Find the right Painter or Decorator
in Auckland

Using a professional painter and decorator to repair or refurbish exterior walls or revamp an interior space can add value to your home but choosing a tradesman to trust with your home can be daunting. Often you will get a feel for the painting contractor from speaking to them and warm to one more than the others, but there are a few basic things that you should check out before deciding who to hire. Here are three important areas you should cover if you are planning a painting project at your property.

Quotes

Getting more than one quote can often save you money in the long run, so it is good practice to get at least three quotes if you can before choosing your painter.

A good painting company will offer a free quote either from the information you have provided or by making a visit to your home to assess the project. Try to give as much information as possible to the painter about the what the job entails and what you would like to see in the finished product. Quotes should be provided in writing and agreed before the project begins.

No two quotes will be exactly the same, but make sure you are comparing like for like. Things to check include:

• What the quote actually includes. Is the tradesman expecting you to provide materials or do your own preparation work or is everything included in the price? If the job is for an exterior wall does the quote include the cost of scaffolding? Asking these types of questions in advance will save you dealing with unforeseen costs when it comes to paying at the end of the job.
• The quality of the materials being used. For example, is the brand of paint one you’ve heard of and know is high quality?
• Whether the quote is a fixed price, an estimate, or based on an hourly rate. Fixed price quotes give you a better idea of what you will pay, whereas estimates and hourly quotes could vary depending on how long the job actually takes.

References

Most good painters and decorators will be able to supply references from previous clients and will have a photo gallery of jobs. You may even be able to speak to a former client or visit the site of a previous job to see the work for yourself. Professional decorators may also be members of a trade association or have a qualification to back up their work.

The fine print

As well as checking references you should go over a few details with your painter before agreeing to a contract. Check there is insurance in place and that the contractor has the required certificates and health and safety training, especially if the job involves scaffolding or working on high levels. You should also agree whether you are paying a deposit up front and if so how much and how you will provide the painting team with access to the property during the work.