What to Look out for When Choosing a House Painter

hether you’re looking to sell, or just freshen up your home, nothing transforms a space quite like a fresh coat of paint!

Anybody can pick up a paintbrush and paint a wall. But not everybody can do a professional job. Painting is a skill that is easy to mess up, it requires years of practice in order to get the right finish.

It isn’t as simple as you’d think. You need to make sure the surface is well-prepared and know how to handle and avoid any potential hazards. You also need to be well-versed in the world of paint, knowing which types are best for the job and will stand the test of time.

Hiring a professional painter takes the stress out of painting your home. Finding the right one is essential to ensuring excellent results.

Not all house painters are made equal. Some provide professional service with a smooth finish that stands the test of time. Others cut corners, resulting in a sloppy finish that needs touching up as soon as it’s finished

Remember that painting isn’t a frequent task. If the job is terrible, it’s going to look terrible for a long time. Choosing the wrong painter could cost you more in the long run in touchups. In some cases, you may need to start the whole project again from scratch! This is why it’s essential that you select the right one.

But how can you tell a good painter from a bad one?

After all, a painted house looks like a painted house, but the quality can vary drastically.

Here are four key things to look out for when choosing a house painter for your next project

Highest Value – Not Lowest Cost

As tempting as it may sound, don’t immediately hire the painter with the cheapest quote.

Like most other things, when it comes to painting, you get what you pay for. The lowest price may not necessarily be the best price. It simply isn’t possible to paint a house super fast or for dirt cheap without cutting corners.

Your home is one of your biggest investments, so why would you spend hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars on a house only to skimp on the paint job?

A good painter will provide you with a detailed quote, broken down into its components, so you can see where the differences are. A detailed quote will also ensure you and your painter are on the same page and you can avoid any unexpected costs that you haven’t budgeted for.

You should get at least three quotes and allow the more expensive ones to justify their high prices. They may have added services, provide a higher quality finish, or use a premium, long-lasting paint, saving you money in the long term with less frequent repaints. At the end of the day, the best price isn’t necessarily the lowest, the best price is the one that provides you with the most value.

References and reputation

Any painter can say they’re the best for the job. A good painter lets their craftsmanship speak for itself.

Before you choose a painter for your next project, you should consider their reputation and the experiences of previous customers to help you feel more secure and confident in your decision.

Taking a look at online reviews and testimonials is a good place to start and will help you weed out poor candidates.

As you get closer to your shortlist of painters, you should consider their reputation. Word of mouth is a tried-and-true method. Either choose a painter recommended by a trusted friend, or ask for references. A good painter will have to problem sharing references. Be wary of painters who don’t have many references or are reluctant to give them to you.

Before calling the referees, you should plan your questions, some key ones that you should ask are:

• Are you happy with the results?
• Are you happy with the customer service?
• Was the job completed on time?
• Did the cost match the estimate?
• Would you hire the painter again?

Credentials and Training

Before you hire a painter, make sure they have their qualified trade certificate (BCITO) or any other international qualifications and that they’re qualified and registered with Master Painters NZ so you can be confident that you’re hiring a credible painter who keeps up with industry standards.

The Master Painters NZ Association also provides an optional Five Year Workmanship Guarantee if things aren’t quite up to scratch. The guarantee ensures that any workmanship defects discovered within five years of completion are remedied, giving you peace of mind that you’ll get the results you expect.

You can check if your painter is a registered Master Painters by searching their name on the Master Painters NZ website or if they are registered with Resene’s Eco Decorators here.

Experience

It isn’t easy for a bad painter to be in business for many years. As a general rule of thumb, the more experience a painter has, the more professional and trustworthy they likely are.

While it’s nice to give new painters a shot once in a while, it’s much safer to choose somebody with more experience – especially when it’s your house on the line!

Ask them how long they’ve been in business and how many projects they’ve done. An experienced painter who’s been in business for a while and has lots of projects under their belt will know the best way to tackle your project. They’ll know the best paints and tools available, and how to use them effectively to ensure a professional finish.

Likewise, painting is messy by nature, and many of the processes involved can be hazardous. By choosing an experienced painter you can have peace of mind knowing they know all the right procedures and precautions to avoid these hazards and minimise mess.

Ask to see past projects in person, that’s the best way to determine the quality of workmanship. Many painters will keep a portfolio of their work that they’re happy to share. Some painters, like Westend Painters, keep their portfolios on their website to make the process even easier.

The bottom line is that you shouldn’t choose a painter based on price estimates alone. There are plenty of factors you need to look out for when hiring a painter to ensure you get a professional service that stands the test of time.

Now that you know the ins and outs of choosing the perfect house painter for your next project, why not give Westend painters a call? We’ll provide you with a free consultation and competitive quote.