Hiring a Professional Painter + Winners

By Kate Riley March 13, 2012

Hello everyone, today I’m over at My Colortopia sharing some insight on a topic many homeowners face. If you’ve got a big interior or exterior paint job on your hands that you don’t have the energy or capability to tackle all by yourself, then don’t miss these important steps for hiring a professional painter to do the job for you.

how to hire professional painter

The winners of the Antique Farmhouse Giveaway were announced here, and the winners of the Hand Printed Linens Giveaway were announced here

Enjoy your day!

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4 comments

  1. That’s good advice, Kate. I would add a couple more tips.

    If you can look at some finished the work a painter has done, you’ll be able to tell if his standards match yours. Are edges where he cut in clean and straight? Did he remove switchplate and outlet covers before painting (look closely and you’ll be able to tell)? Did he get any paint where it’s not supposed to be? Did he sand the walls first (run your hand over a wall and feel for little bumps and pimples)?

    Never pay a painter before work begins. Not even for paint. If he cannnot finance his own supplies, that’s a red flag. Too many people have paid painters and never seen them again.

    A professional painter will get a discount on paint, so let him buy the paint. Just specify the quality because every brand has different levels of quality.

    Don’t hire the guy with the brand new truck and all new equipment. He’s either too inexperienced or a poor money manager. Don’t hire the guy with a beat-up pickup truck and broken down equipment either. Look for the painter with well cared for equipment and professional vehicle.

    I am one of your Big Fans, and I am a professional housepainter. I wrote a post on how to get the best work from a housepainter here:

    http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/04/insider-tips-notes-from-blue-collar-gal.html.

  2. Great tips. I did everything you suggested about a year ago for a job that included wallpaper stripping, painting and refinishing floors. It was a big, big job. The contractor estimated 2 weeks. It was more like 7 weeks. I finally had to fire him BEFORE the job was complete because I couldn’t take it anymore. What action/recourse does the homeowner have if the job is taking longer than the time stated in the contract? I feel like homeowners are taken advantage of because they are so desperate to get the job finished that they put up with contractors who don’t show, take too long or are full of 100 excuses.

    It was such a bad experience for me (I cried for weeks from exhaustion) that now I’m hesitant to hire someone new for other work that needs to be done. Perhaps a list of “How to deal with a crappy contractor after they breech the contract” needs to be written? ha! Thanks so much. :)

  3. Great tips, Kate! I am a firm believer on checking references and seeing some of their work! Thanks for your recommendation on Mike of Christy’s Painting. We have some work coming up so I will keep his name. Congratulations to all of the winners!

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