Nick's Painting, Inc.

Overview

How to Find an Ann Arbor Painter

If you’re like a lot of homeowners you enjoy doing projects around the house but if your home is very large or higher than one story, painting can be a bit daunting especially where heights are involved. Finding a professional painter to handle the job might be the better and safer option when dealing with ladders and high places. If you hire a qualified Ann Arbor painter you can be certain he’ll have all the proper equipment to complete the job quickly and safely.

The idea behind painting your home is to make it look better but if the work is shoddy or the paints and primers are of low quality, you won’t achieve the desired results. Anyone can claim to be a painter, but painting takes a certain amount of detailed skill so when you decide to hire someone for the job you need to become an informed consumer. It doesn’t matter if you want just one room painted or your entire home, you should make sure you’re getting a knowledgeable painter for the job.

Where to Look for Your Prospective Ann Arbor Painter

When you make the decision to hire a Ann Arbor painter there are a number of places you can start. Your local paint store or home improvement center is always a good place to check. Many contractors, including painters will use the bulletin board to post their information. Use the computer to do a search online for a database of local qualified Ann Arbor painters. The certification process that is sometime involved can be take time and money and usually only professionals will make the effort.

Find out if anyone you know has ever hired a painter in the past. Possibly they can show you the work that was done and let you know if they were pleased with the job or if they have any complaints. If you feel the Ann Arbor painter provided professional work, you can ask for his contact information.

Meeting with an Ann Arbor Painter

It’s not usually a good idea to hire an Ann Arbor painter simply because he offers you a low estimate. Spend some time talking about your project with each painter you consider hiring before you ask for an estimate. Ask a few painters to visit your home and do an onsite walk through with you. Talk with each one about their knowledge and years of experience as a painter. Find out if they have subcontracted with any homebuilders or other local contractors or companies. Being hired by other contractors is often a good sign that their work is up to standard.

Request proof of current state license and insurance policies from each Ann Arbor painter. Every Ann Arbor painter should have liability insurance to protect you in case of damage. You’ll also need to check that they carry workers compensation if they have any employees. If an employee gets hurt while working on your property, you don’t want to be held liable for any potential medical bills. Make certain the painter is also bonded. If he should leave you with some unfinished work you then have recourse for getting the job completed.

Obviously you should ask the Ann Arbor painter for references and check them out but don’t just depend on references to help you make your final decision. References can certainly be helpful but keep in mind that if there are any unhappy customers, you’re not going to get their contact information. Call your local Better Business Bureau to check for any past complaints. If you do find any you need to know what they are and if they were ever taken care of. An occasional complaint isn’t uncommon but how the painter takes care of it says a lot about his business practices.

It’s time to get some estimates once you have a few painters in mind. Since every Ann Arbor painter handles a job differently, from the brands of paint he prefers to the methods of cleanup he uses bids can get confusing. There might also be different methods used in preparation work. One painter may only use a pressure washer for exterior preparation while another might painstakingly scrape and sand the entire surface. These differences can greatly impact the figures on the bids you receive. You need to give each Ann Arbor painter a list of everything you would like to see in their bid. This way when you look at the bids they should all be uniform in the scope and details of the project which will make them much easier to compare.

Signing a Contract with an Ann Arbor Painter

After you’ve located the Ann Arbor painter that you believe is the one you want for your project it’s time to talk about a contract. There are a number of things that should be included in a contract, including a summery of the job and how it will be accomplished. It’s also important to include the type of paint and the exact cost for materials and labor. Any contract should also contain all necessary contact information for the painter along with his state license number and copies of insurance policies. You’ll also want a date for completion of the job.

Find out if the painter includes a guarantee for his work if there is a problem with fading, chipping or peeling within a specific amount of time. If there is one make sure it’s also in writing that the painter will fix the problem at little or no cost to you. While the paint itself may come with an extensive warranty, it will not include the labor cost of having the job redone.

Remember that you want to hire a painter you can trust. A lot of the work will probably be done when you aren’t around so it’s difficult to know exactly what’s being done. Once the final coat is on you wont be able to determine if the surface was properly prepared or primed or how many coats of paint were actually applied. Hiring a reliable Ann Arbor painter is just as important as hiring any other contractor to come into your home and you want the best one for the job.