How to Choose the Right Painter for Your Home or Commercial Property

by Phi Dang - February 6, 2023

Paint jobs come in all sizes, complexities, and budgets. Some range from small-scale interior projects that involve one or two colours to large-scale exterior commercial jobs with many colours and textures.

Now, you may be thinking that all painters are the same. After all, they’re just wielding a brush and a roller, right?

Not quite.

Some exclusively focus on exterior projects, while others only provide interior services. And unfortunately, some companies just don’t live up to their promises. Essentially, you need to find a house painter who has the experience and skill to tackle your project!

If you’re on the hunt for someone who won’t cut corners and leave you with a mediocre paint job, Newline Painting is here to help. We’ll show the telltale signs of what makes a good painter and how to find the right person for your job.

Questions to Ask Your Painting Candidates (And What to Look for in Their Answers)

We know that people who hire professionals aren’t painting experts. However, knowing just a few painting basics can help distinguish a competent painter from a fly by nighter. Let’s go through a few common questions you should ask:

What type of paint will be used?

If your painter only recommends one brand or type of paint without knowing the full scope of the job, that’s a red flag. This is because different surfaces, locations and climates require different types of paint.

For example, exterior paints are UV-resistant, containing reflective properties that bounce away sun rays. This allows your property’s exterior to retain their colour for years without the paint peeling, blistering or cracking. In Australia’s extreme heat, this is an absolute must!

Your painter should lay out potential paint options and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each. Here’s Why You Should Consider Waterproof Paint for Interior Painting

How many paint coats are required?

If your painter flat-out says one coat of paint is enough, regardless of the job, it’s a good indication they’re trying to cut corners. Two coats are usually the industry standard for interior and exterior walls, with some jobs requiring a third.

Brands like Dulux, which specialise in high-quality paints, can sometimes get away with one coat. However, most paint brands require two coats for even, consistent coverage.

What do you do before applying your first coat of paint?

Without proper surface preparation, your paint won’t adhere to your walls. You’ll be left with a paint finish that will prematurely fade, crack or peel not long after.

As such, a professional painter should be able to explain:

What they generally look out for when inspecting the surface.
What they do to prepare the area (e.g. clean, sand, fill, prime).
What primer they’ll use and why. Some paints already contain primer, skipping this step altogether. Either way, it’s worthwhile to know what their approach is.

By asking a few basic questions, you can immediately discern a potential painter’s level of professionalism and know-how.

Evaluate their Interpersonal Skills During Your Meeting

Painting isn’t just about technical knowledge. A painter should communicate effectively and efficiently, ensuring they’re fully capable of following instructions.

During a meeting, pay close attention to how the painter interacts and ask yourself:

Is their attitude professional i.e. do they make inappropriate remarks?
Are they patient when answering my questions?
Do they explain their reasoning for their decisions, or do they expect you to accept their word as gospel?
Are they trying to upsell you on any unnecessary services?

While there isn’t an exact science to evaluating people skills, it helps to keep an eye on how they behave during the meeting. A good painter will be friendly, professional, open to suggestions, and will explain their processes.

Remember, it’s your home or commercial space and money that’s on the line, so don’t be afraid to probe a bit deeper if something doesn’t seem quite right! You’ll also want to make sure you have an idea about how much professional house painting services cost. Check out this price guide on How Much to Paint a House.

Other Ways to Vet a Painter

Your professional painter may know every trick in the book and pass your questions with flying colours. And while it shows their competence and skill, other factors still exist. Let’s go through some of them:

Ensure They Are Armed with the Right Equipment

Having the right painting equipment goes beyond owning a few brushes and plastic buckets. A professional painter should have a comprehensive set of tools, including ladders, scaffolding (if necessary), painters tape, sanding sponges and palm sanders, drop sheets and much more.

Home’s with harder to reach areas i.e. very high ceilings, can be painted more efficiently with an extender pole. Alternatively, if your time is of the essence, you may want a painter who’s competent in using a paint sprayer to get the job done faster.

Every painting job varies in terms of its complexity. Make sure your chosen painter comes armed with the right tools to get the job done properly and safely.

Confirm Your Painter has Insurance

Insurance protects both you and the painter if something goes wrong. For example, if your painter sustained an injury on the job, they’d be covered by their insurance. The same goes for any damage on your or your neighbour’s property.

At the very least, confirm they have general liability insurance. This is the bare minimum and every professional painter should have it.

Assess their Painting Portfolio

Any painter worth their salt will likely have a portfolio of past projects. It lets them display their absolute best work and gives you a taste of what’s to come.

