How To Choose The Right Painting Contractor For Your Next Project

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:

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.

Companies We’ve Worked With

Why People Hire Us

Fully Licensed and Insured

Fully Licensed and Insured

Clear Communication

Clear Communication

Peace of Mind

Peace of Mind

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

One-Stop Shop for Painting and Carpentry

One-Stop Shop for Painting and Carpentry

Experienced Oversight and Job Leadership

Experienced Oversight and Job Leadership

Our Credentials

Best of Oakland 2018 BBB American Society of Interior Designers ASID Leadsafe Certified Firm EPA NARI Member Nolan Summit Services Inc

Customer Reviews

“Just had MB Jessee paint the interior of our house and they did a wonderful job. They tackled some crazy wallpaper as well as painted some very high ceilings and walls. The whole process was quick and they did a great job! We are very pleased. I was also very impressed by the crew. They were very personable, kind and actually took pride in the work they were doing. In one of our conversations with the lead Ricardo, he actually told me he was very proud of how the rooms had turned out. I agree sir! It turned out great and it's not often you hear someone thinking of your home like they would theirs, and putting that level of work and quality into it. That made a huge difference in how I viewed this company. Ricardo, you were fantastic and thank you for the great job, we will be using you again.”

— Jeff M.
Danville, CA

“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

“I can't say enough about how courteous and professional my foreman was. He was on time every morning and arrived cheerful and ready to go. He is highly organized and very thoughtful. He was extremely careful and respectful when moving my belongings - a mature professional.”

— Nora Robinson

“I just wanted to send you an email to say that John did such a great job over here today. He is truly a hard worker. He has the perfect balance of friendliness, honesty, and professionalism. I trust him. He takes the time to do the job to the best of his ability and that is what sets him (and your company) apart from the competition. He didn't make me feel rushed. He really made me feel like our job was the most important thing in the world. Thanks again!”

— Jo
Oakland

“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

“I just wanted to thank you all for doing such a phenomenal job on our recent house painting. We are very happy with the outcome and can't say enough good things about the crew. Everyone working on the project was outstanding and made it a great experience. Thanks to everyone.”

— Daylan
Piedmont

“The finish on my kitchen cabinets had failed, becoming tacky and grimy around the handles. M B Jessee gave me a reasonable quote, far below some others, and did an outstanding job, striping the original varnish and refinishing with a new lacquer finish. The cabinets look like new. Work was done 1 day faster than estimated. The crew was extremely hard-working, considerate, and neat. Highly recommend M B Jessee.”

— Thama B.
San Francisco, CA

“Very easy to work with, they did an outstanding job with our project of re-painting our painting our kitchen cabinets. Given the scope of the job and that our kitchen is roughly half of our upstairs living area they did a fantastic job of minimizing the mess. Workmanship was top notch, would definitely recommend.”

— Vince Scola

“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

“Julie, by the way, I have never been so impressed with the service of a painting job before! It was like magical elves came and painted our walls without us having to do a thing! It looks amazing and just wanted to let you know how happy we are. Thanks”

— Anja
Piedmont

“Matt, Julie & Ricardo, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the three of you for the wonderful job you did in hosting the SFBA NARI Chapter Meeting on Wednesday evening. Everything was perfect from beginning to end. Members and guests alike walked away with a truly positive experience. The "painter for a day" and the cookies in the paint cans were an absolute brilliant touch and received rave reviews. What a wonderful way to do such positive marketing. Thanks again for a truly memorable experience for our members and guests. You are valued as a NARI member.”

— Judy Tufo, SFBA NARI Executive Director

“I cannot imagine finer painters--and I have worked with many. They work exceptionally hard. It is a joy to see their workmanship!”

— Alicia R.
Oakland

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