Long-Term Commitment
Just what is included?
Included or not?
Materials are often not included. This is a huge unknown for homeowners – no incentive for the painter to eliminate waste or estimate paint quantities accurately. A low materials estimate makes the bid look better; accurate materials estimates do not. Proposals that include the cost of materials bet on the painters’ expertise, and give the homeowner a better view of their final cost.
The Deal Breaker
Workman’s Compensations insurance is required by law; liability insurance is required by common sense. Some painters have neither. No homeowner wants an uninsured worker slipping off a high ladder. Make sure your painter can document that he and his employees are properly insured. A certificate of insurance issued for your specific project, at your specific address, is routine for commercial insurance carriers. Subcontractors? Each individual worker needs to have his own current, up to date certificate.
Top-Notch Work
Closely supervised, experienced painters will always deliver a better job than unsupervised, inexperienced workers. Proper attire (painter’s “whites”) is an easy guage of the level of professionalism. An agreement that eliminates assumptions about type of work to be done and a supervisor that clearly communicates with his crew and the homeowner will ensure that all expectations are met.
Long-Term Commitment?
A professional crew can paint most houses in less than one week. If you’ve hired a crew of one, or they work a “flexible” schedule, they may be a part of your life for quite a bit longer. Great, if you don’t mind them using your bathroom, but most homeowners want to get the whole thing over with sooner rather than later. At the other end of the spectrum are the “blow and go” or “quick-change” artists – quick prep, quick spray, collect the check and outta here. If that’s what you’re paying for, OK, but not so good if you’re paying for a top-notch job.
