MrFix tips for hiring a painter

Finding a good painter available

At first glance it looks easy to find a painter: most people google experts directly, request multiple quotes via one site or ask their (Facebook) friends. That approach actually sets you up for disaster:

• It is very difficult to choose a painter based on quality, whether you approach him directly or via a quote site
• One positive experience by a friend gives no guarantee of repetition
• On average, good painters are busier than bad ones, so if you call both, you actually have a higher chance that the bad painter will answer. And bad painters need those quote sites more than good ones…

Be aware of these risks and try to limit them as follows:

• Schedule your job a few weeks or even months in advance
• Check if the expert you find is actually available. We often see that Customers agree everything with the expert only to discover that the painter is only available 6-9 months later!
• Request a quote (fixed price) for jobs of more than ~1 day’s work / €500 and only an estimate for smaller ones
• Don’t ask for too many quotes: you won’t choose a better expert from 30 quotes than from 3. Save yourself and the expert time & trouble!
• Ask only the most serious candidates to come inspect: a good expert can usually give an estimate based on just a clear description and a few photos
• Ask the expert for references: preferably not only a picture of previous jobs but also a customer you can call
• Pay close attention to the solidity of the expert. For example At MrFix we don’t collaborate with experts who miss multiple appointments or always blame others for things going wrong

Get the expert to prepare your job properly

The way in which you request your job determines how well the expert prepares himself. We recommend that you:

• Pick the type of expert (Exterior or Interior painter, Paperhanger or Plasterer. If you‘re not sure then simply call MrFix (Mon-Sat 8.30-18h): we will help you
• Pick the best month for your paint job. Outside work is best at 10-25 degrees and dry weather: say, April to October. This means that painters cost less from November to March, so it’s better to plan your indoor job in the winter
• Decide whether the expert or you buy the paint. We advise you to let the expert supply the paint and not to economise on the paint. Good paint lasts years longer and usually means that the painter offers a warranty of, say, 6-10 years instead of 3-5 years. This saves you a lot of labour costs and hassle
• Agree who moves/covers your furniture: just say so if you prefer to do it yourself. That will save you some cost

Resolve changes and setbacks

 
No job goes exactly as planned. Do prepare mentally for alterations, such as a delay in the start or completion. Make sure that you and the expert can deal with changes in a smooth, pragmatic way:

• For outdoor paintwork it is wise to set a start date and a deadline as far in advance as possible
• Pick 1 good communication channel (in our experience WhatsApp works best) and make sure you also have alternative contact info (email address)
• Check 24 hours (or a week in the case of big jobs) before the start if the painter can still make the scheduled start date and materials will be available

Has your project suffered multiple serious setbacks? Then consider asking MrFix to find you a painter who completes it to your specifications within reasonable time frame and cost.
 

Ensure you pay a fair price for a good result

 
The price for a paint job is difficult to determine in advance, and there are painters who take advantage of that. Avoid paying top dollar and/or getting a substandard result:

• Define and communicate well what result you want: what exactly should the expert paint, which RAL code, how many coats does that mean?
• Request 1 to 3 quotes for paint jobs of more than 1 day’s work / ~€500, otherwise only an estimate
• Try to select a quote on quality and reliability. Resist the temptation simply to pick the lowest quote. Even the cheapest painter will make sure he earns a profit on your job! So if and when he realises that his quote was too low, he will try to renegotiate. Or what happens more often (and is far worse): he will invent extra work, cut corners and/or walk away from the job
• Check if labour and materials are clearly defined and specified in the quote. Note that, for example, repairing wood rot is usually excluded
• Once you have chosen the best quote, don’t hesitate to ask (once) if there is any room for lowering the price a bit

Get good aftercare and warranty

• Ask for the painter’s warranty conditions in advance
• Many independent contractors do not have a written warranty policy, so ask not only how many months (MrFix requires a minimum of 3 months) but also the key conditions. In which cases will the painter return without charging labour cost?
• Once the job is done ask the painter for tips on cleaning (lukewarm water, biological detergent) and maintenance (light sanding and repainting). And when does he anticipate the next paint job to be required?
• Make sure that you can reach the painter after the job is done. MrFix stores all the expert’s details and we create a WhatsApp group for each job: all you need to do is ask the expert to stay in that group