How to hire a painter you'll be glad you chose
Choosing a painter is mostly about asking the right questions before anyone opens a can. Here's what to ask, what to look for in a quote, and how to get ready.
8 posts on hiring a painter
Hiring a painterPaint it yourself or hire it out: an honest comparison
Some painting is a good weekend project and some isn't. Here's an honest look at the savings, the time, the risks and how to decide.
Hiring a painterComparing painting quotes so you're judging the same job
Quotes that look far apart often aren't covering the same job. Here's how to line up scope, prep, paint and coats so the price means something.
Hiring a painterHiring a painter: the steps from first call to final walkthrough
Decide what you want painted, get written quotes that cover the same work, and ask a few pointed questions. Here are the steps in order.
Hiring a painterGetting your home ready for the painters: what to move and what to leave
Clear the small stuff, leave the big furniture for the painters, and plan for kids, pets and fresh air. Here's the checklist, in order.
Hiring a painterThe questions that tell you whether a painter is worth hiring
A checklist of what to ask a painter, why each question matters, and what a good answer sounds like. It works for any painter, including us.
Hiring a painterWarning signs to watch for before you hire a painter
Pressure to sign today, a price with no scope, a quote far below the rest: the warning signs worth slowing down for, and what to do about each.
Hiring a painterWhat belongs on a painting estimate, line by line
A good painting estimate is in writing and covers scope, prep, paint, price and dates. Here's each line, and why it protects you.
Hiring a painterWhy painter insurance matters to you, the homeowner
Painting is low risk until it isn't. Here's what a painter's insurance covers, how to ask for proof, and what a certificate does and doesn't tell you.
Quick answers
Is it cheaper to paint a room yourself?
Usually, yes, because you're not paying for labor. But supplies, primer, the paint and your own time all count, and a redo can eat the savings. Get a written quote for the same room and compare it with your own list. More in paint it yourself or hire it out: an honest comparison
Why are painting quotes so different from each other?
Usually because they cover different jobs. Scope, prep, paint and coats vary from quote to quote, and so does what's included in the price. Line the quotes up item by item and most of the gap explains itself. More in comparing painting quotes so you're judging the same job
How many quotes should I get before hiring a painter?
Two or three is plenty. The point isn't the count, it's that each painter is bidding on the same list of work. DATCP's advice is to get more than one estimate and make sure each one is for exactly the same job. More in hiring a painter: the steps from first call to final walkthrough
Do I need to move my furniture before painters arrive?
Usually not all of it. Small items and breakables should come out, and large furniture can stay to be covered or moved by the painters. Ask what to expect when you get the quote, since every painter works a little differently. More in getting your home ready for the painters: what to move and what to leave
What are the most important questions to ask a painter?
Who will do the work, what the price includes, what prep happens before painting, which paint and how many coats, what the insurance covers, and what happens if something isn't right afterward. If you only have time for three, ask about prep, insurance and the start date. More in the questions that tell you whether a painter is worth hiring
What are the biggest red flags when hiring a painter?
Pressure to decide today, a price with no written scope, a quote far below the others, vague answers about insurance and a request for payment or sign-off before you've seen the work. One is a reason to slow down. Several together are a reason to walk away. More in warning signs to watch for before you hire a painter
What should be on a painting estimate?
The business and customer details, the rooms and surfaces being painted, the prep, the paint and number of coats, the total price, the start and finish dates, and when payments are due. Anything you've agreed to verbally should be on paper too. More in what belongs on a painting estimate, line by line
Does a painter need insurance to work in my home?
A painter you hire should have it. What a particular painter is required to carry depends on the business, so the safer approach is to ask for proof rather than assume. A certificate of insurance before work starts takes the guessing out of it. More in why painter insurance matters to you, the homeowner
Hiring a painter: what to know
Hiring a painter comes down to a handful of decisions, and most of them get made before anyone opens a can. Who you call, what you ask, what's in the quote and what you check afterward matter more than the brand on the paint. This page is a map of our hiring guides, in the order you're likely to need them.
Start by deciding how you want the work done. A bedroom with good walls and a free weekend is a fair DIY project, and our honest comparison of DIY painting vs hiring a pro says where doing it yourself wins. High ceilings, dark-to-light color changes, heavy prep and tight deadlines are where a professional earns the cost. If you decide to hire, how to hire a painter walks the whole process, from defining the job to the final walkthrough.
Get two or three written quotes, and make sure every painter is bidding on the same work. That's the first rule Wisconsin's consumer protection agency gives for hiring any home improvement contractor. Then use our list of questions to ask a painter to hear how each one works: who does the job, what prep comes first, which paint and how many coats, and what happens if something isn't right afterward. Specific, plain answers beat confident ones.
A quote is only useful if you can read it. What a painting estimate should include lists every line worth asking for: scope, prep, products, total price, dates and payment terms. When you have several in hand, how to compare painting quotes shows how to line them up item by item, so a gap in price becomes a gap you can name. Be leery of a quote that's far below the rest, and ask what it leaves out.
Insurance is the part people skip and the part you'll wish you'd checked. Why painter insurance matters explains the coverage to ask about and how to request a certificate of insurance. It protects your home if something goes wrong, but it says nothing about the quality of the paint job, which is why it sits next to a written scope rather than in place of one. The warning signs are in red flags when hiring a painter: pressure to decide today, no written scope, and a request for final payment before you've seen the work.
Once you've chosen, how to prepare for painters covers what to move, what the painters cover, and how to plan around kids, pets and fumes. At GK, floors and furniture are covered before any paint comes out, so your job is mostly making space. When the work is done, walk it in daylight before you make the final payment.
If you're considering us, it starts with a phone call about what you want done. George visits if he needs to see the space, then you get a written quote with a start date. The written quote is the price, no extra charge if the job takes longer than expected. We're fully insured, and we walk the finished work with you before we call it done. You can see how our interior painting works, or ask for a free estimate.
Find out what your project would cost
Send a few details. George will call to talk it through, visit if he needs to see the space, and send a free written quote.
Fully insured. George on every job. Thumbtack Top Pro 2023 to 2025.