Thousands of people hire professional painting contractors every year; and although hiring an experienced contractor may seem expensive, the time and stress it saves the homeowner is very much worth the added cost.
The secret is to find the right painting contractor, that not only meets, but exceeds your expectations.
There are numerous ways to find information about local painting companies; you can ask for referrals, ask at the local paint store, check with the Better Business Bureau, search the web, or browse the yellow pages and newspapers.
In any case, and no matter where you look for leads, there are 5 critical questions that you should always ask your sources in regards to any residential or commercial services you are considering:
Did the house painting company do quality work?
Your sources and you may have different definitions of what “quality” means; thus, request to see a finished and recent paint job for reference. Pay special attention to cut-in areas around windows, doors, and trim. Observe if caulking was applied and if all the lines are straight. High quality work is characterized by proper preparation and close attention to detail; these are vital elements of a good looking and long lasting paint job.
Did the house painting company protect non-painted surfaces or areas?
When doing an exterior paint job, good painting contractors cover concrete surfaces, roofing, railings, and plantings. When doing an interior paint job, they protect furniture and floors against possible paint splatters.
Were the painters polite and pleasant to work with?
You may think this is not important, but it is crucial. The company you hire must have workers you can communicate well with and feel comfortable around. Courteous behavior denotes professionalism and will save you unnecessary stress. In the same way, a painter who is happy with his job will certainly do a much better job than one who is exhausted or just doing the work for a paycheck.
Did the work start and end on time?
Professional painters will inform you about their schedule beforehand, and will stick to it unless a serious impediment arises. The painters have to arrive at an established hour in the mornings and should leave at the set hour at the end of the day. Exterior paint jobs are certainly affected by weather conditions; thus, this is a valid reason for a contractor to stop the work.
Did the company offer a warranty?
Any warranty is valuable only if it is in writing and valid for a sensible period of time after the work is finished three years is a good period of time, anything additional is an incredible plus.
In the same way, if there are limitations and/or exclusions, these should be clarified explicitly in the warranty policy.
After asking around and choosing your candidates, write down what you want or need in as much detail as possible, and start making phone calls with your list in hand.
When requesting the quotes, make sure you give each company exactly the same information, so that you can compare “bananas with bananas”, and request a meeting to review each estimate.
A good house painting company’s representative will arrive to the meeting on time, will act professionally and courteously, and will be ready to answer any question you ask.
Do not hesitate to ask anything you want, including references for jobs similar to yours, it is your right to make an informed choice.
Select your top three choices and request a comprehensive proposal from each, including:
- Type and amount of surface preparation
- Priming; type and brand
- Caulking; type and where it will be used
- Paint brand
- Number of coats
- Estimated cost
- Estimated start and end dates
Review the proposals and ask any additional questions you may have. If you see substantial differences between the proposals, ask why this is. You will never know unless you ask!
MB Jessee has been proudly serving the Bay Area, Piedmont, Pacific Heights, Contra Costa, Oakland Hills, Berkeley, Alamo, Piedmont, Danville, Hillsborough, Marin, Pacific Heights and Presidio Heights and East Bay and surrounding areas since 1995.
Our team of professional painters is trained to work on single-family homes, custom homes, high-rise condos and high-end commercial buildings, and in every case, we have worked closely with homeowners or experienced designers and contractors to ensure the best outcome.
We offer you a free consultation to assess your home’s condition and to confirm it is in need of our services, among which are:
- Interior painting
- Complete exteriors
- Custom color experts
- Unique wood stains
- Decorative finishes
- Residential and commercial painting
We are a green company that promises to take responsibility, to never question our customers, to care for your home or business, and to always do what is right. Believe us, these are not just empty words, you can confirm it here: our promise to you. If you are currently looking for a professional team of painters in San Francisco, East Bay or Contra Costa Counties, call us today to request a free estimate.
You are welcome to make us accountable for our work, because our reputation among the best lies with you.