Avoid This Andover Painter at All Costs!
Hiring professional exterior house painters should be an opportunity to reduce your workload and get high-quality results. Unfortunately, if you hire unreliable, unskilled, or dishonest painters, you might have the opposite experience. Untrustworthy painting contractors may use poor-quality materials or provide subpar work, forcing you to hire a new company to redo the job. You can avoid this nightmare by researching the home painting company and staying alert for red flags.
At Schwartz & Sons Painting, we are confident in our ability to complete any interior or exterior painting project to the highest standards. Our team is committed to excellence both in our painting and in our customer service. We value transparency with our clients, so we want you to know what you should expect from a reputable painting company and what warning signs should make you concerned. Here are eight signs that you might be working with unreliable or unprofessional painters in Andover MN:
1. Your painter wants you to pay in full up-front.
It’s common for painters and other contractors to ask for a deposit up-front so that they can be sure you plan to pay your bill. However, the deposit should not amount to more than 50 percent of the total. You should be suspicious if your painter asks you to pay the full bill up-front. Both parties need to be sure that the other will uphold their end of the bargain, but if you pay them fully before they do the work, you have no guarantee that they’ll follow through with the job.
2. They insist on being paid in cash.
Cash may be an easy way to pay your house painters, but reputable and professional painters should also accept checks. Some will even take credit cards. Although requesting payment in cash may not make or break your decision to hire someone, you should pay close attention to the rest of their business practices to make sure nothing else seems strange or shady.
3. They’re unclear about the estimate.
Your painter should offer a fairly clear and thorough estimate of the job. Once a painter has plenty of experience with a variety of projects, they become skilled at estimating the cost of materials and labor. Your final total may be slightly different than your estimate, but your painter should be transparent about pricing with you during every step of the process.
4. You haven’t seen a written contract.
A written contract protects you and the painter, so any trustworthy company or contractor will provide one. Before you agree to payment or get started on the work, you should ask your painter for a copy of the contract. By putting your agreement in writing, both parties are perfectly clear on the work that is being done.
5. You can’t find any information about them online.
It may not be necessary for a skilled house painter to have an online presence, but doing your research on the internet before you hire someone can be very helpful. Ideally, your painter should have a website or a profile on a contractor review website, such as Thumbtack or Angie’s List. Maybe your contractor is old-fashioned and prefers written or word-of-mouth business dealings, but a lack of information on the web may be a cause for concern.
6. They don’t provide references or proof of past work.
Checking references is the best way to ensure that your painter does good work. At your request, your contractor should provide a list of references and their contact information so you can hear directly from prior clients. Testimonials and photos of previous jobs are valuable, too. If your painter can’t provide a single piece of proof that they’ve done quality work, it may be best to look for someone else.
7. They’re uninsured.
Any legitimate painter should have an insurance policy in case an accident or mistake were to happen in a client’s home. While insurance isn’t legally required in all states, not holding a policy is a foolish decision for a contractor, and it could lead to a stressful and time-consuming legal issue.
8. You’re concerned about the quality of their materials.
The quality of the paint can make a big difference in the final results of the project. Your painter should be able to make the most of budget-friendly materials if needed, but they shouldn’t use the worst paints on the market. If you notice that all of your contractor’s materials are cheap or low-quality, you have a reason to be worried.
The biggest mistake you can make in your renovation project is rushing into your decision to hire a contractor. You want your project to be in good hands, and you can ensure quality results by vetting your painters. Don’t be afraid to ask plenty of questions and request a written contract, references, proof of insurance, and other documents. If you have a bad gut feeling about the company you’re speaking with, it might be time to move on to another option. Schwartz & Sons Painting has been providing the highest quality interior and exterior painting services in Andover MN for years. Whether you need just one room repainted or are undergoing a complete home renovation, we are happy to help. Our team can offer color and style suggestions, or we can follow your directions to perfectly match your vision for the job. We are licensed, insured, and committed to customer service. Contact us today to get started on your painting project.