Tips for Hiring a Painter

If you're thinking of redecorating your house, chances are that one of your biggest constraints is time.  Redoing your home takes a great deal of commitment, and in many cases, that can be prohibitive. One way to solve that problem is to hire a professional painter.  Painting can be one of the most time-consuming parts of redecorating, after all.  Using a professional means that you can focus on the rest of the project, confident in the knowledge that the walls are taken care of.  Plus, they'll look great!  Still, it can be an intimidating process.  Here are some top tips for hiring a painter to make your project run more smoothly.

Do Your Research

You're bound to feel a lot less stressed about inviting someone into your home to work if you already know they're reliable.  For this reason, you should spend a good amount of time choosing the right contractor.  A good way to find somebody is word of mouth, so you should be sure to check for recommendations among your family and friends.  In the absence of a good recommendation, though, you can always look to online reviews.

Allow Enough Time

A professional painter will always be able to complete a job more quickly than an average homeowner, but you should still make sure you're not expecting too much from your contractor.  Though it can be tempting to ask for the job to be done as fast as possible, especially on an hourly wage, it's important to remember that this kind of work does take time—especially if you need several coats.  Allow enough time in your project to make sure this isn't a problem for you or your painter.

Prepare in Advance

One of the key frustrations for contractors is to arrive at a place of work to discover that nothing is ready.  This eats up valuable time that they could be spending painting for you!  As such, be sure to move all furniture out of the way and cover up any surfaces such as your carpet.  Your contractor will likely be grateful for it, and they'll be able to get started on your walls just that little bit faster.

Though hiring a professional painter will take a little more time, effort and money than simply doing it yourself, there are some clear benefits from doing so.  With luck, you'll be able to completely refresh the look of your home—almost without lifting a finger.


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