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People generally do business with people they like and trust. You
should talk with your painting contractor prior to signing any
agreement. Get to know them and their company. You should be
comfortable with their demeanor and the demonstration of their
professional ethics. Remember, these questions apply whether you are
repainting your home, the interior of an apartment, a commercial
building, or any painting project. Be sure to ask these questions
BEFORE you sign any contract or estimate or make any verbal
agreement. (Some unscrupulous painters don’t even use printed
estimate forms or contracts!) 1. How firm is the initial estimate?
Some painting contractors may give you an estimate which does not
stipulate how firm the price is. They may come back to you with
additional charges and fees afterward. Does your estimate include
all materials and labor? Be sure your estimate is firm and complete.
A professional painting contractor should only provide a quote which
includes all materials and all labor required for all steps and
aspects of the project. Does the estimate include repairs or
remediation found during the process? Painters will be seeing
your building or your house up close and from angles you may have
never noticed. They may find evidence of insects or rodents, mold or
mildew, rotting wood, leaking seals, missing nails, cracks, holes
and gaps, etc. Ask your painter if they fix these minor problems at
no extra charge. Most professional painting contractors should
repair cracks in drywall, gaps in wood siding, and seals around
doors and windows. It should be obvious though, that painting
contractors are not plumbers, electricians, roofers, or
exterminators and should not attempt to work on these kinds of
repairs. An experienced painting contractor, however, should be
well-connected in the community of contractors and should be able to
refer you to other professional contractors. 2. Will your crew
arrive on time and be finished on time? This is important for your
convenience when painting your house, and it can be critical if
operations are effected by a commercial painting project. Your first
clue about the promptness and timeliness of your painting contractor
is in the speed and courtesy they show in returning your phone call.
Many amateur painting contractors arrive when it is convenient for
them and take more time than expected. A professional contractor
knows his or her schedule, the experience of the painting crew, and
other considerations to provide a more accurate estimate regarding
the timing of your project. Of course, for exterior jobs, you will
need to account for seasonal weather. Your painting contractor will
stay in touch with you if a job schedule must be adjusted due to
inclement conditions. Otherwise, the mark of a professional is that
their crew arrives at the appointed time and finishes within the
time estimate. Will your crew move furniture, drape fixtures and
carpeting, and mask off all windows and doors? This is also an
important aspect of professionalism. If a painter’s overspray makes
a mess of your bushes or windows, it may wind up costing you time
and money to clean up afterward or replace damaged property. Be sure
to work only with a professional painting contractor who will handle
everything necessary for the thorough completion of your job. 3.
Are you licensed, bonded, AND insured? Being “licensed” simply means
that the company is registered to do business in your state. There
are no qualifications, no tests, no verifications; the business
owner simply paid a few dollars for a registration and the company
is listed in the state’s list of businesses. “Bonding” means that
the contractor has secured additional funds to cover you if
something goes wrong: inadvertent damage, worker accidents, etc.
This gives you instant access to funds without waiting for an
insurance settlement. “Insured” means just that– the contractor
carries an insurance policy to protect himself, but also to protect
you from damage or accidents which happen on your property. How much
insurance coverage do you carry? Currently in Washington State, the
minimum insurance required of painting contractors is only $300,000.
In the case of serious injury or damage to your home or building,
this simply is not enough. In general, you should seek out a
contractor carrying at least a $1 million dollar “umbrella policy”.
This covers you in case of property damage or personal injury. Does
Washington State industrial insurance cover all your employees? Get
this in writing. This should be on the main contract. If the
painting contractor’s employees are not covered and get hurt on your
site, you are responsible. 4. Do you hire subcontractors? Will
subcontractors be used for my project? Many painting contractors
hire subcontractors to do the actual work. In some cases, the people
who paint your house may be inexperienced. Are your subcontractors
licensed, bonded, AND insured? Are all of your subcontractors’
workers covered by your or their own insurance? Again, the main
contractor may be insured, but this may not cover the workers who
are employed by a
subcontractor. Be sure everyone who works on your project is insured
by their respective employer. If your contractor uses
subcontractors, be sure to get a lien release form signed by any and
all subcontractors who will be working on the project. This is a
critical issue when dealing with contractors who use subcontractors.
If you pay the main contractor and that company in turn does not pay
their subcontractors, those subcontractors could come to you for
payment and even put a lien on the property. With a lien release,
you are protected from such a scenario. 5. Are your painters
trained? It may seem that anyone who can swing a brush could be a
painter. But you want to be sure to work only with painters who have
been trained. Training should include safety procedures, working
with all equipment, dealing with problem areas, customer service
skills, etc. Working with trained professionals definitely makes a
difference in getting a better quality job and higher satisfaction
for you. Will your painting crew behave in a professional manner?
The salesperson who sells the painter’s services may be well dressed
and well mannered. But some crews may show up only to turn on the
loud music, shout or use profanity on the job, and make a general
mess of the place. Be sure you ask your painting contractor to
address this important issue, whether you are painting your
residence or a commercial building. 6. Do you provide a pre- and
post-project inspection? Some painting contractors may try to get
away with saving themselves time. They do a quick job, get your
check and leave. Only after they are gone, do you realize that they
missed a spot. Be sure to only work with a contractor who will walk
around the home or building with you and talk with you about all
aspects of the job, before work is started, during the process, and
after it is completed. A professional painting contractor will be
willing to “make it right” if you have any dissatisfaction with the
finished job. 7. What do you guarantee and for how long? Is your
guarantee in writing? Some painting companies say they offer a
guarantee, but when pressed, they’ll admit that the guarantee is
only the one offered by the paint manufacturer. If something fails,
you may be able to get the paint replaced, but these contractors may
still charge you for the labor to repaint your building or house. In
Washington State, the minimum requirement for a guarantee is one
year, but that may leave loopholes for your contractor. Be sure to
hire a professional painting contractor who guarantees your
satisfaction, including labor. If you can find a contractor who will
guarantee your paint job for 2 years or more, including labor, even
better. Lastly, a guarantee is only valid if your painter is still
in business to provide warranty work. Ask your contractor, How long
has your company been in business? and How long do you expect to
continue in this business? To make sure you’re delighted with your
paint job now and into the future, choose an experienced painting
contractor so you can rest assured they’ll be around for the long
run.
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