

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Customer Reviews

“Awesome work by highly experienced, professional painters. They were: Conscious about the amount of time it would take. Ours had a lot of pre-work and took 3 weeks. Accommodating when we added a few last-minute changes Understanding when a heatwave hit and we remove some of the plastic sheeting over windows, which they had to put back up the next day. Accessible, especially the on-site crew (Hi Jose & Victor!) -- always answering questions and checking in. The end result is a perfect paint job that makes our 94-year-old house look brand new. I would definitely hire MBJ again”

— Stacey R.
Oakland, CA

“I love the article in the paper on your company. Thank you for supporting our community by painting at the Claremont Middle School. Thanks!”

— Carla Banks

“I highly recommend MB Jesse Painting to anyone looking for a professional team that does an impressive job. They are on time, efficient and clean up well each and every day they are on site. They pay attention to detail and listen to the needs of their clients. In addition, they give back to the community. A Five Star team all the way around.”

— Erin Troy

“The entire MB Jessee team is courteous, efficient and professional. From scheduling and estimating to the crew managers and crew, they all did an excellent job on a small (but complicated) two room project in my house. I'm already thinking about getting them scheduled for the next project in the spring.”

— Cari Cheney

“It was a great experience working with MB Jessee. The crew was careful and thorough as they painted the house, sealed stucco cracks, repaired dry-rotted wood, stained the deck, etc. Robert, Gersson, Jose, and all of the people involved in the process from the estimate to the job completion were friendly and professional.”

— Mike C.
Livermore, CA

“Charles finished yesterday and did a fantastic job. We really enjoyed meeting Charles and having him in our home. He is a great guy in addition to his attention to detail in his work, the protection of our floors, walls and furnishings, and his overall interaction with us both. I would be pleased to recommend him to any of my clients.”

— Ken Morrison
Oakland

“MB Jessee just finished our exterior and we couldn't be happier with our experience. The foreman (Pedro) and lead painter (Ricardo) were incredible to work with: they communicated scheduling clearly, Ricardo was a joy to be around every day, the showed up early every day, were incredibly tidy and did great paint work. The final walkthrough experience was incredible. Pedro pointed out items I missed demonstrating a clear desire to complete another quality project. I highly recommend them. As others have noted they definitely aren't the cheapest but you quickly realize that you're getting what you pay for. The 3-year guarantee is also a nice touch since there are likely touch-up items that will show up after the job is done.”

— Joshua J.
Oakland, CA

“Julie,Just to let you know I am very appreciative of your crew catching the plumbing/mold problem. It was very astute of them. I wanted to let you know that again your crew has done excellent work here, please pass this along to Mr. Jessee. There are some bumps in the road here, but the painting and your crew has not been one of them. Their work is the only thing going right currently, and this crew is very nice and respectful. It is much appreciated. Thank you again.”

— Beth
Oakland

“MB Jessee painters are stellar! As a designer I've worked with numerous companies over the years, and MB Jessee is a top-notch firm. From the first phone call to the final clean up, every person is courteous, professional, and hard working. The owner, Matt, is a charitable leader who has instilled his team with integrity and honesty providing the customer with a first class experience at a fair price with a paint job that is guaranteed to last. I highly recommend MB Jessee. Thank you Matt and your STAR crew-Daniel, Rigoberto, Vicente, Edy, Pedro, and Mario, for a job well executed! Cynthia Brian, ASID, Starstyle® Productions, llc”

— Cynthia Brian
Morgan, CA

“The people at M.B. Jessee are great – from the painters to the office staff to Matt. Talk about leadership from the top.”

— Kevin Ames, Mark Becker Homes

“Many thanks to Rigoberto and Damon and the extraordinary team who transformed my castle in the skies.They are magicians. I appreciate their work very much.”

— Kathleen A
San Francisco

“I want to express my thanks for a job well done. The rooms look great and there is no problem with any marks on the all the trim, floor, carpet, etc. The paint job is lovely. I also want to express my thanks for the level of professionalism the foreman showed in running the job. He was very attentive to any changes I needed to make, was extremely careful in getting the faux paint color and effect correct. Thanks so much for a job well done.”

— Suzan D’Arcy