The exterior of your home needs a fresh coat of paint. Initially you were going to do it yourself but realize that you don\'t have the proper supplies, energy or patience. So, you flip open the phone book to the local painting contractors section only to discover there are pages of painters all promising quality work, competitive prices and the best overall service. The next decision you make could be a fantastic local painting contractors experience or a costly disaster. How do you determine which contractor is the right choice for your job? How do you know they are not a fly-by-night company who has simply paid for an ad in the phone book just to catch your eye and ultimately your pocket book? Hiring Local Painting Contractors is a critical decision. Your home\'s equity is at stake. Here\'s what you need to know before hiring a local painting contractor. Before hitting that phone book, ask trusted friends or neighbors for referrals. Experience always speaks louder than an ad in a phone book. If you have opportunity, be sure to take a look at the finished project your referral source is happy with. Without a referral - the only way to be sure you are finding the best local painting contractors is to follow a simple interview process. Comparing three different local painting contractors is a safe number. A reputable contractor will have no problem providing: Local referrals, with names and phone numbers, validating the quality of their previous work, their current licensing and bonding status and verification of some sort of certificate of insurance.

Once you have found the three Local Painting Contractors that seem to be of the quality you are looking for it\'s time to initiate competitive bidding. Once again, you will sift out the right local painting contractor for the job if they respond in the following ways: An Excellent Local Painting Contractor will come to your site BEFORE making any kind of proposal. Their Pricing Should Include: -The cost of paint removal (if needed), -Specific surface areas to paint -How many coats applied -Brand of paint and color selection The Job Should Provide: -Project start date -Project finish date -Clean up details -Drip protection for you and your neighbors What You Should Find Out: -Painting method - spray or brush -Are chemicals involved in clean up or removal -If lead paint is found, what are the steps taken for safe removal -How much money is needed to get the job started (25% to 30% is the standard) What Needs To Be In Writing: -All of the above - PLUS anything you can think of to put your mind at ease! There is no doubt that sooner or later every home will need the services of local painting contractors. There are many consumer protection services available on the internet to provide further information on the local painting contractors you are considering. For example, the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org) has been a trusted resource for many years. PDCA.com and angieslist.com are also solid quality control sites.