Finding and hiring the right painter is never easy. It’s difficult to balance skill, price and quality. No matter how many references consumers get, they often don’t understand the in’s and out’s of a quality paint job. Moreover, there’s the possibility that they get over promised but receive less than they expected.
Painting a house or rental property costs thousands of dollars and one should choose their vendor wisely. Here are some ways to get the best value for your money:
PAINT QUALITY
Painting contracts often specify that a particular brand of paint will be applied to the building. That’s fine, but did you know that paint manufacturers sell different grades of paint? Paint is generally sold in four general quality categories: Best quality, good, average, and cheap. You might assume your painter will use top-quality paint from Brand X, but in reality, your painter will probably choose the lowest quality to increase profits. There is a significant difference in performance and longevity between paints.
Even if the completed job looks fine and you’re satisfied with it, you might have received an inferior paint job that won’t last long, because cheap paint isn’t durable. To protect yourself, either purchase and supply the paint yourself—I highly recommend this—or inspect the receipts and materials beforehand to ensure you’re getting what you paid for. The specific line of paint should also be clearly stated in the contract.
CHANGE ORDERS AND EXTRA COSTS
Once you lock in your price, don’t assume it won’t change. Change orders, which are additions to the original scope of work, increase the job’s cost. Items like wood replacement, wrought iron railing repair, stucco repair, and additional caulking around windows often pop up and must be addressed. These unforeseen items can significantly raise the cost of a paint job. Some contractors perform the extra work and surprise you with the bill at the end.
The extra billing can be as shocking as it is unprofessional, yet the contractor may assume it’s obvious that you owe for the additional work. The issue is that you weren’t informed it would cost extra. Your best defense is to include in the contract that all extras must be agreed upon and authorized by you. Insist that change orders be discussed and approved before work begins.
SKIPPING HARD TO SEE ITEMS
Most property owners get several estimates and pick the lowest bid. When a paint job is finished, one assumes everything is ok. Keep this in mind; the quicker the contractor finishes a competitively bid project, the higher his profit. So, one has to wonder…did he cut any corners? Were the surfaces primed properly? Did he clean them before priming? Was peeling paint removed and chipped/split wood patched? The best way to prevent a painter from skipping parts of the job is by hiring a project manager to keep an eye on the work.
HIRE A PAINTING PROJECT MANAGER
An experienced project manager, with house painting experience, maximizes your repainting dollars. The project manager checks that your painter is licensed and insured, reviews the job scope, and ensures the building gets what it needs. Further, he makes sure the correct materials and proper coats of paint and primer are applied. The project manager can be on-site as much or as little as you want to fit different budgets. Additionally, he helps negotiate pricing and choose the most beautiful colors.
COLOR SELLS
The right color scheme can attract and retain residents and customers. Professionally coordinated color palettes and customized design schemes maximize your property’s curb appeal and value. Additionally, insure you get and view color samples on the building before allowing the painter to purchase and apply the paint.
ALL LOS ANGELES PAINTING PROJECT MANAGEMENT
All Los Angeles Painting Company, Inc. 310-470-9218 provides painting project management services and color consulting. With over 36 years of experience in residential and commercial painting spaces, we focus on important details to help you get the most out of your contracted painter. Consider us as a valuable resource for any size apartment building or commercial painting project. https://allabouthousepainting.com/interior-%26-exterior-paint
