Painter Chicago
The best way to find a good painter is through word of mouth. Ask friends, family and neighbors who have had some similar work done recently for personal recommendations - find out why they would and wouldn't recommend different painters. This will give you guidelines on important questions to ask your shortlist of painters. A good recommendation from a trusted source is worth its weight in gold.Hiring a professional painter to paint your home is not a decision to take lightly. While anybody can slap paint onto your walls, it takes considerable expertise and experience to get a truly high quality finish. It may take you some searching to find the right person for the job.Agree on payment terms and get it in writing.
While it is common for the customer to pay an initial deposit for materials and/or installments as the work progresses, never pay for the entire job in advance. Agree on a schedule of payments as key work is completed. The final payment should not be made until the entire job is complete and has been carefully inspected. Any extra work that arises once the project is underway must be specified, priced and agreed in writing before the work is undertaken and any costs are incurred.
Draw up a clear agreement and establish your ground rules on the project scope and payment schedule. It is essential to get everything in writing before the job starts, otherwise it may end up costing you far more than expected. Color is key. Choosing color is a critical part of the finish, so don't rush this part of the process. Many painters will help you select colors if you request this service, however, remember they are experts at painting not color consultants, so if you are looking for a complicated color scheme, it may be better to hire a color consultant for this part of the work.
If you are planning to have paint effects or textured coatings applied, ask your painter to prepare a sample panel. A myriad of paint and textured effects can be created depending on the style of application. If planning such an effect always agree on a sample panel before the contractor starts the work, otherwise the finished result may be vastly different from what was desired.
For a large job prepare a written specification of your requirements, outlining the scope of the work, the time frame and who will be responsible for cleaning up and disposing of paint debris. Where possible, follow the same process for smaller jobs - while it may seem unnecessary to write a specification for small jobs, it may save you arguments later.
Be specific and concise - clear specification will help prospective contractors prepare better quotes. The more information you give them, the more confidence they will have that they understand the requirements of the job, and the more likely they will be able to achieve the desired outcome. When you are planning a large project, ask three painters for written quotes. A quote is a fixed price that won't vary unless you agree to pay for extra costs that were unforeseen at the time of quoting.
