It may seem like painting your condo yourself, instead of hiring a painting contractor, will be easier and save you money down the road. The truth is, it may be a little less expensive to do it yourself, but a professional painting contractor is exactly that – a professional painter.
Advantages of Hiring a Painting Contractor for Your Condo
So, why hire professional painters? The main reason is that they know what they are doing. A professional painter has years of experience in the field. They also know how to prepare surfaces, apply paint correctly, and use proper equipment for the job. This means that your condo will look exactly how you want it to without any mistakes or flaws. It is impossible to get everything right on the first try if you lack experience.
If you want to paint your condo to sell it, hiring a professional painter is recommended and often required by real estate agents. Your time and energy are worth something, especially if you are looking to repaint to sell. When looking to hire someone, you might shop around for the right price, depending on your budget.
Painting contractors are highly skilled at what they do, and a professional should do it efficiently and properly. It is important to understand that when you are hiring a professional, looking for the cheapest option out there is not the best idea. Chances are, they are not going to be professional in how they cut corners to give you that cheap price.
Everything You Need to Know About Condo Painting Costs
When you’re looking for a painter, there are a lot of details you want to consider. You want someone who will come in and complete the task without causing you any trouble. Now, you may be wondering: How do I find a good painter? Here’s a hiring a painter checklist of things to keep in mind when hiring a painter:
The Right Painting Contractor Will Be Upfront About Everything
•Forewarned is forearmed. When you are budgeting to have your condo painted, knowing the worst-case scenario is just as good as the best-case. When preparing your budget, know your threshold and talk to your painting contractor when they are providing you with an estimate.
•Less than reputable pro painters won’t include any or all possible repairs in their estimate. This will ensure that their cost is less than the competition and likely get them the job. This should be your first red flag that they are not as good of a deal as they sound.
A reputable, professional pro paint will be upfront about all costs, including all repair work involved. They will highlight any potential additional costs, like the 3rd coat of paint or having to use a more expensive primer when they meet with you and provide you with an estimate.
•When you meet with the Toronto condo painter, pick your paint colours and the sheen before you sign or pay any deposits. This will help you avoid any hidden surprises because the type and quality of the paint will be written right into the final quote.
A less reputable professional painter will give you a quote for the job and take a deposit but will end up increasing the cost after you have already signed a contract. They might claim that the paint cost a lot more than they thought it would, because of the sheen or brand.
The Right Painting Contractor Will Not Scam You On Paint Quality
Sigh. Sadly, there are scammers everywhere, and the painting world is no different. Here are a few more red flags to look out for:
- Mixing high-quality paint with cheap stuff. Conveniently, you will only ever see the bucket or a couple of cans of quality paint in your condo. A good pro painter will have several buckets and cans in the quality and brand agreed upon in plain sight.
- Watering down quality paint. It’s harder to detect scams, unfortunately. One way to check is to look at the cans being brought in to make sure they are clean and new, and that buckets of paint are still sealed. This will help you determine if they were opened before they were brought into your condo.
- The lowest price really is too good to be true. Be aware of ads and estimates that promise a small charge per square foot (ex. 50 cents per square foot). If you hire these painters, expect crap paint and a crap job. The bottom line – you get what you pay for.
Questions to Ask When Hiring Someone For Your Condo Painting
- How long have they been in business? A company that has been around for more than 5 years is likely to be more reputable.
- Do they hire subcontractors? Subcontractors are generally less experienced and have cheap labour.
- Do they offer a warranty and are they insured? You won’t get either with a lowball contractor.
- Have they ever won any awards? Awards are always good!
- Can they provide references? You wouldn’t hire an employee without checking their previous work. Hiring a painting contractor is no different.
- Do they have a portfolio? Most reputable residential painting companies will have a portfolio on their website. They should also be prepared to show you some of their work in a meeting.
- Do they use quality paint? Do they keep a clean workspace? Did They include wall preparation in their estimate? Hopefully, they say yes to all three. Do your research ahead of time, but Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams are both examples of quality paint brands. Knowledge is power.
If You Need Help Distinguishing What You Can or Can’t Do in Your Condo…
Sometimes things can get a little tricky when you’re thinking about doing condo painting. There are often certain rules and regulations put out by condo boards that need to be adhered to by the occupants. It’s important to have all of these guidelines in writing, so you can always refer back to them. It’s especially important if you’re thinking about exterior painting as well. Those rules and guidelines set out by condo boards are pretty set in stone, so be sure to reach out to the right people when you’re inquiring before starting any work.
In Conclusion: To Paint or Not to Paint with a Professional Painting Contractor
Now that we’ve explored the various aspects of hiring a professional painting contractor for your condo, it’s time for you to make an educated decision. While painting your condo can be an exciting endeavour, knowing whether to go the DIY route or enlist the expertise of a painting contractor is instrumental in ensuring your satisfaction with the final outcome.
Before making your choice, we highly recommend reading our other informative posts, such as “Homeowners Beware – Biggest Contractor Scams in 2024” and “The 7 Biggest Homeowner Mistakes When Hiring A Painting Contractor“. These helpful articles will provide valuable insights as you navigate the world of professional painting services.
Ultimately, the decision is yours to make. Consider your budget, available time, and level of expertise when deciding which route to take. With thorough research and understanding, you’ll be well on your way to transforming your condo into the masterpiece it deserves to be.
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“DO I REALLY NEED A PROFESSIONAL PAINTING CONTRACTOR TO PAINT MY CONDO?”
Did this help make your decision as to who it should be when you hire a painting company to do condo painting for you? There is so much to think about in terms of finding the right professional painters for the work you need to be completed. Let our professional interior painters handle everything! Call 416.494.9095 or email Brian@HomePaintersToronto.com for a FREE quote. And don’t forget to visit us on social media (below) as well!
