Painting your home is a huge decision. It needs to be done by the right company, with the right paint, and of course the right price. But if you’re looking for the first time, it can be hard to find someone who has all three criteria in one package!
Sure, you could go for the cheapest option in the market, but experience tells us they are cheap for a reason. Alternatively, you could go for a premium service, but there may be other painters out there who could do the same job for a much lower price.
If this sounds like you too then read on for my tips on how to find that elusive painter!
Know What to Type in Your Search Engine
Once you’ve determined what kind of painting service you need, the next step is to find one. Often when people use google, they just type “painters near me” and then sift through the results. This is a good starting point, but it’s not going to provide you with all of your potential painters!
You need to be more specific, so for example, if you’re looking for fence painters, search “fence painters near me”. This will give you more detailed results, and even if it’s not perfect, this is definitely a better starting point than just typing in the first thing that comes to mind.
And don’t just rely on a single search engine, there are multiple online such as Yahoo and Bing. If you can find one on each of these platforms, it will give your list a much better chance of being complete!
Start Online but Don’t Stop There
I know what you’re thinking – everything is online nowadays so isn’t that where I should start? The answer to this question is yes and no. Yes, the internet has a lot of information on painters, but never discount people who you know.
Asking friends, family and even your neighbours provides a first-hand experience and can give you a better idea of who to choose. Not only that, but it’s often cheaper because some services will offer a discount from their referrals program.
Local painters typically rely on word-of-mouth advertising, but customer referral programs are also a great marketing method to bring in new customers.
Check Review Sites
Before choosing the first painting service you see online, it’s best to do some digging. Not only will this provide you with more options, but it can also help you weed out the ones who are not experienced.
One of the most common ways to do this is by looking at reviews on their website or on sites like Yelp. Online sites who give reviews give consumers more insights into the service they are getting, and often provide a more complete picture of whether this is a good option for you.
Don’t be afraid to invest some time going through your reviews too! Not all reviews are the same, as some people can be more critical than others.
Make Sure Their Skills Match Your Needs
As important as it is to read reviews and see if people were satisfied with the service, you also need to make sure you choose someone who can do your job correctly!
If you require an interior painter for your kitchen, don’t hire a house painter to do the job, as they may not have all of the required skills. The same goes for exterior painters – if you need your porch repainted then hiring someone who has never done this before is just going to be a waste of money and time!
Always check their previous works and credentials, as this will give you a better idea of their skills and expertise. Failing to do so may result in the job not being done properly or even at all!
Ask About Their Insurance Policies
In case if they damage anything during the process it’s always good to hire an insured painter who can compensate for your losses without any legal issues.
It’s not just the case with exterior painting, but also for interior jobs. If your painter pushes over their step ladder and damages your vase you want to make sure they have some sort of insurance policy in case something like this happens.
Always ask for a copy of a certificate of insurance before hiring a service.
Remember That Pricing Isn’t Everything
Pricing is a big influence on most people’s decisions, but it shouldn’t be the only factor to consider.
If you find a painter who offers high quality but is slightly more expensive, don’t be afraid to go for them – at the end of the day it’s better to hire someone great and pay a little extra than risk hiring an amateur with cheaper prices.
However, that doesn’t mean that cheap painters aren’t worth hiring. Inexpensive painters may just have fewer overheads to pay, which is the case for local painters who don’t have company costs or expensive advertising.
Remember that price isn’t always indicative of a great service. And if you’re unsure of why a service is so cheap or expensive, simply ask them why. A professional painter who’s transparent about their services should be happy to explain their prices!
