Maybe you’ve gone the DIY route. You’ve tried doing some painting in your home on your own only to realize a few things. It’s harder than it looks to do a good job and it’s hard work. Professional house painters have tools and skills you now realize you don’t have.
So, you’ve made the decision to hire a painter to get some of your work done. And now you’re wondering how to find a reliable Austin, Texas painter who will show up and do quality work.
If you’re going to hire someone, spend the money, then you want to hire a professional who will do the job well. Read on for the steps to take to find a professional house painter in your area.
Ask for Referrals
There’s no better way to know a painter will do quality work and be dependable than to hire one who is recommended by someone you know and trust.
Ask your friends and family if they have hired a painter. You can see the work first hand and hear about their experiences. You can also avoid choosing a painter who may not have done quality work.
Use the Internet
Professional painters know they need to market themselves to show their work. Do a search for a painter and get specific to the area where you live. Search for “painting companies in Austin, TX – or your Austin city.
Then get on their websites and look around. You can learn about how they approach work by checking out painting company websites. Read their blogs and see if you can get a feel for how they approach a job.
Read Reviews
When you do a search, look at sites that allow users to leave reviews. Read those reviews. You might not know those people but they know the painter you are considering hiring.
Read the feedback they left about their experience with the professional painter. If people are very happy with the work, they want to share the experience.
Remember though, don’t put too much weight on one or two negative reviews. Some people have unrealistic expectations or honestly, they are just grumpy. When reading reviews look for a pattern of information from others about the painter.
Use Professional Sources
As long as you are on the web, you can also crowdsource and look for a painter on professional sources. These would be websites like Angie’s List or Yelp.
Painters can register with these websites and then the website helps to match you up with the right painter for your job. You can also read reviews here too.
Seek Estimates
Now that you probably have some candidates, start to get some estimates. Most painters should offer a free estimate. You want them to put the estimate on paper.
Be sure to ask what the estimate includes. Do they do the prep work? Do they do the cleanup?
You will get a good feel for the painter when you meet with them and they evaluate the job. Did they show up on time for the estimate? Pay attention to how they communicate with you. You want to hire someone who will do a good job communicating what they do to their customer.
Ask for References
Don’t be shy about asking your painter for references. Be sure to connect with those references. Ask specific questions about the quality of work they performed for you.
If you are hiring someone for an exterior paint job, you could ask for references of other similar jobs. You might even decide to drive by some of the other properties to take a look at the work they have done.
If you hope to hire a professional painter, you can go to the location and look at the work to see it first hand.
Ask Questions
Be prepared with the questions you want to be answered when you meet with the painter for the estimate. Some questions might include:
- Is the paint included in the estimate?
- How many people will be working on the job?
- How do you screen your employees?
- How will you communicate with me while the job is ongoing?
- How do you establish a timeframe for the job?
- How often are you able to stay on time?
- Will the painter be responsible for cleaning up too?
Listen carefully to the answers. If a painter avoids answering a question that should be a red flag for you.
Licensed and Insured
Not all states require painters to be licensed. You can ask your painter about this. If your state does require licensing, then you want a painter who has followed through with this step.
You also want to be sure to hire a painter who is insured. You want your property to be protected in the event of an accident. You also don’t want to be liable for employees who are working on your property.
The Contract
After going through all these steps, hopefully you have found a painter who will be a good fit for you. Be sure to read the contract they provide carefully. Look over how they expect to be paid.
Also, make sure the contract spells out materials and a timeline for completing the work.
You also want to see if they guarantee satisfaction for the work they complete for you. Check to see if this is written into the contract.
Finding Professional House Painters
Now that you know the steps to take to find your Austin, Texas professional house painters, what are you waiting for? Once you get the idea to have the work done, it gets exciting to see the finished spaces.
We can help with your interior and exterior painting needs. Contact the Texas Painting Company today for a free estimate and to get your project rolling (yep, the pun is intended).