When it comes to interior and exterior home painting, people frequently make mistakes that compromise the quality of their work. Do-it-yourselfers are prone to making the following errors:

• Inattention to surface prep.
• Choosing the wrong type of paint.
• Using poor-quality brushes and rollers.
• Faulty paint application techniques.
• Painting in unsuitable climate conditions.

The likelihood of making mistakes in house painting is so great that many folks in Southwest Florida turn to the expertise of a painting contractor. However, you should also know that it’s easy to make mistakes when hiring a professional painter. With over 30 years of residential painting experience in the Naples/Fort Myers area, the professionals at FCI Painters can help you avoid such missteps. Read on to help avoid making any of these nine mistakes when hiring a painting contractor:

1. Hiring an Inexperienced Contractor

Anyone can call themselves a professional residential house painter, and individuals and companies with limited experience can offer painting services. However, a professional identifying as a painting contractor should have a Florida contractor license issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Hiring a licensed painting contractor provides peace of mind, as the contractor must have at least four years of experience, be financially stable, and have passed a competency exam.

2. Failing to Research Ratings and Reviews

Given that you’re probably using the Internet to find a skilled painting contractor, you should always check ratings and reviews during your initial search. Google, Yelp, and other online services provide ratings and insightful customer reviews. You can also check to see if they’ve been rated by the Better Business Bureau, and be wary of any companies rated below B.

3. Not Double-Checking References

You should always ask a prospective residential painting contractor for references and follow up on this request by contacting the references for their input on the contractor’s quality of work, professionalism, timeliness, adherence to budget, and job-site cleanup. A critical question to ask a reference is, “Would you hire this contractor again?” If not, then you certainly don’t want to hire them.

4. Choosing a Contractor Based on Price Alone

Everyone wants to save money, but when it comes to residential painting, you often get what you pay for. Not that you should hire the most expensive contractor, but those who offer low-ball quotes are more likely to use inferior paint products, unskilled labor, and take time-saving shortcuts that may compromise the quality of work.

5. Not Making Sure the Painting Company is Insured

When hiring a painting contractor, you should always confirm that they carry business liability and workman’s compensation insurance. A contractor who lacks insurance can make you liable for any damages to your property they might cause, as well as the medical bills of any painting crew injured on the job.

6. Hiring without a Written Contract

You should always insist that your residential painting job is covered by a written contract between you and the contractor. At a minimum, the contract should include the following information:

• Client and contractor names and contact information.
• Location of the project.
• Detailed scope of work.
• Firm budget for labor and materials.
• Estimated work schedule and completion date.
• Types of paint to be used, including brand names, colors, and finishes.

7. Paying Before Job Completion

If a painting contractor asks for the entire payment or an unreasonable downpayment before starting work, find another one. Experienced painting contractors are typically financially stable and don’t need large upfront payments to conduct the work. Paying upon job completion better ensures the quality of work.

8. Failing to Include Clean-Up in the Scope of Work

Job-site cleanup, including disposal of used supplies and potentially hazardous painting materials, should be confirmed as part of the detailed scope of work.

9. Ignoring the Importance of Communications

When assessing prospective residential painting contractors, pay attention to how they communicate. If they don’t promptly return calls or show up for meetings or can’t effectively detail how they will perform your requested paint job, find another contractor. If they can’t communicate well before being hired, their communication will inevitably be lacking during the job.

For a Top-Notch Residential Paint Job, Go with Naples-Based FCI Painting

Finding a top-notch painting contractor to paint the interior or exterior of your Southwest Florida area home can be a challenge, but following the above tips can ensure that you’ll hire a competent one. FCI painting has helped thousands of homeowners choose their interior paint colors in Naples. With over 30 years of delivering outstanding residential painting services to Naples-area homeowners, contact FCI Painting today at (239) 450-4261.