How to Choose a Professional Painter

Choosing a professional painter is just as important as choosing the color of the paint itself. Many local companies have a great reputation and integrity to get the job done well, but how do you choose the best painter for you and your needs? This guide will walk you through some tips to help you choose a professional painter that can help you get the job done and get it done well.

Before Searching for a Professional Painter

Before you begin to search for a professional to take on your home painting project, you'll want to plan your project ahead of time. By gathering all the details, you'll be able to quickly answer any questions the painting companies might have and provide accurate information to receive the most accurate quotes. Some information to gather includes:

• Square footage of the area that needs to be painted.
• Do you need interior or exterior paint?
• Is it a total remodel or a touch-up job?
• What quality level of paint you'd like to go with?

Do Your Research to Find Professional Painting Companies in Your Area

When in the market for any service, word of mouth is going to be the best way to find recommendations for a painting company in your area. By asking around, you'll learn a lot about the experience, pricing, reputation, and quality of the work that was completed by professional painters. You can also search online by simply googling professional painters in your area or searching on professional contractor websites such as Angie's List.

Get to Know Their Level of Experience

As with any professional, the more experience they have, the better. More experienced painters have worked with many clients and different types of jobs that likely have improved their skills over time. Although experience is often preferred, giving a new professional painting company a chance may surprise you. Just be sure to do your research and ask the right questions to find out when they started and the experience level of the workers.

Review Their Reputation

Painting companies or professionals that have been in business for some time, whether for a few months or several years, begin to build a reputation. By doing your research by reading reviews or asking local contractors, you can learn a lot from the experience of others about whether a professional painter may be worth considering.

Call For an Estimate

With every qualified professional painter you consider, you'll want to ask for an estimate from each company and compare. The estimates provide you with the information in writing and include the following:

• Business name, license, or business registration number
• Paint brand, type of paint, and coats need
• Description of services and preparation included
• The total size of the area to be painted
• Cost for the project, including any deposits

When gathering estimates, a good rule of thumb is to gather at least three. You don't want to overwhelm yourself with too many prospective painters for your project.

Interview Every Potential Painter

When you hire a professional to work in your home, you want to understand more than just the cost of the project; you want to get to know the people that will be working in your home. By interviewing them, you get to know a little more about their background and experience, and they can answer any questions you might have without the back and forth that an email conversation would have.

The interview process can be done before you get an estimate, and you can allow the painter to walk through the actual location that you'd like to have painted so they can get a good look at the upcoming job.

Review Qualifications and References

You should always check a contractor's qualifications and references before you move forward with any project. If you didn't receive the recommendation by word of mouth, talk to people that have worked with the company in the past. You can also visit past projects or review any portfolios of completed projects the company might have available. You'll also want to check to ensure the painting company is insured and if they are licensed in your area.

What Questions You Should Always Ask

There are a lot of questions you should ask your candidates for a professional painter for your home. For the most part, each contractor will do what they can to provide you with all the information you need, but knowing what to ask can help fill in any gaps between communications and the estimates you receive. You want to be sure you have all the details to make an informed decision.

• How long have you been painting houses?
• What brand and type of paint do you typically use?
• Is the price of the paint included in the quote?
• Are you licensed and insured, and can you provide me those details?
• How experienced is your crew?
• How many coats of paint do you recommend?
• Do you need me to do any prep work before you get started?
• How long will the project take to complete?
• Do you have a portfolio of finished projects I can see?
• Is prep work included in your quote?

When choosing a professional painter, do your due diligence to find the right professional painters in Katy, TX. While price is always important, especially when you're working with a budget, you shouldn't base your decision based on price alone. Be sure to consider the company's experience and reputation to ensure you find the right company to fit within your schedule and meet your project's needs.