When selecting a good Vancouver home painter, the first thing you need to do is: ensure the contractor is well established.
I’ve recently put together a FREE REPORT called Contractor Secrets Revealed that outlines what a person should be looking for in a good contractor. It gives numerous tips and tricks designed to increase your awareness, confidence, and save you money. I’ll be covering some of these tips over the next few blog posts, but if you would like the entire report as a valuable reference, please click on the link.
The first step in selecting a good contractor for home painting or home improvement is to ensure he is well established. How do you do that? First, check to see if he has a permanent place of business. Let your fingers do the walking. If a contractor has an established business he’ll have his company listed in the big yellow book. He may have an advertisement with a logo, or at the very least he’ll have a number and address listed. Either way, if you find the business listed, you’re off to a good start.
Another place to look is online. Check 411.ca or Canpages.ca. If you only have a number to work with, and no address, Canada411.ca offers a reverse lookup, so you just enter the telephone number and the site will search for the name and address related to it. Of course, nowadays many contractors avoid the Yellow Pages, as it is costly and does not provide good results. So if you don’t find them in there, take it with a grain of salt.
An excellent way to gather information on a prospective Vancouver house painting contractor is to use Google. Search the company name and the person related to the company. Ask yourself ”is what I am seeing congruent with what the painter has been saying?” You should get a pretty good feel for how congruent the company is with their online presence.
I can’t stress how important it is to ensure the business has a permanent address. If you have any kind of problem and have only been given a cell number with no address connected to it, how will you find the contractor? If the contractor has collected a deposit, then evaporates into thin air, you’ll have a tough time tracking him down! Knowing the business is permanently established will give you the first shot of confidence needed to promote your interest in this contractor.
Once you’ve learned the address, my next tip is to drive by and have a good look - if it looks like the business has been established for a long time and you see the equipment and manpower to do your project in a professional and timely manner, then you know things are shaping up. Better yet, pay the contractor a visit. A professional will be more than happy to give you a tour of the facilities (and I don’t mean the washroom!). Even if the contractor works out of his home, check to get an idea of how it’s maintained. Is the grass mowed? Is the yard tidy? Don’t feel like you’re being a snoopy, Nosey Parker - this is justifiable research! More often than not, his attitude towards the maintenance of his home will cascade into his attitude toward his work.
The same principal can be applied to the vehicle the contractor drives. Permanent signage indicates a solid, full-time business. But keep looking. If the vehicle is clean, well-maintained and organized, it’s the kind of vehicle you’d expect a successful, financially stable contractor to drive. If it’s dripping oil, has bald tires and a cluttered dashboard, you’ll be getting a different message. This may not be the person you want to paint your home. The care and attention a contractor puts into their work is reflected in their vehicle, place of business, and even in their own appearance.
Now I know that we’re taught not to judge a book by its cover, but in this case you can gain several clues about the contractor. A sloppy vehicle or appearance can mean a lack of pride of ownership or a relaxed attitude toward their work. If the contractor’s boots look like they took part in Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow…you’ve got a red flag! It may seem petty, but really, if they don’t take care of their shoes, how will they take care of your possessions?
A permanent address and a well-maintained appearance for the business - two very important tips to get you started in your search for a contractor to paint your home. Stay tuned for my next blog post in which I cover even more helpful tips!
Interior and exterior painting projects take time and cost money. If you’re tacking the project yourself as a DIY job, or utilizing the services of a professional, it’s important to hire the right painter for your individual project needs. The vast majority of Vancouver painters are well skilled and qualified to help make your home painting projects a reality. An experienced painting contractor is generally skilled in a number of areas and if they’re not, they should be well connected and be able to sub-contract the job to the most qualified painting specialist. However, it is important that you hire the right contractor for you unique needs.
There are a number of helpful online resources available to assist you in narrowing down your search. Internet trade directories like myTradesDirect.com can be a great tool to help you navigate through the many listings for Painters in Vancouver. There is also an ‘article and video’ section filled with practical and useful information you can use to help you gather information to be able to ask the right questions and find the right professional painter.
While compiling your ‘short list’ of prospects it’s generally recommended that all of the painters on your list be licensed. A license doesn’t necessarily guarantee quality workmanship so it’s important that you the consumer utilize good judgment. We suggest talking with friends, family or colleagues, ask around and find out if anyone you know has used a great painting contractor recently.
Locating a painter through the traditional word of mouth referral system is still quite popular and can be a very reliable method for hiring one but it’s always a good idea to spend some time doing research. Check the history of any business you may be considering hiring and ask for references and referrals. If you have time go one step beyond simply calling and go check the work firsthand. Talking with former customers is a great way to find out about the quality of their work, how professional they were and if the project was on time and on budget. By asking a few simple questions you should be able to get a idea regarding the contractors customer service and quality of work.
Try to get quotes from multiple Vancouver painters. Use due diligence and compare the quotes thoroughly. Pay attention to the specifics and if there is small print be sure to read it. Remember that going with the lowest quote isn’t always the best choice. Saving a few dollars on the bid could mean that the painter may be cutting a few corners and this could have an impact on the quality of the finished project.
Most painters in Vancouver are well qualified and reputable but myTradesDirect.com suggests that you spend some time doing your homework and research the history of any painter you’re contemplating hiring.
Finding the perfect contractor for your home painting project doesn’t need to be an exhausting task but be sure to find a top rated and highly referred painting contractor to avoid any problems with quality and craftsmanship.
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