Let’s face it, hiring professionals to paint your home or business is not something you do every day. It can feel awkward and awkward when you really don’t know what to look for and it’s convenient to fall into the mindset that all are equal. After all, if a painting company advertises its services somewhere, it has to be professional, right? And if they are all professionals, the only difference you have left to choose from is the price. Right?

If only it were that easy. The fact is that painters and painting contractors are as wide and varied as your food choices at an international food court. So how can you tell the good guys from the bad? Or, more importantly, the wrong ones from the right one for YOU? And wouldn’t you like these questions answered before you hire your painter?

The answers are most often found in your written painting estimate. Of course, price matters. But it’s the estimating process and the final written quote that tells you what to expect for your money. That is, if you know the signs.

7 Warnings The Written Paint Estimate Is Giving About Your Painter

1. Tea of the painter Estimate. Do the details of the painting estimate reflect what you want or what your painter wants? You may have told your appraiser where you want it painted, but have you discussed how it should be prepped and with what materials? If you don’t know how to ask, his estimation may fill in the blanks with shortcuts and poor finishes that he didn’t expect.
2. Tea blanket painting budget. It is very common to see a painting quote where the claim is as simple as: we will paint all rooms at this address for $XXXX.xx. Sounds great! Everything in the house will be painted for one low price. Perfect! But is it? Beware of citations with too few details. These are excellent escape routes for the painter when the painting does not live up to the vision he had in mind.
3. Tea brand painting Estimate. Using the best brands always looks great on a paint budget. You’ve heard the name, so you feel there’s a certain credibility associated with that particular paint manufacture. And in many cases, you would be right. But did you know that the world’s biggest and best paint manufacturers make great and not-so-great paints? More specifically, does your paint estimate detail which of these you’re getting on your paint job? Chances are, if you didn’t discuss it during your estimate evaluation, your written estimate will leave you open to interpretation (usually the painter’s interpretation is what goes on your walls).
4. Tea low ball Estimate. When the price is too good to be true… you know it. Or at least this phrase should sound familiar to you. But when it comes to making the final decision on which painter to hire for his project, it makes her dizzy to see that fabulously low quote when everyone else “costs so much.” Now the excitement takes over you and you can’t stop saving all that money! But before you sign off on the painter’s quote, ask yourself this: Do you honestly think this particular painter knows something all the other painting contractors don’t to give up his job for much less? Did he seem more informed with information that others did not have? The chances are slim and it’s not worth the risk.
5. Tea No warranty Estimate. All the details sound good, but no recourse is offered if things don’t work out. Can you afford to fix and repaint the job now that you’ve paid for a paint job with no guarantees? And even if you can afford it, do you really want to pay twice as much and get the painting results you expected in twice the time?
6. Tea no standards Estimate. Workmanship standards should be specified so that you have the same frame of reference as the painter in deciding what constitutes a properly painted surface. Otherwise, everything is subjective in the eyes of the viewer. There are painting industry standards published by the PDCA (Painting and Decorating Contractors of America) that are used to protect both painting customers and painting contractors in a court of law if necessary. They uphold the standard set by the painting industry to better serve customers with a means by which to judge a professionally finished surface and define the different levels of preparation and finish that must be met by a professional painter. Even if you’re not dealing with a member of the PDCA, these are the Standards of the painting industry and a good contractor will at least let you know so he can look at your work fairly if it’s ever questioned.
7. Tea Where is the proof? Estimate. The painting quote reads as if the painter has taken the words out of his mouth and mind…and it should! But if you’re not backed by other customers with similar painting projects to verify that they can do what they claim, are you sure you’ll be done with it? There are many painters and painting contractors vying for your business. You owe it to yourself to make sure you’ve checked the references to weed out the pros from the cons.

Happy Painting!