They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But if you’re honest with yourself, you do. Especially when the cover is an old, peeling exterior paint job on a house. It just doesn’t leave a good impression. When your exterior starts to look shabby, you start looking for the best exterior painters near you. But how do you know they are the best?

How Do You Find a Good Painting Contractor?

Hiring a contractor to work on your home isn’t a decision that comes easily. You’ve heard horror stories from friends or family members about jobs that went terribly wrong, after all, and you don’t want to be in their shoes. How do you find the best? It seems like an impossible feat.

But there are  some things  you can do to make sure the contractor you hire is the best.

Look for someone thorough

Upon arriving at your house to look at the work you need, the best contractor will thoroughly examine the job to provide an accurate evaluation. They will give a complete and thorough estimate, and they will gladly answer all of your questions.

Listen to what they say

You should have a series of questions prepared to ask the contractor during your evaluation. Ask the contractor about the paints and the methods that they use and then ask why. While there are definite pros and cons to everything, you aren’t looking for the right or wrong answer here. Instead, you are trying to evaluate the contractor’s level of expertise. If they can back up their answers with good, substantial evidence, then you know they are knowledgeable and experienced.

Talk about your expectations

If you are the type of person who has the budget for perfection and you want every nook and cranny attended to, make sure you are upfront about this fact. On the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget, talk to your contractor about ways you can make sure the project doesn’t exceed that budget. Being open and clear about what you want out of the relationship will help the contractor to fulfill your expectations.

Check, double check, and triple check

Always check references and past work. Drive past buildings the contractor has painted in the past to see how the jobs are holding up. Credentials and licensing can show the contractor’s commitment, so look into how many the contractor has and what they are. Finally, make sure the company you are hiring has insurance and doesn’t use subcontractors.

Hiring an Exterior Painter