3 ways to Spot a bad Painting Contractor

It’s extremely bothersome when you have absolutely no knowledge of what’s going on – particularly when it involves your home, time, and money. When you hire a bad painting contractor, it is as though you ask a lazy person with no interest in running to participate in the marathon and win the race. It’s crazy and foolish, isn’t it? Such contractors are really slow and they really don’t tell you their plan.

You can search Google for a lot of stories in which contractors damage the property. Last week, a married couple came to our office, in Portland, Oregon. They asked us for the painting job and Brian Erik Jamison – our company’s lead contractor assisted them, gave them a full-fledged plan, cost estimation, etc.

The couple told us that they purchased a 5000 square foot house, which was built in 2011. The house was for sale and the entire interior was painted with a non-neutral yellow color. They said they didn’t like the paint because it was disgusting to look at. Therefore, they wanted to paint the entire interior of the house before they could move in.

So, they looked for a painting contractor in the neighborhood. After talking to a few contractors, they finally hired one. They made an agreement with the contractor about all walls, ceilings, and touchups, etc. Further, the couple told us that the quality of the job was very poor. All rooms looked so bad – it seemed like the painting job was done without taping against the trim. Similarly, the lines were very imprecise and sloppy. There was paint on their cabinets, doors, floors, etc.

When they complained to the contractor, he said he was not responsible for the mess. They got worried and told the contractor to give them their money back because the job done was not up to the mark. The contractor refused. The husband then had some quarrel with the contractor – which got serious. The contractor and his team attacked them – caused injuries to the wife and husband, and did damage to the property. Next day, they complained to the police.

The police took the matter in their hands and made a couple of attempts to arrest the contractor. They raided the contractor’s place several times but he wasn’t there. A few days later, at midnight, the contractor along with a bunch of junkies broke into their house and started yelling at them. They had baseball bats with which they started damaging the interior, demanding extra money. Continuing the story, the couple told Brian Erik Jamison that the situation worsened day-by-day. “We begged the police to set up an undercover sting operation and arrest the contractor, but they couldn't find them!” – said the couple.

Brian Erik Jamison, one of the most prestigious paint contractor in Portland, Oregon gave the couple a few tips about spotting a bad contractor!

    1. Lack of a clear contract

If you are not clear about what a contract says – don’t agree to it. It is important that contracts are defined clearly and have an accurately written scope of work. The contract is something very valuable because it will hold the contractor accountable for the painting job. Therefore, you must ensure it is according to your needs or requirements. If you think there is something odd, then ask about it. Likewise, if you don’t like the terms, it is better to find another contractor.

    2. Vague Payment terms

Your money is an important part of the contract. So, you must ensure to set clear objectives. Your painting contractor is shady if he asks you about cash payments and/or weekly payments. Follow the contract and avoid paying earlier than what was mentioned in the contract.

    3. Poor communication

When it comes to communication or interaction with your painting contractor, treat it like a relationship. If your contractor doesn’t want to talk to you, then you need to talk to him. If you can’t or are unable to reach him, then it is time to end this relationship before you get into trouble.

If you are residing in Portland, Oregon, want a painting job, and avoid getting trap into the hands of bad contractors, then call Brian Erik Jamison today to schedule your free consultation.

How To Choose An Inexpensive Contractor For Painting A House

The process of house painting is a hectic task. Whether it’s a complete painting of the exterior or detailed interior work, it is important that the task is carried out in an accurate way. A lot of people try to do this job themselves but if you are not experienced enough to perform this job effectively, then you need to hire a house painting contractor. 

There are many companies in Portland, Oregon that offer house painting services. We have asked a lot of homeowners about their experience with house painting companies. It is quite daunting to know that most of them offer expensive, yet low-quality services. When we talked to some homeowners in the Portland area they said: “when they got a list of the charges there was quite a sting.” 

If you are looking to hire an inexpensive contractor for your house painting job, then this article is for you. Keep reading this post in order to get the most out of it! 

1. Recommendations

First and foremost, it is important to get recommendations from your friends, relatives, or neighbors. Do some undercover work. We advise you to do a consultation with people living in the neighborhood. People love to talk about their experience with house painting contractors, especially bad ones. 

It is no surprise that “word of mouth” is the most appreciated and valued form of advertising for house painting contractors. So, the contractors offering quality and affordable services often get awesome word of mouth. 

We have always asked our friends, relatives, and neighborhoods whenever we needed a painting job. They often refer to us some good house painting contractors in Portland, Oregon – for instance, there is Brian Erik Jamison – an experienced house painting contractor with tons of happy customers. People in our neighborhood say that they were immediately arrested by the quality of the work offered by Brian Erik Jamison and surprised at how little he charged. Knowing that a contractor has been patronized by many happy customers is key.

2. Read Online Reviews

We are living in the digital space. Nowadays, almost every company out there has a website to attract more and more customers. So, online reviews do play a significant role in finding a good contractor. There are always two sides to the story. So, when you opt to choose a house painting contractor based on online postings, we recommend you trust your gut. 

If you feel the reviews are unbiased and honest, then trust them. So much so, a house painting contractor with a great online reputation will also be trustable in real life. 

3. Satisfying Answers to Your Questions

It’s not easy to hold a house painting contractor on the phone for hours and asking him questions. Honestly, it’s not respectful of their time! Alternatively, it better to schedule a meeting with a house contractor you are looking to hire. It would be like an “interview” type meeting in which you will ask him or her questions about the painting job. 

For instance, some of the questions that we recommend: 

• Is your company licensed and insured? 

• What is your experience?

• How long have you been in the house painting biz? 

• Are you a member of any house painting organizations or associations? 

• Are your employees licensed and qualified? 

• Do you offer any warranties or guarantees? 

• Are you patronizing specific products and equipment? 

• Do you subcontract your work?

• How do you solicit bids? 

• How do you calculate charges?

• Do you have any references?

4. Overall Price Estimation

Finally, it is important to get a detailed estimate from the prospective contractor. You must speak to the contractor in person who will carry out the job – make sure you ask him the questions outlined in point number 3. 

When you ask him questions, you will get informative answers. This way, you can decide whether the company or contractor is right for the painting job. Do not forget to get an estimate. 

Note: The actual cost can be lower or higher depending on many other factors. Nonetheless, getting an overall idea of the costs and comparing it with the offer of other companies will enable you to choose the right contractor for your painting job. Good Luck!