Paint Tip Tuesday-When should I hire a contractor to paint?

When should I hire a contractor to paint? What is a reasonable cost? How long should the project take? What if I am unsatisfied with the quality of work? These are all important questions to ask and to take into account before starting any painting project.

You decide that you want to update the exterior of your home, the colors dated at least 20 years and you haven't painted since you've moved in. You decide to have someone come out because you house is split level and you don't see yourself on the ladder and are not patient enough. You call out a handy man to come and look at the job and he quotes you a very reasonable price. However to be on the safe side you call a painting contractor and he quotes you 3x as much.

Now you're shocked and wondering why is there such a huge gap between the two quotes a.k.a. bids? First thing is many painters are licensed, insured and bonded so if one of their employees has an accident on your property they are covered and aren't trying to take you to court over wiring that you know they saw but tripped on and are now injured (it has happened before). Second thing to consider is equipment cost. Painters have to keep up with their equipment, from sprayers to ladders to paint brushes, waste water and depending on the size of the job they might have to rent equipment.

Now that you have a better understanding of why it costs so much you decide to reach out to another licensed painter for a bid. They give you one that is $2000 less than the other one but now you don't know who to go with. Should you save money or go with the higher priced option? Simple, look over the bids and see what is included. A more thorough bid leaves less room for interpretation. If there is something missing from the bid you can call your painter and discuss with them what is to be included or not included. The bid should give you all the information that you need to know. Does it include repairs, pressure washing, priming, etc..etc..? How many days is it going to take to complete, weather conditions pending? Remember to ask questions, questions, questions. There is no question that is so unimportant that it doesn't need to get asked.