6 Tips for choosing the best repainting specialist

In case you didn’t get the memo already, hiring a professional painting company for your repainting project is the best option if you want to save money, time and still get the best results. It’s simply the best way to get the stress out of painting your own home, business, fixture, furniture or equipment.

While all the above is true, finding the right painting company to execute your paint job can be a tricky hunting affair. However, we want to try and make your search easier by sharing some quick tips on how to find and choose the best painting company for your repainting project. Read on…

1. Ask around
The best place to start your search is by asking for referrals from your friends and family members. Remember, you’re targeting to get a local painter who preferably resides within the same area code as you. And there are high chances your workmate or relative knows someone.

You can also ask one of your neighbors for referrals especially if they requested for some repainting services recently. The best part about asking for referrals within your inner circles is that you get a chance to sample some of the painter’s works and even ask about your friend’s experience with the painter.

2. The internet
If you can’t find the best repainting specialist within your inner circles, it’s time to hit the second favorite source of info –the internet. Again, you want to stick to repainting contractors near you, and Google has some nice features that can help you narrow down your search –complete with actual user reviews. The best part about Google business reviews is that you can rely on them.

Narrow down to painters near you, check out their website, services, portfolio prices, and physical address. You want to check that the repainting specialist is actually familiar with the type of your painting project, especially if it’s a special project. Search around the internet for reviews, feedback, ratings, and comments about the painting contractor before making your decision.

3. Choose a painter with experience
After going through several sources of information and asking around, chances are you now have some painters (probably around 3) in mind you consider suitable for the job –and now you want to narrow down even further.

One of the first things you should consider is the painter’s experience. As you may already know, more time working on a craft usually leads to better technical skills, increased knowledge levels, and most importantly, a long list of all the mistakes you shouldn’t make. While the painter’s experience is not everything, it’s one of the most important ingredients required for a perfect paint job.

4. Legal licenses and insurance
This might sound obvious, but you won’t believe how many business and homeowners ignore this very important checkpoint. If the painter you’re considering hiring doesn’t have a state-issued license, general liability insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance, chances are you’re not hiring a true professional.

These credentials are an indication that you’re hiring a qualified painter, and that they can protect your property and their employees if something wrong happens during the repainting process. Don’t feel shy to request for these documents, and if your painter really has them, they should not have trouble showing prove.

5. Do they actually do the prep work?
Unlike painting a brand new property or fixture, repainting requires extensive prep work in order to give the best outcome. Prep work is what separates a good paint job from a great one. A repainting job will need processes like sanding, cleaning, stripping, taping, caulking and priming, to guarantee the smoothness and durability of the final results. Be specific about your project details and ask them about the kind of preparation included in their typical process.

6. Request for estimates
Of course, at the end of the day, you will have to pop the question –“how much?” After gathering more information about your potential painters and sharing project information, request estimates from 2-3 painting contractors that you think you can work with. The prices should be relatively within the same range, if they differ greatly, you should ask questions about exactly what is being done.

As a rule of thumb, don’t automatically go for the cheapest painter on your list, but look for the services offered, background information, job quality and how the pricing has been justified. The magic phrase here is ‘value for your money’ –and that doesn’t always come from the cheapest service provider.