Choosing a Contractor You Can Trust

People often wonder, ” How do I choose the right contractor?”

The question behind this is really, “How can I find an expert who will be fair, honest….someone who I can trust to give me good value for the dollar and who will be around and willing to back up their work”

This the age-old conundrum for all of us who are purchasing services….A homeowner is committing  to a contract prior to seeing the results…this is a  scary proposition!

“It would be such a joy to get the house painted but who can I trust….how can I find the right company?”

Here is a “must have” checklist that will help you in choosing the right contractor:

• Licensed by the state of California : check them on www.cslb.ca.gov
• Have general liability and workers compensation insurances to protect the homeowner.
• Contractor must use own employees who are trained and uniformed (no day labor from the home center)
• Employees must have had drug screening and a full background investigation upon hire (you do not want drug users of criminals around your home and family.
• Is the quote you receive legible (preferably typed), thorough and detailed (never verbal) and indicates methods of prep, specific  finish materials by brand and specific product within that brand (all brands have low grade to premium grade paint).
• Your quote should include several references in your area. preferably of clients who have used the contractor more than once.
• Written warranty should be supplied whether inside or outside work is done. This shows that the contractor feels good about their craftsmanship.
• Check websites but be careful…many contractors pay for fancy websites full of purchased “stock photos” of work they have not done and are incapable of doing! Look for authentic pictures of local projects you recognize and can ask the contractor directly about.
• Hire a painter who is a member of a professional organizations: BBB (A+ rated only!),  Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (www.pdca.org) define minimum standards for their members, as well as provide continuing education about the latest in products, trends, and techniques.
• Check with suppliers as to reputation of contractors you may be interested in.
• Look for a track record in the community: how many years in continuous business (32 years for us); charitable projects. Community involvement means you are dealing with good people

Once you have vetted potential contractors for your project using this list, you can relax and know you are hiring a quality person and company who will take care of you.