You’re thinking about hiring a painting contractor to paint your house. How will you know if the contractor who shows up at your door is truly qualified to paint your house? 

Ask these 9 questions before hiring and you will be more likely to receive a professional paint job.

1. Are you licensed with the State of Michigan? Reputable painting contractors will follow the law and are licensed by the state.  However, many painters are not licensed.
2. Do you have both recent and long term references? Contractors who have both of these will stand behind their work should any issues arise.
3. Are you lead safety certified? By federal law, any painter who works on a home where lead is present must be certified and trained. Hiring a lead safety certified painter protects your family and your property.
4. Do you use the best and most appropriate paint for the job? Ninety percent of the cost of a residential paint job is the labor. Using an inferior grade of paint will reduce a $1000 house painting job to about $900. “Penny wise and pound foolish.”
5. Do you carry workers compensation and liability insurance? If not, you as a homeowner will be liable for injuries to workers on your property.
6. Will you clean up after yourself? Will my house be filled with dust? Will my landscaping be protected? A painter can make your walls, your woodwork or the outside of your house look beautiful.  But, if he leaves a mess you’ll be stuck with the cleanup.
7. Will you stay in touch with me during the course of the project? Who do I call if I have questions? The construction trades are famous for people who do good work-you just don’t know when they are going to arrive to do the work. Pretty exasperating. A painting contractor with a full time office manager, painters who provide their cell phone numbers and an owner who is in touch with you daily will make your experience a pleasant one.
8. Will I receive a written proposal? Expect a detailed, written proposal in order to have a clear understanding of what you’re paying for.
9. Have you been in business in Kalamazoo area for several years? If not, you are taking a chance should an issue arise in the future. Such as honoring a warranty.

Hiring a professional painter to paint your home is not a decision to take lightly. While anybody can slap paint onto your walls, it takes considerable expertise to get a truly high-quality, long-lasting finish. At Van Tuinen Painting the answer to every question listed above is YES.