Few homeowners have the time or the inclination to worry about painting their own home these days. More and more homeowners are opting to hire painting contractors to handle the workload for them. Sadly, as with any business where there’s an increase in demand, there are a lot of disreputable companies cropping up. Before you hire a contractor, be sure to follow these tips.
Check out the contractor’s credentials; how long have they been trading? Try to find a contractor that has been in the trade (and working in your area), for a long time. If the contractor says they’ve been trading for several years, but they’ve only just moved to your area, ask them why they moved. Of course, there are legitimate contractors that had to relocate for valid reasons, so don’t write someone off without at least checking their testimonials. Try to get references from their old area if you can.
The next thing you should ask about is insurance. When you are hiring a contractor, whether that’s for painting, plumbing, or some other job, you should make sure they are fully insured. There are several different policies that a contractor should have. The exact insurance requirements vary depending on where you are located, so it pays to do your research.
The way that a company communicates with prospective customers is important too. When you’re dealing with a big company, you should make sure that it’s easy to reach someone who knows what’s going on with your project. If you’re dealing with a one-man band or a small business, does the owner seem to be organized and reliable? If any alarm bells ring during the inquiry phase, walk away – it’s not worth the hassle in the long term.
The question of pricing is a complicated one. While it’s nice to get a good deal, you shouldn’t pick a contractor purely because they’re cheap. Cheap contractors often make up for their low price by taking on a huge number of projects, which means that quality suffers. Cheap companies that try to take on a high volume of projects to make up for their bargain basement prices don’t usually have a reputation for good service. Save yourself some serious headaches and look for a contractor that provides consistent high quality service.
Think carefully before you pay a deposit. It’s true that deposits aren’t unheard of in the world of contracting, but you should not need one for a small paint job. A company that demands a deposit before they will start even a small project is one that you should be wary of – they could be having cashflow issues.
Most painting contractors are reputable, so you should be able to find a good one in your area. There is a small number of bad apples that have ruined the industry for the majority of reputable tradesmen. When you find a good one, be sure to spread the word to help others in your area, and help them grow too.
http://www.paulbensonpainting.com/hoa_10point.html
Check out the contractor’s credentials; how long have they been trading? Try to find a contractor that has been in the trade (and working in your area), for a long time. If the contractor says they’ve been trading for several years, but they’ve only just moved to your area, ask them why they moved. Of course, there are legitimate contractors that had to relocate for valid reasons, so don’t write someone off without at least checking their testimonials. Try to get references from their old area if you can.
The next thing you should ask about is insurance. When you are hiring a contractor, whether that’s for painting, plumbing, or some other job, you should make sure they are fully insured. There are several different policies that a contractor should have. The exact insurance requirements vary depending on where you are located, so it pays to do your research.
The way that a company communicates with prospective customers is important too. When you’re dealing with a big company, you should make sure that it’s easy to reach someone who knows what’s going on with your project. If you’re dealing with a one-man band or a small business, does the owner seem to be organized and reliable? If any alarm bells ring during the inquiry phase, walk away – it’s not worth the hassle in the long term.
The question of pricing is a complicated one. While it’s nice to get a good deal, you shouldn’t pick a contractor purely because they’re cheap. Cheap contractors often make up for their low price by taking on a huge number of projects, which means that quality suffers. Cheap companies that try to take on a high volume of projects to make up for their bargain basement prices don’t usually have a reputation for good service. Save yourself some serious headaches and look for a contractor that provides consistent high quality service.
Think carefully before you pay a deposit. It’s true that deposits aren’t unheard of in the world of contracting, but you should not need one for a small paint job. A company that demands a deposit before they will start even a small project is one that you should be wary of – they could be having cashflow issues.
Most painting contractors are reputable, so you should be able to find a good one in your area. There is a small number of bad apples that have ruined the industry for the majority of reputable tradesmen. When you find a good one, be sure to spread the word to help others in your area, and help them grow too.
http://www.paulbensonpainting.com/hoa_10point.html