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Painters with bad reputations can avoid the problem of reference checks by giving their customers lists of relatives and friends.

The best way to avoid this smoke and mirror trick is to ask specific questions about the project. Knowing the importance of warranties, some companies even give unrealistically long warranties such as 10 years, 20 years or even lifetime warranties. The sad fact is that most of these companies will be out of business long before their warranties expire. So what is a realistic warranty that you can trust? The fact is, most contractors have never even considered how to pay the expenses associated with warranty callbacks, and some contractors just seem to vanish when they get a warranty call.

A professional contractor will be preparing for callbacks they will happen, even to the best contractors by including a line item in their budget for warranty work. Ask the question and see what kind of response you get. Sometimes, how the question is answered is more important than the answer itself! Make sure to always get your full warranty in writing. These days, it seems like anyone with a paintbrush and a business card can call themselves a painting contractor.

With painting, like anything else in life, you typically get what you pay for. If the painting contractor you are considering cannot answer these ten questions, proceed at your own risk. A million-dollar limit in liability coverage is probably the minimum any painting contractor should be carrying.

The Smoke and Mirror Tricks Contractors can tell you they have worked with everyone on their crew for the last 42 years, but how do you really know? Dig deeper to see if they can provide information to back up their claims: Ask for the name of the company that provides the background check services.

Ask to see examples of the reports they provide. However, you put yourself at risk when you hire a contractor who uses subcontractors: The contractor may be tempted to find subcontractors offering the lowest possible fee so they can make more money on the job.

This can translate into low quality of work. Since the subcontractor gets a fixed fee and is not paid hourly, they may be tempted to cut corners to get the job done quicker.

The contractor may not know the people on the crew, which makes it likely that background checks have not been performed. Who does payroll for your business? The Smoke and Mirror Tricks The biggest trick is not to specify the types of material to be used on your job and use the cheapest materials available. Good project management includes: A professional proposal that is detailed with specifications that list the services you have agreed to have performed and can guide the crew during their work.

A specific system for executing each phase of the project such as set up, preparation, surface protection, paint application, clean up, etc. All changes to the project additions or deletions communicated in writing and signed by both parties. A system for the crew to check and cross-check their work. An end-of-project walk-through where the project manager walks the job with the client to assure satisfaction. The Smoke and Mirror Tricks This is an area where there are fewer tricks and more poor business practices.

How Often? However, training is very important in the painting industry: It reduces mistakes. It helps to assure a consistent, high-quality product. It allows projects to be completed in a timely manner. It reduces accidents and mishaps.

The Smoke and Mirror Tricks Before hiring, find out if the company trains its employees. Some questions you may ask include: May I see a written job description for your employees? And does it outline what skills they need to have at certain stages of their career?

How do you conduct training? How often do you conduct training? In many states, being bonded is also a prerequisite to obtaining a license.

The bond is an agreement that binds the painter to cover any losses incurred by a property owner if the painter does not complete the job according to the contract specifications.

It protects the property owner from a failed paint job by the painter. When you hire an unlicensed contractor, you are taking significant risks, including that you will be subject to a lawsuit, as well as the potential that any implied warranties afforded by state law will be void.

Here are some important reasons to hire a licensed and insured painter. Painting can be a hazardous job due to the climbing of ladders and dealing with paint solvents.

If you hire a painting contractor that is not insured, you may end up paying for their medical expenses if one becomes injured during the painting project.

An insured painting company is the best choice to paint your property; otherwise you could end up dealing with costly issues, some of which could include:.

There is no way to know whether an unlicensed painter or company is properly trained in the best practices of their industry. They have not taken any examinations or presented proof that they are knowledgeable in their trade. Licensing requires that a painter meets certain guidelines for their trade. Do they know the proper procedures for prep work on interior and exterior surfaces?

Will the painting tools and techniques they use ensure a durable and long-lasting coat of paint? Hiring an unlicensed painter for your project could leave you with inferior or incomplete results. The painting industry has them too. If you get very cheap quotes for painting services, it is likely that the company is not licensed or insured.

Some painting contractors have disappeared after receiving the deposit, doing a partial job, or leaving you with a shoddy or incomplete job.

Hiring professional painters with licensing and insurance eliminates the risk of getting taken advantage of by crooked painters. To protect yourself from scams and fraud follow these guidelines. A licensed and insured painting company is regulated by a government agency. They are obligated to honor warranties and fix any issues on the project. If there is a dispute, poor workmanship has been displayed, or if the customer is just not satisfied with the paint job, they can get help by calling the licensing agency.

Because a licensed painting company is regulated by a government agency, they may be legally obligated to fix the problems if needed. You may not be able to make warranty claims if you hire a painter with no license or insurance. Warranty laws often require that the painting contractor be licensed for the warranty to apply. The state contractor board will not typically help you to make a warranty claim against an unlicensed contractor. If you are trying to recover any losses with an unlicensed, unbonded, uninsured painter, you will need to sue them in civil court.

Even if you win the case, without a bond, there's a good chance the unlicensed contractor will not have the resources to pay your damages. A fully licensed and insured painter has a reputation to uphold. It is important to remember that protection for your home and contents may not always be covered by your personal insurance.

A public liability insurance creates that safety net for customers and covers the house and content from damage caused by the contractor. Before you hire a painter, ask to see their public liability insurance to guarantee a coverage. While painting does not appear as risky as other careers, in their everyday jobs, painters may face a variety of risks.

Building and construction sites can be a relative minefield when it comes to collisions and casualties, no matter how much protective steps are placed in place. Worckcover ensures that all employees are insured by their employers. It is a standard for all firms of workers and pays the cost of care and recovery from work-related accidents or injury.

Just because someone has training for painting doesn't mean they know how to run a business. It's one thing to understand how to paint an interior, but quite another to understand how to communicate with customers, work professionally and manage a respectable business.

For this reason, it is important to figure out the company's background, what their former customers think about their job and whether they are competent and easy to deal with.

It is advised that from each company you get at least 3 references. This varied collection of references would allow you to see if the time test stands for their work and the goods they use. Start searching somewhere if they refuse to supply them. Speaking with former customers directly will also give you a better understanding of the consumer experience. Ask the painting firm who you are considering to hire to provide phone numbers of former customers.

Their reactions to these inquiries will be invaluable and will assist you to distinguish the newcomers to the longtime painting professionals. When constructing or repairing your house, painting may seem like a huge investment.

But you're making an investment in your home for the next 5 or more years. High quality paints are designed to satisfy quality standards, such as those produced by Dulux, Taubmans, Wattyl and other major paint firms. These paints are formulated with a high concentration of costly and high-quality materials and ingredients. This makes it simple to spread the paint, covers it in coats, makes it washable and guarantees a long-lasting, flawless finish. On the other hand, poor quality paints may seem enticing because they are less pricey.

Low-quality paints, though, are just that.