Whether you are hiring painters in Kansas City to paint your house’s exterior, repaint your living room walls or decorate the inside of your new office space, you want to make sure that you hire the right contractor for the job. Kansas City has plenty of painters to choose from, but not all will be able to do an effective and efficient job for you. To ensure that you only hire high-quality painters in Kansas City, ask yourself these 12 questions before you sign on the dotted line with any company or individual.
This information is presented by our team at The Kansas City House Painters. We hope you enjoy our article!
Do they offer a free consultation?
First and foremost, you need to know if they’re willing to meet with you at no cost. Most reputable companies will offer free consultations (including taking measurements and reviewing your house’s features) before providing you with an estimate for your painting project. If a company is unwilling or unable to provide a consultation, that should raise a red flag for you.
Will they provide references from past clients?
A good painting company should be able to provide references from previous clients. This is a good way to ensure you’re working with an established, reliable firm. It also gives you a chance to speak with some of their past clients, who can fill you in on their experiences.
How long have they been in business?
If you’re going to hire someone, it helps if they’ve been around for a while. The longer a company has been around, generally speaking, means they’ll have built up a trustworthy reputation and probably have developed positive relationships with other businesses and vendors. Avoid hiring a painting company that isn’t established or hasn’t existed very long.
Are they insured and licensed?
If they’re not, run away. It’s always better to work with people who are fully insured and licensed by a state. Professional painters should be able to provide you with proof of insurance, liability and workers comp. If they can’t, it could be a red flag that things aren’t quite as professional as you might want them to be.
Can you reach them when needed?
If there’s an issue with your house or business, how quickly can you get a hold of your contractor? Prompt communication is a crucial part of customer service—it lets you know that everything is on track, and it helps you understand what will happen next. If you don’t feel like you can get ahold of your contractor easily enough, then it may be time to look for someone else who values promptness more.
What type of products will be used?
The paint company you choose should tell you exactly what products they’re going to use and make recommendations on what kind of surface they will best suit. The last thing you want is to have your house painted with a product that won’t do well on your siding, windows, brick or trim. Your painting contractor should be able to walk you through all of their products so that you can decide what combination of tools and surfaces will work best for your project.
Do they guarantee their work?
Most painters are honest business people, but like any other service provider, some aren’t. By asking for a guarantee of their work, you can ensure that you will get what you pay for and not be left with shoddy work on your walls and ceilings when they’re done.
What colors do you recommend for my home?
It’s a bad idea to decide on colors based on whether or not you like them. Colors make a statement about your taste, of course, but also about what kind of mood you want to set for your guests. If you’re looking at hiring an interior decorator, it’s a good idea to ask them what kind of mood they are trying achieve with color palettes and which colors would be best for that.
How soon can you start?
When hiring a painter or contracting company, be sure you understand when they will begin work. Do they have a timeline they follow? Are they able to complete projects within a specific time frame? How soon can you expect them on site and how long do they plan on working each day? Don’t forget to ask about clean-up and if there is any specific equipment that must be used for your project. It may cost more, but it can save you time, headaches and money down the road.
How long will this take?
If you have a project that can be completed in less than two days, it might be worth doing yourself. However, if your job is bigger or more complex, you’ll want a professional—and it will pay off if you ask how long it will take for them to complete their work. What’s involved? Keep asking questions until you have a clear picture of what they do and don’t include.
What’s your cleanup process like?
The last thing you want done to your freshly painted room is be left with a mess to clean up. Ask what their cleanup process will look like and how they plan on disposing of any paint-soaked rags or brushes. If they don’t seem prepared for cleanup, move on to another company.
How much will it cost?
The cost of an interior painting project ranges between $949 and $2,923. This should give you an idea of what’s fair, but obviously will vary from project to project. If a painter is asking for more than that, there may be hidden costs. Make sure that all costs are discussed before work begins so there are no surprises when it comes time to pay. If you can’t reach agreement on price, don’t hire them. Keep shopping around until you find someone who provides quality service at a fair price.