WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN HIRING A PAINTING CONTRACTOR
6 ATTRIBUTES TO MAKE SURE YOUR PAINTER HAS
#1 Licensing
In Maryland it is required of all contractors to have an up to date MHIC license. MHIC stands for Maryland Home Improvement Contractor. Home improvement means the remodeling, altering, repairing, painting, or modernizing of residential or non−commercial property, or the making of additions thereto, and includes, but is not limited to, the construction, installation, replacement, improvement, or repair of driveways, sidewalks, swimming pools, terraces, patios, landscaping, fences, porches, garages, basements and basement waterproofing, fire protection devices, heating and air conditioning equipment, water softeners, heaters and purifiers, wall−to−wall carpeting or attached or inlaid floor coverings, and other changes, repairs, or improvements made in or on, attached to, or forming a part of, the residential or non−commercial property. The term extends to the conversion of existing commercial structures into residential or non−commercial property. “Home improvement” does not include the construction of a new residence or the major renovation of an existing structure.
If your contractor does not have this and they are hired, you will not be able to be compensated shall anything go wrong. We encourage you to do your homework and check for this when you hire someone to do work on your property.
#2 Liability Insurance
It is required that when a painting contractor applies for an MHIC license that they have at least $50,000 of coverage. Unfortunately sometimes contractors cannot afford to pay their insurance and lose it for one reason or another. It is for this reason that we recommend you ask for a COI, which stands for certificate of insurance. This will ensure that you receive an up to date copy of their insurance information made out to you specifically.
#3 Being on time
Chances are you may have had trouble finding a company to get your home on time for needed repairs. What do you look for though? How do you know they will be there on time when you hire them? Well you could ask, but that leaves room for lying or making false promises. So what then? Even though there is no surefire way to ensure this, there are some things you can do or look for. Some companies have it written somewhere on their website about being on time. Another thing is if the estimator is on time chances are the crew will be too. Often times the estimator is the owner of the company, so most likely the employees will follow suit.
#4 Professional look
If you call for a painting estimate, be on the look out for what the estimator drives and what they’re wearing. The same goes with the crew. If they look ragged and shaggy, your house or business may end up looking the same. Although this isn’t always the case, it’s still a good practice and great rule of thumb. For painters, the typical look is white pants and white shirt. The estimator may or may not have the same look depending on if they paint too or not.
#5 Knowledge
At your painting estimate you are most likely going to have questions. If you don’t, then you should be prepared with some! If the estimator doesn’t know how to answer your questions, then how well is the job going to go? Your estimator should be knowledgeable enough to know any question you throw at him within reason. Another thing to consider is if he has questions for you. A great estimator will have certain information that they will need to gather from you for the estimate. These questions will also ensure that the job goes smoothly. Communication is the key to success after all!
#6 Reviews
This day and age we all make use of the internet for everything. Why not put it to use when hiring someone to paint your house? You need to get on Google and search for the reviews of whatever company it is you are hiring. If they don’t have any, you may want to reconsider hiring them. How can you be sure of how good they are? It is necessary to see what others are saying before you make a commitment. There are a number of places to look. There’s Google, Yelp, Houzz, Angie’s List, Home guide, Home Advisor, and many more. These usually use a star rating system with 5 stars being the best. They are usually accompanied by a testimonial of the experience, but not always.