If your painter doesn’t have a portfolio, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re terrible. But it may be a sign of the following:

Their body of work is small due to a lack of previous jobs
They aren’t proud of their previous projects
They haven’t taken the time to curate a portfolio

Regardless of which is true, it’s still not a good sign. It’s a bit like applying for a job without a CV or references. You can only be sure how reliable the painter is by seeing their past work.

Besides a portfolio demonstrating their work quality, it also shows the type of painting projects they typically work on.

For example, if your project involves painting your home’s exterior and you want a unique finish, you shouldn’t hire a painter who only paints interiors. Similarly, a painter who has only done smaller residential jobs isn’t ideal if you need to paint a large commercial building.

By assessing a painter’s portfolio, you can ensure they’re suited to the job.

Review their Reputation

Local painters thrive off their local community’s word of mouth. Since they work in the area, establishing an excellent reputation helps keep customers. Meanwhile, established painting companies that operate in multiple locations often rely on positive online reviews and ratings.

Whether you hire a local professional or a large painting company, it helps to do the following:

Check their Social Media: Look through their pages, and pay attention to the comments. You should then gain a general consensus on their work quality.

Check Reviews: Websites like Google online reviews, hipages, and Trustpilot are great for researching Australian local tradies. Word of Mouth also goes a long way in determining the quality of their work.

Ask for Referrals: If your neighbour or family friend can’t stop raving about their painter, there’s a good chance you’ll be just as pleased.

Assess their References: You’ll want to dig deeper into what other people have said about the painter. Did the painter show up and finish on time? Were they transparent about the cost of the job? Did they meet or exceed expectations? Etc.

Confirm they Offer a Satisfaction Guarantee or Workmanship Warranty

Remember how we mentioned that not all painting companies live up to their promises? Unfortunately, it happens more than you think.

Painting jobs don’t always run smoothly, whether it’d be inadequate preparation, incorrect colour choice or botched application. Contractors are human after all, and aren’t incapable of making mistakes.

A workmanship warranty or satisfaction guarantee helps protect your investment and ensures you get what you pay for. If your paint job has defects, a reputable painter should return and rectify the situation free of charge. This warranty should last at least three years since this is how long it takes for paint to fail.

Newline Painting, for example, offers a satisfaction guarantee that covers exterior painting for five years and interior painting for seven years. You’ll get complete peace of mind that if any issues arise, your painter will return and fix them at no cost.

Get a Detailed Estimate that’s Free of Ambiguity

An estimate should include the materials required, the project’s timeline and applicable costs. These may include project preparation, hazardous material disposal, and other unforeseen expenses.

While verbal promises and a firm handshake are nice, you may have no recourse if you’re charged extra for something outside the initial agreement. A written contract should protect both parties, clearly explaining all the project details and costs. If there are ambiguous charges, ask questions and get clarification.

Ultimately, your quote should be free of interpretation. It should be a straightforward document that both parties agree on and are confident in.

Know What you Want and Be Clear of Your Expectations

Unfortunately, many paying customers aren’t fully aware of the type of paint they want or the desired result. For example, their job description may be as vague as “paint the walls,” when they really wanted a faux marble finish. By not clarifying your expectations, painters will do what they believe is best instead of what you actually want.

When hiring a painter, first find out what you want. For example, if you need your kitchen painted, ask yourself the following:

Should the trim be painted, or should I stick to the walls?
Do I want a glossy sheen or a flat finish based on my current décor?
Do I want a particular colour scheme? If so, which one?
Are there any accents or textures that will maximise the look?

The more specific you are, the better the painter will be able to meet your expectations.

READ: 10 House Painting Mistakes Everybody Makes

Check How Quickly They Respond

Painters are busy people, so it’s forgivable if they can’t get back to you instantly. However, there’s a difference between being ‘busy’ and ‘unresponsive’. Responsiveness is key in assessing the level of service you’ll receive from them.

Generally speaking, a painter should respond within 12-16 hours regarding your initial questions. Once they’ve conducted an on-site visit, you should get a detailed estimate between 3-5 days.

If they’re uncommunicative or unresponsive, run for the hills! The marketplace is full of competent painters who want your business, so don’t settle for less.

Final Thoughts

If premature paint peeling and sloppy lines are your biggest fears when hiring a painter, a little planning and research can go a long way. At Newline Painting, we take the guesswork out of the process by giving you a full-proof plan for success. From getting an estimate to the final touches, we’ll have you covered every step of the way.

Newline Painting is your best option Melbourne house painting professionals. We’re the #1 rated house painting service in Melbourne and provide a range of services, including interior, exterior, fence, bathtub and pre-sale house painting at flat rate prices, with no hidden costs. Our services are available in various areas around Melbourne, including Mount Waverley, North Melbourne, Northcote, Port Melbourne, and Prahran.

Book a quote with one of our friendly representatives today, and start your journey to a newly painted property. We can’t wait to work with you!