Learning about commercial painting companies near me is essential because it will help you decide whether any of these companies is worth hiring. Sure, this will take a lot of work, but you probably would not mind doing all the research – after all, it’s your business that’s at stake here. You know that you don’t want to jeopardize your business by hiring a commercial painting company that doesn’t meet all your requirements and specifications.
The following are the essential points that you need to know when learning about commercial painters. They will help you avoid the frustrations of hiring a contractor who turns out to be unfit or incompetent for the job.
Experience and expertise
Customers immediately consider experience and expertise when looking for a commercial painter. Naturally, they would usually ask, “Does this painter have any experience?” or “How many years has he been in the business?”
Usually, an experienced painter is expected to handle the demands and the challenges that come with commercial painting, especially in the case of enormous projects.
There are companies that offer both residential and commercial painting, while others offer only residential painting or only commercial painting. Choosing the right painting company may be based on your preference or the nature of your business. For instance, if you own and manage an apartment complex, you might as well hire a painting company who has an experience and expertise in both residential and commercial painting (since apartments are both commercial and residential buildings).
Licensing
Not all states in the country require their own commercial painters to be licensed and/or insured. But in California, all businesses, including commercial painting companies, should have licenses to operate legally.
There are lots of benefits you can get when you hire a licensed contractor. A licensed contractor is most likely to be bonded and insured as well. When a licensed contractor is also bonded and insured, this will give you protection from financial (and even perhaps legal) liability in case there is an unlikely event where your project goes terribly wrong.
For instance, a worker falls and gets injured while painting your establishment. If his contractor has a license and worker’s compensation insurance, that contractor will cover all the worker’s medical expenses. Imagine if his contractor is not licensed and insured, they could demand that you pay his hospital expenses. Worse, they can also sue you.
If the painting contractor claims that he is licensed and insured, ask him to provide a proof of licensing and insurance to verify that they’re valid.
Communication and professional behavior
Do the contractor and workers arrive on time at the site? Do the workers bring complete materials needed for their job? Do they communicate with their clients and their colleagues well? Well-established and reputable companies pride themselves in employing workers who match their working experience in commercial painting with their excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Customer reviews
Feedback is important because it will give you a good idea of whether a commercial painter you are considering gives excellent (or otherwise terrible) customer service. Look only for legitimate customer reviews and testimonials. If a painting contractor receives mostly negative reviews, avoid that contractor.
Estimates, contracts, and warranties
Well-established and reputable contractors provide documents before, during, and after the project.
Estimate
Ask the contractor for a written estimate only after they are done assessing the job and inspecting your establishment. So, what to expect from an estimate?
An estimate typically includes the contractor’s contact and business details; the scope of the project; specifications about paints, primers, and other related products; start date and completion date of the project; the total cost (which usually includes taxes); and other details like terms and conditions, as well as payment terms.
The bidding contractors should give an accurate, correct, and fair estimate. If they offer you an estimate that’s way too high compared to the industry average, ask them whether they include additional repairs, special coatings, etc., in addition to the painting job. If they offer you an estimate that’s too low, you have the right feel suspicious because it means that the bidder only intends to make quick money.
Contract
A written contract is important because it will protect you from possible fraud and prevent misunderstandings in the future. Make sure that you read every detail of the contract – duration of the job, cost, paints and supplies, methods, and many others – before inking it. If you find things in the contract that you feel they need to clear up for you, do not hesitate to discuss it with your contractor.