Repainting the exterior of your home is a huge task, one that many people elect to hire a professional or contractor to handle. Because painting your home is a big financial investment, with long-lasting results, there are a few factors to consider when selecting a professional to paint your home:
Step Outside and Walk and Talk with the Contractor
An accurate and realistic estimate for the costs associated with painting your home is not derived exclusively from the square footage or number of stories of your house. A true professional painting contractor will carefully assess the condition of the exterior surfaces of your home, including the trim and windows, to determine if any repairs are necessary before the painting begins.
Ask what types of repairs, if any, the painter recommends, and why? Is the damage due to normal aging of a home, or are gutters or downspouts leaving your home exposed to excess weather damage? Once the necessary surface preparations are established and agreed upon, ask about the painting job itself. How many coats of paint will be applied? Both the quality and price of the completed work are impacted by this.
Discuss the Timeline
Having a work crew at your home can be disruptive to your daily life. If you have children that nap during the day, they may be awoken by the sounds the contractor’s team makes, or your dog may bark incessantly at having people working just outside your doors and windows. Ask how long the preparation and painting will take, from start to finish. Will each of those days be active work days, or will some “off” days be allowed for the materials and paint to cure or dry? Ask about the size and experience of the crew. Has the painter worked with this crew regularly? How many workers will be at your home at one time?
Ask Around and Go See for Yourself
The painting professional you select should be proud of their work, and they should have a steady stream of satisfied customers who are available to serve as references. Ask for references for the previous residential exterior paint work he has done that he is exceptionally proud of. Drive there and carefully inspect the quality of the work. Talk with the homeowners to gauge their level of satisfaction with the process, the price, and the work itself.
Compare Costs
When choosing a professional residential painter, you should get at least three different written estimates. The various costs associated with repainting your home should be broken down and detailed line by line, including labor, material costs, the number of coats of primer and paint, the brand and model of materials, and a detailed description of the amount of surface repairs and preparation that will be done. This will allow you to compare the full scope of the painting job from one professional painter or contractor to another.
Get It In Writing
A professional residential painter will provide you with a written contract and guarantee. The documentation should include the contractor’s key information, such as their business name, address, office and cell-phone numbers, and license number, plus the line-by-line details that were included in the original estimate. You may also ask to receive copies of any licenses or insurance documents that are pertinent to the repainting of your home.
The contractor should also be willing to correct any chipping, peeling, blistering, flaking, or excessive fading or chalking that occurs within a reasonable period of time after they have completed your residential painting. Even if the paint itself has a warranty, it does not cover the cost of the labor to repaint your home and any warranty-type work should be completed at no or little cost to you.
