What you should know, before hiring a painting contractor.
Are they licensed?
The state of California requires all contractors to have a license in their specialty. This helps protect you, the consumer.
A license shows that your contractor passed the state test and that they know what they're doing.
Are they insured?
If the contractor damages your property and he isn't insured, you'll have to pay for the repairs. Protect yourself by making
sure the contractor has an up-to-date and current insurance policy.
Are they bonded?
There is no easy way to determine if the contractor you are hiring is financially sound, and able to meet his obligations. By
hiring a bonded contractor, you will know that if the contractor doesn't pay their bills, you won't be held responsible. For example,
California State Law allows a supplier to put a lien on your property if the contractor fails to pay the supplier.
Two types of bonds can help for these situations:
- A Performance Bond is the promise by a third party (the Bonding Company) to pay - or sometimes perform - if the contractor fails to complete the contract.
- A Labor and Material Payment Bond can also help protect an owner from liens against the owner's property if the contractor fails to pay workers, sub-contractors and suppliers.
Tips for Hiring a Painting Contractor:
Compare estimates carefully.
When comparing estimates, make sure you're comparing apples to apples. Make sure both estimates are covering the same amount of
space, using quality paints, and applying the same amount of coats. Some contractors undercut the price by using cheap paint or
only one coat of paint. They may also come out cheaper by skimping on insurance and other essentials that can really hurt you
in the long run.
Ask for the contractor's license number and certificate of insurance.
It never hurts to take the extra step and verify that the license number and insurance information they provided you with is
valid. You can check California Contractors Licenses by going to the
Contractors State License Board.
A certificate of insurance is sent directly from their insurance company, and once you receive it you will also receive a
notice if the policy is cancelled. All they need to do to send it to you is make a quick call to their agent.
Check referrals.
If someone is as good as they say they are, they should be able to provide you with a list of some of their satisfied customers.
Take some time to make a few calls, ask a few questions, such as: "How was your experience with this contractor?" "Were you satisfied
with the quality of the work, how they worked with you, how they treated your home?" "Did they take the time to make
sure you were happy?" A little time now can save you a lot of headaches down the road.
Other information to be aware of:
Not all paints are created equal.
There are differences between paint bases, sheens, and various brands of paint. What's best for one area might be entirely
different from what's best somewhere else. Make sure you're hiring someone who really knows about paint and can give
you the best advise.
Hiring on price alone can be a costly mistake.
Legitimate contractors have costs that fly-by-night contractors don't, such as insurance. Prices can also be undercut
by applying only one coat, when it really needs two, or using cheap paints. If you want a quality paint job that will look
good and keep looking good, make sure that you hire a contractor that really knows what they're doing and will do the job right.
90% of contractors will go out of business within 5 years.
If you want a contractor that can stand behind their work, you might want to look for one that's been around a while.
When it comes to warranties and service, you won't have anyone to call if they aren't around. You might even want to
ask how long they've painting, and how long they've been in the area. It might help you get an idea about how committed
they are to their business.
Hire the busy man.
This bit of advice is really common sense. We all like to help out a friend, someone who has some extra time on their hands and might need a few bucks.
Or we get irritated when someone doesn't call us back immediately, or when they put us on their waiting list. But the reason
they have a waiting list is that they're doing good work. A good contractor (or anyone else) is often busy, regardless of
the season, regardless of the ecomony. If someone does good work, people will search them out and be willing to wait, to
have the job done right.
We're licensed, bonded, and insured.
License #833179