Transforming your home, inside or out, is a massive undertaking that requires precious time and money. Before we dive into what you should ask a painter, consider what’s important to you in a painting contractor. When you’re ready to reach out to painting contractors near you, pay attention to how easy it was to contact them and how … Continued
Transforming your home, inside or out, is a massive undertaking that requires precious time and money. Before we dive into what you should ask a painter, consider what’s important to you in a painting contractor. When you’re ready to reach out to painting contractors near you, pay attention to how easy it was to contact them and how you were received as a potential client.
If you’ve been searching online for the best local painting company, here are a few interview questions for hiring a painter.
Can I Get a Free Estimate (and, Will You Stick to It)?
The most important question to ask a painting contractor is about pricing. Fees for services should be transparent, and they should offer a free estimate. Ask whether they will honor the estimate and what sorts of things would change the final amount due. Press further and ask about fees, including taxes, paint, tools, etc. that will be calculated separately and affect the project’s overall cost. A legitimate company has nothing to hide and will negotiate the final price upfront without hassle.
At Rent Painters, we pride ourselves on providing fair and honest work to the homeowners of Silver Spring and the greater Washington, D.C., area. We take our quotes a step further and list our prices online for the world to see — no tricks, no gimmicks and no high-pressure sales negotiations. Just simple, transparent pricing to keep everyone honest. Try out our calculator for yourself!
What Materials Do You Use?
This is one of the often-overlooked house painting questions homeowners tend to miss. Companies sometimes charge for your paint job and then use subpar materials to get the highest profits possible. Always ask your painter what tools and paints they’re working with — not only will this help you catch scams, but you’ll also be able to look up the paints and their benefits on your own.
What Prep Work Do You Perform?
If you’re wondering what to ask a painter, you can’t go wrong with project-focused questions. High-quality prep work is key to a successful, long-lasting paint job. Companies that arrive, paint and leave without good prep are prone to making mistakes that can affect the quality of work.
This is an especially important question to ask when hiring an exterior painter. Home exteriors need extra care before painting to ensure the paint adheres properly and stands up to the elements. You should also ask about protective prep measures for your home — what will the team do to avoid getting paint on your home and belongings? Is there any furniture moving and prep you need to do before they arrive? You want to understand every step of the process beforehand to ensure the company is trustworthy.
Can I See Some of Your Previous Work?
A picture is worth a thousand words and a testimonial is worth your peace of mind. A legitimate painting company will have plenty of images in its gallery to showcase its skills and glowing reviews from satisfied clients. While a single negative review shouldn’t necessarily strike a painting contractor from your list, negative themes in testimonials should raise some flags.
At Rent Painters, we are proud of our work and happily show it off. Check out our Instagram and Facebook for inspiration and client feedback, and our 5-star reviews on Google and Yelp.
Who Will Be My Main Point of Contact?
The person you work with initially when setting up your paint job might not be the main person you keep in touch with during the project. Ask who will answer your questions and how closely tied to the job they are. Some companies have dedicated office staff to help you with changes, scheduling and billing. Others might have you in contact with the supervisor or company owner. The more involved in the painting project your point of contact is, the less responsive they might be since they’ll be busy painting.
Are You Insured?
Always make sure you’re working with an insured painter. If something goes wrong during the project, you want to avoid being left at a loss or paying for an injured worker’s bills. Request proof of insurance and ensure the company has worker’s compensation and general liability insurance.
How Long Is Your Warranty?
Warranties will help cover potential problems or corrections that spring up after your paint job. Each company will have its own warranty, so ask to read its policy in full to find out what it covers and for how long. A company that doesn’t have a warranty won’t have to correct any mistakes, and you might have to pay for corrections. At Rent Painters, we offer a two-year warranty for exterior jobs and a three-year policy for interior paint.
What Additional Services Do You Offer?
If you think you’ll require additional services down the line, it’s wise to ask what services a painting contractor offers. For instance, if you are a property manager, you’ll want a local D.C. painting contractor who can handle interior, exterior, drywall, cabinet, deck and fence painting, in addition to cleaning and moving services. After all, the fewer contractors you have to manage, the easier your projects will be!
At Rent Painters, we are proud to be the Greater D.C. Area’s one-stop shop for all of your home painting needs. Check out our full menu of services as well as our sister companies Rent Movers and Rent Maids.
What Guarantees Can You Offer?
Anyone, and we do mean anyone, can paint a house. All it takes is paint and a paintbrush. However, professional home painting is more than just quickly painting onto walls. Quality interior and exterior house painting takes skills, finesse and the right tools. Local paint contractors who can deliver on high expectations will stand by their work and back it up with craftsmanship and product guarantees.
At Rent Painters, we take our business, and your satisfaction, to heart. Standing by our excellent service and guaranteeing results that will exceed your expectations, we offer a three-year warranty on all interior paint jobs and a two-year warranty on all exterior paint jobs. In addition to providing you with an impeccably painted house, we offer peace of mind — and you can’t put a price on that!
Start Your Next Project With Rent Painters
If you’re wondering what to look for when hiring a paint company in D.C., Rent Painters offers high-quality painting services at affordable rates. We’ll work closely with you to ensure you understand each step of our painting process and post-job policies. You’ll receive superior interior and exterior work when you schedule us for the job.
Got more questions? Great! We’d love to hear from you and get them answered. Let us help you transform your home — reach out to us online to get started on your next project today!
