Contractor hiring can be intimidating if you don’t know what to look for.
Is this person the expert they claim to be? Do they do good work, or will I be stuck with shoddy results? Can I trust them to follow through with what they’re promising when they’re promising?
Whether your exterior needs a new coat of paint or you’re looking to give new life to old cabinets, this guide is for you if you don’t know how to hire a painter.
Inside this post, we’re looking at 12 must-have qualities you need to check to help you understand how to hire a painter near St. Charles or surrounding cities.
Table of Contents
- Licensed & Insured
- Plenty of Experience
- Sterling Reviews
- Referrals You Can Contact
- Portfolio of Completed Jobs
- Trained & Vetted Painters
- Employees, Not Subcontractors
- Quality Materials & Equipment
- The Best Paint
- Satisfaction Guarantee
- Free Estimates
- Written Contract
1. Licensed & Insured
First and foremost, you’ll need to be sure your interior house painters are licensed to do contracting work.
Licensing requirements vary from state to state. But in Missouri, in particular, home painters do need to be licensed.
You’ll also want to ensure the home painters are adequately insured, including general liability insurance and worker’s compensation.
2. Plenty of Experience
You’ll want to be sure your painting contractor has been in business for at least several years—decades if you can.
More than just trustworthiness, years of experience also give professional painters unique insight into what works and what doesn’t. For instance, an experienced painter will likely be able to help you pick the right colors that are trending.
3. Sterling Reviews
Be sure to check into online reviews before settling on house painters near St. Charles. Google, Facebook, and The Better Business Bureau are great places to look first.
You should pay attention to the bad reviews in particular. See if the painters have responded and tried to make the situation right, too.
4. Referrals You Can Contact
Online reviews are great for getting a feel for a painting company. But you can also take it one step further by asking if they have any referrals you can contact directly.
The best-case scenario is if someone you know has used the painters before. They’ll be in a better place to give you the most unbiased information.
5. Portfolio of Completed Jobs
A picture is worth a thousand words. And while glowing reviews can help you better understand what it’s like working with house painters near St. Charles, nothing compares to seeing the results.
Most pro painters will have a portfolio of completed jobs that prospective clients can look through. Some might be right on their website. Others might be physical pictures.
Either way, check out their portfolio before signing on to work with them.
6. Trained & Vetted Painters
To get all the benefits of hiring local house painters to paint your home, you’ll need to work with trained and vetted experts. Amateurs and novices produce amateur and novice work. And when it comes to painting your home, that will not do.
Find a professional painting company that puts in the time and effort to hire and train exceptional employees only.
7. Employees, Not Subcontractors
Piggybacking on that last point, you’ll want to work with painters in the company, not subcontractors, legally employed.
While there’s nothing wrong with subcontractors specifically, companies with employees are in a better position to control the quality of the work, the behavior of the painters, and the overall customer experience.
8. Quality Materials & Equipment
Skills and experience are one thing. But quality equipment is another entirely.
With the right equipment, painters can protect your home better, complete the job faster, and produce better, more eye-catching results.
If you find yourself working with painters using raggedy old brushes, beat-up vans, and torn and tattered drop cloths, it’s likely a red flag.
9. The Best Paint
Not all paints are created equal, unfortunately. And in home painting, cheaper paint tends to lead to the worst results.
We’ve found that the best balance between quality and cost-effective paints comes from Sherwin-Williams.
That’s why it’s the only paint we’ll use. And frankly, our customers consistently love the results!
10. Satisfaction Guarantee
A finished job might look great at first. But when low-quality paints or sloppy craftsmanship are involved, it can lead to chipping, fading, or peeling over time.
That’s why you should find a professional painter with a guarantee or warranty.
A guarantee indicates that the company believes in the quality of its results. And if you find a painter that doesn’t offer some assurance, it could mean they know their work won’t last.
11. Free Estimates
It’s true—painting can end up being a bit on the pricy side, depending on the job.
That’s why you should be sure to find a company that offers free estimates to give you a better idea of what to expect.
You’ll also want to ensure they’re coming to your home to get a true sense of the space. That way, you can avoid any unexpected costs down the line.
12. Written Contract
Last but not least, in summing up essential factors in how to hire a painter, be sure to get a written contract before work begins.
This contract should outline every aspect of the job, including:
- Scope of work
- Materials and paint used
- Costs of materials and labor
- What type of area preparation will be used
- Estimated timeline
- Cleanup clause (they should always clean up the area before the job is completed)
- Any fees or discounts and how the payment should be handled
- Signatures (both client and company)
A contract is legally binding. And just in case there are any discrepancies about the work, you can always refer back to the contract for clarification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions on how to hire a painter.
What to Know Before Hiring a Painter?
Not all professional painters are made equally. And if you’re wondering how to hire a painter you can trust, be sure to look for the following qualities to find the best.
- Licensed & Insured
- Plenty of Experience
- Sterling Reviews
- Referrals You Can Contact
- Portfolio of Completed Jobs
- Trained & Vetted Painters
- Employees, Not Subcontractors
- Quality Materials & Equipment
- The Best Paint
- Satisfaction Guarantee
- Free Estimates
- Written Contract
What Should I Expect From a Professional Painter?
You’re working with a professional painter to achieve the best results possible. As such, you should ensure your professional painter goes through the following steps before calling the job done.
- Planning: No successful job is complete without proper planning. A true professional will engage in plenty of planning before starting, from collaborating on dates and methods to deciding on the right color for your home.
- Prepping: Preparation is critical for a job well done. This stage involves preparing the area around the project by covering it with protective materials like tape and a tarp.
- Repairing: Painting over damaged surfaces can lead to severe issues with quality and appearance when the work is over. That’s why a professional painter can assist with repairs before starting.
- Painting: With the previous steps completed, the actual priming and painting of your home’s interior or exterior can begin. It’s important to remember that a professional will have the techniques, experience, and expertise to ensure the result looks its best.
- Approving: The owner needs to assess the final quality of the project and sign off on the successful completion before the project is deemed complete.
- Cleaning: The work isn’t over yet! A professional painting company will always be responsible for cleanup, so it looks as though they were never there in the first place.
What Questions Should You Ask a House Painter?
Your best bet is to follow the points in this guide. But beyond that, you’ll likely want to at least ask the following questions before settling on a house painter.
- Do you provide a satisfaction guarantee?
- Do you hire subcontractors?
- How do you hire and train your employees?
- How long have you been in business?
- Are you properly licensed and insured?
- What type of paints and equipment do you use?
- Where can I see reviews of your past work?
- Are your estimates free?
- Do you provide a written contract where the scope of work and timeline is laid out?
- Do you have any referrals I can contact?
Where Can I Find Professional House Painters Near St. Charles?
Hiring house painters can seem like a minefield at first. Which ones can I trust? Which ones offer the services I’m looking for? And (most importantly) which ones are going to do the job.
But following the guide above to ensure your painters have all the 12 above, you can rest easy knowing you’re working with the best.
And if you’re looking for house painters near St. Charles, that’s where HBP Painting Contractors comes in.
With over three decades in the industry, our professional house painters have the experience, expertise, and professionalism to make your home painting project 100% stress-free.
As a family-owned painting contractor in St. Louis, we use only the highest quality products, follow a proven 6-step process, and consistently earn 5-star reviews over 30+ years in the industry.
So, if you’re looking for a reliable, skilled painting company near St. Louis to do your painting project right, Grab a painting deal, then get in touch for your free consultation and estimate today.
