Changing colours inside your home sounds simple, doesn’t it? It’s not quite as easy as changing your entire wardrobe, but it can make you feel as good. It can’t really be that complicated, can it? In fact, why bother trying to find out how to hire an interior house painter?
Turns out, it’s not as simple as it seems, especially if you want to find the perfect person for your home. Neither does it have to be complicated, though, if you follow some easy steps and be personally involved.
Always be Informed
I learned, not exactly the hard way, but quite specifically, that it’s really important to be informed at every stage of finding the right interior house painter.
At the time, it seemed to me it was such a simple thing to do: repaint the interior of our holiday home after a leaky geyser caused some damage. You know how it goes: If you paint one wall, you may as well do it all. Organizing a contractor to look at the damage and give an estimate seemed to be the easy part. Then came the quotes.
I had no idea if the prices for paint that had been quoted were reasonable, nor did I know if the contractor really was the best person for the job. My experience made me realize that it is really important to take great care when you look for someone to trust to paint the interior of your house. Be personally involved as much as possible, make sure you use someone who knows what is going on in the area and be informed. Always be informed.
There’s no need to be daunted by the idea of finding the correct person to paint the interior of your home, but you do need to make sure you go about finding them carefully.
Before Hiring an Interior House Painter, Make Sure You Know What You Want
Before you even begin the process of looking for a painter, ask yourself what it is they will be doing? Will they paint the entire interior of the house or only a few rooms? Are you looking for a ‘sprucing up’, or a whole new look?
Think about what colors you want to use where, and if there are any ‘fancy’ or special touches you want to add. Even if you don’t know many specifics about the quality etc of paint, you can be clear about what overall look and feel you prefer. This may be gloss or matte, or a satin finish.
You may need to use very durable paint that can be washed easily and repeatedly if you have pets or kids. Or both.
It is understanding this sort of detail that will make the whole process of getting the best interior painter that much easier.
Become personally involved in choosing the person, right from the beginning
When you are looking for an interior house painter, you must remember this is not the interior of just any house, it is your home. You need to be happy with the results and know that you’re going to get just what you want.
When you begin your search, cast the net wide
When you start looking to hire an interior house painter, It’ll take just one quick search into house painters for you to realize that there are literally hundreds of options out there. Statistically, this means there just has to be someone out there to suit you and your vision. It’s finding them that may be the challenge.
Learning how to hire an interior house painter is about learning to begin big, then narrow it down. Find as many options for the painter as you like, then work on shortlisting the possible.
Consult with friends, family and neighbors
The best advertisement when looking to hire an interior painter is a good example of what can be done or the results of what has been done before. If you have any friends, family members, or neighbors who have had their houses painted in the last year or two, find out from them the details of the contractor and also their experience.
It’s no use simply asking your friends and family if they know of a painter, you need to make sure whoever you are pointed to does good work and produces great results.
Look locally
HIring local interior house painters is an absolute must. (If you’re in the Minneapolis area, consider us)
If you think about it, it makes sense that it’s best to work with someone who not only knows their job but also understands the ins and outs of painting homes in a particular area. Don’t get an outside person in, just because they may have a better price. Rather look more locally for a painter who knows the area and the local suppliers.
Do an internet search for interior house painters in your area
The first step of any journey of renovation, painting, or decorating should begin with a thorough internet search. Make sure you use specific keywords like ‘interior painter’ and ‘interior painter near me’ and see who pops up.
You can even broaden the search and use a more general keyword, such as ‘painter near me’, to really get a feel for what is available.
A search like this is likely to bring up a whole lot of responses or ideas, so you will need to do an initial weeding out before really getting into investigating and options further.
Some of your choices will be based on your gut instinct. You do need a bit more information than just that, though, to make a reasoned choice of painter.
Try to match up to any recommendations you’ve got from elsewhere (friends, family, local businesses) with any that have appealed to you from the internet. This will be a great help in beginning to shortlist possible painters.
One of the greatest things about social media and communication these days is that everyone can share ideas and opinions on just about anything. Look for reviews of the interior painters you have identified.
Shortlist three or four painters you would like to work with
Shortlisting a painter does not mean you will have to work with them. It does mean you’ve narrowed down your search and are getting closer to finding the correct person. To make sure you get an accurate quote from each painter, you should invite them to make a site visit and submit a quote or estimate.
Request feedback from past clients
Any business worth it’s salt will encourage you to choose its services, which usually involve featuring customer testimonies and feedback on its website.
When you have identified a few possible contractors, look for this feedback. You can also contact the businesses and ask for clients’ recommendations.
Look for reviews on the net
Another way to get reassurance about your possible choices is to look for reviews of the businesses on the internet.
Do the site visits in person
Don’t try to do this process from a distance, even if it’s from your office. Even if you have someone who could fill in for you, the only way to make sure that you find the best person to paint the interior of your home is to do it yourself.
Make formal appointments with the short-listed contractors and meet them at your home. Walk through the space and explain clearly what needs to be done, so you are satisfied that the picture is clear for both of you.
It is very important that you make sure you both understand every detail: what you expect and what the contractor can deliver. This will make sure that the quotes you receive will be accurate about the details.
Remember that any miscommunication can lead to misunderstandings and glitches in the process, or in the final look of your home.
Detailed quotes
Get a detailed quote/estimate from each of the short-listed contractors. Most people like to work with people they click with, which is quite a good approach to finding and trusting people to do work that needs to be done.
The price is a huge factor, though. The first prize will be if the person you click with matches the most cost-affordable price for the work. If not, then you may have to revisit what your gut is telling you. Or ask for the price to be revised.
A reputable painter will give you a detailed quote or estimate for the work agreed upon. Make sure that this gives all the relevant details.
Ask the painters to include references with their quotes
Even if a painter impresses you with their professionalism, and you click with them, and their price is competitive and cost-affordable, if they come with no form of reference, or demonstrably competent work, they may not be the person to choose.
It is best if you can get written, individual references for the painters, with supporting photographs.
Ask for a guarantee
You are going to spend quite a bit of money having the interior of your house painted, so you need to know that it will last for at least a number of years. One way of ensuring this is to get some kind of written guarantee from the painter.
Find out about paint options and prices
Do some of your own research into comparative prices of paint. This will put you in a stronger position to be able to evaluate the accuracy and fairness of the quote.
A professional painter will get better prices than you would get retail, but it is valuable to be informed about what is going to be done.
Make an informed final choice
After going through the quotes in detail, you will need to make your final choice. If you have taken the time and trouble to work carefully through the process of searching, reviewing, and shortlisting, this shouldn’t be a difficult decision to make.
Tie down the details with the interior painter of your choice
When you have identified the correct contractor to use, it’s important that both of you are on the same page, literally.
Put it on paper
To keep the details clear for both you and the contractor, make sure that all the details are written out and signed by both parties in agreement. The details must include all costs and the timeline.
This doesn’t necessarily have to be structured as a formal contract with the aid of a lawyer. It must be a very clear written agreement of what is to be done, by when, and for what charge.
Conclusion
Taking an active role and being informed at all stages of the process is the best way to understand how to hire an interior house painter. Take the process step by step and pin down all the relevant details along the way to find the match you are looking for. At Minneapolis Painting Company, you will find just the partner you need on the journey to repaint the interior of your home.
Click here to schedule your quote for Interior House Painting in Minneapolis / St. Paul