Painters spend their workdays scaling ladders, working on walls and roofs while placing themselves in potentially risky situations – an occupation best left to professionals.
Before hiring a painter, check they have valid insurance and licenses as well as customer testimonials and references from past customers.
Ask for Referrals
Before hiring a painter, it’s essential that you ask for references. This will allow you to gain more information on their work ethic and how they address issues on a jobsite.
Get written estimates from each painter you consider hiring for comparison purposes, this way you will know where your money is being spent and can compare estimates easily side-by-side.
One thing that you should keep in mind when hiring a painter Melbourne is that some contractors use subcontractors. While this may save them some money, this often leads to quality control issues and should be avoided. Instead, hire painting contractors with employees working on the projects; that way if problems do arise they have someone they can turn to for assistance and will likely have insurance to protect against anything going wrong during a project.
Get a Quote
An effective paint job can significantly increase the value of your home and help you sell it more easily in the future, but hiring professional painters to complete it may cost money.
A reliable painting contractor should take the time to listen carefully to your needs before providing you with a comprehensive quote and scope of work for their service. This will enable you to make the best choice within your budget.
Ask potential painters what their hourly rate and average project price are, as well as which type of paint they plan on using and whether or not they provide it themselves; purchasing your own may save money, though special type may be needed for repeated washing cycles.
Hiring a professional painter is worth it as they will complete your painting faster than you could on your own and guarantee their work – saving both time and effort in the process! Your time savings alone make this expense well worth the expense!
Look at Their Portfolio
Good painting contractors will offer a portfolio of their past work on social media or their website to show their abilities, knowledge and expertise.
Professional painters should also be willing to answer any inquiries you have about the project, which demonstrates they understand it is a considerable investment and may raise questions regarding insurance, expertise or paint color selection.
Ask if the estimate you receive breaks down costs into direct and indirect costs to understand exactly what’s included and excluded, to prevent surprises later. It’s essential that your contract with a painter includes a clear estimate; for instance if it mentions “labor,” ensure it includes any applicable travel fees so there will be no confusion over exactly what services were rendered and for how long.
Get a Contract
Consider asking whether they use subcontractors or their own employees, since an organization with employees will likely take their work more seriously than an independent contractor who only takes on part of it themselves. Also inquire whether these services offer subcontracted work. If not, find out who does as any subcontractors may use subcontractors without taking full responsibility themselves, such as payroll and insurance policies in place for them.
If a contractor doesn’t carry valid insurance and workman’s compensation policies, it would be wise to avoid working with them altogether to protect yourself and any workers involved should something go wrong during your project.
Professional painters should provide you with an estimate that details their costs and schedule, with any discrepancies likely signaling red flags. If their quote appears too low or high for you, that should serve as an alert.
Contracts should specify the areas to be painted, how they’ll prepare and clean the area before starting work, how long the project will take and if fixed price or time and materials contracts will be utilized as well as any cleanup responsibilities such as disposing of old paint or moving items out of the way.