What to Expect When Hiring a Professional House Painter

The first time a homeowner hires a professional house painter can be a nerve-wracking experience.

Not necessarily because of the paint.

More often than not it's because the homeowner has no idea what to expect.

A homeowner in Port Saint Lucie recently shared this exact scenario with us.

She laughed as she told us that she spent the entire weekend prepping the house

for the painters.

She moved every flower pot.

She cleaned every window.

She swept the driveway twice.

She even apologized profusely because she thought the bushes could have been

trimmed better.

The first thing out of our mouths was a simple, "You don't have to stress this much."

She actually sighed in relief as she said, "I've never hired painters before.

I really had no idea what you needed."

Sound familiar?

Many homeowners only paint their home every few years, and some only do it

once in their lifetime.

It's completely normal to be a little nervous about the process, especially if it's

been a while.

It Starts Long Before the Paint Goes On

Most people think the painting starts the moment the painters arrive on site, but it

really starts long before that.

It starts with a conversation.

A conversation about the home and what needs to be done.

It could be a conversation about peeling paint on a window or the fact that the

sun has bleached one side of the house completely.

It could also be as simple as a conversation about wanting to change the color

after ten years.

Every home has a story, and that's why every estimate should be a conversation

instead of a hurried discussion while someone flips through a clipboard.

Good painters listen.

They listen for the things that could affect the outcome of the paint job.

Good Questions Are Encouraged

One homeowner even apologized for asking so many questions as she showed

us her notebook with all of her concerns.

Honestly, that's one of the best things a homeowner can do.

Ask the questions.

Ask about the paint.

Ask about the prep.

Ask about how long it will take.

Ask about rain.

Ask about changing your mind about a color before they start.

A professional painter should never make you feel bad for asking those questions.

More often than not, those conversations lead to a smoother painting process.

Choosing Colors Is Usually Harder Than You Think

Almost everyone thinks this part will be easy, but they always end up with six

samples (or twelve).

One homeowner even taped color swatches to three different walls because the

amount of sunlight that hit each side of the house was drastically different.

She was being smart.

The sun in Florida can be brutal.

It can make warm grays look pink at four in the afternoon.

That's why professional painters will encourage you to look at the colors for a day

or two before making your decision.

Preparation Is Usually Something That Gets Overlooked

You'll never see someone post pictures of pressure washing.

You'll never see someone getting excited about paint scraping.

Very few people will post pictures of repaired cracks and crevices.

That's because most people are far more interested in the end result than the

process.

Professionals know this, which is why they spend a lot of time preparing the home

for the paint.

Cleaning, repairing, and protecting are all crucial parts of the painting process.

Even making sure the surface is ready for the paint to stick is important.

The finished color will get all the compliments, but the preparation is what causes

those compliments to happen.

Your Home Doesn't Turn Into a Construction Site

This surprises a lot of homeowners.

They always expect ladders all over the place and cans of paint strewn across

the yard.

What they actually see is a team of professionals that works with a system.

The paint cans are stored in an organized manner.

The ladders are placed in strategic locations.

The professionals want to complete the job, but they also want to respect the

homeowner and their home while they do it.

After all, this is someone's home, not a construction site.

Communication Makes All the Difference

I've noticed that most homeowners don't get frustrated about the painting

process itself.

They get frustrated when they feel like they aren't being communicated with.

Maybe the weather made it impossible to paint one day.

Maybe a repair was needed that wasn't apparent before they started.

Maybe another day is needed before the paint can even be applied.

Those are all things that happen, but things go much smoother when everyone is

on the same page.

People are usually very understanding when they know what's going on.

Nobody likes surprises, especially when it comes to things like weather.

The Weather Always Has the Final Say

Living in Florida teaches you very quickly that you can plan all you want, but the

weather always has the final say.

One moment it can be a beautiful day, and the next it can turn into a

thunderstorm.

Professional painters know this, which is why they always keep a close eye on the

weather.

Sometimes it's best to wait a day before painting in order to get the best results.

That way, the painters aren't rushing to finish the job just to have it ruined by rain.

Little Details Always Turn Into Big Ones

One thing most homeowners discover when hiring professional painters is that

there are a lot of little details.

Paint lines that are straight.

Trim that was painted neatly.

Even the clean edges of fixtures and outlets all add up.

Those little details might not seem like much when the painters are there, but

they all add up after the job is done.

Your eyes will notice the detail even if you can't put your finger on exactly what it

is.

Don't Be Afraid to Walk Around

A walk around the house after the painters leave should never be something to

be feared.

It's your home.

Walk around it.

Look at it.

Ask questions.

If you see something that bothers you, say something.

Professional painters know that.

They want you to be completely satisfied before considering the job finished.

Sometimes that means a little touch up paint.

Sometimes that means explaining why the house looks the way that it does.

Either way, those conversations are important.

The Cleanup Always Feels Better Than You Expect

One homeowner recently told us that the cleanup was actually the best part.

They expected to spend the evening picking up plastic, tarps, and paint cans, but

they were amazed at how clean everything looked when they finished.

That's the way it should be.

The cleanup is the final step, and it's an important one.

The home isn't finished until it looks as good as it did before the painters arrived

(if not better).

The Best Compliments Usually Come Months Later

The best compliments rarely come on the day the painters finish.

They usually come months later when the homeowner calls to schedule another

painting project.

They'll say something like, "The house still looks amazing."

That's a compliment every painter should take to heart because it's a reminder

that the real reason for the paint job was to make the house look good for years

to come, not just a day or two.

Hiring a Painter Shouldn't Be Stressful

If there's one thing I hope every homeowner takes away from this, it's that hiring a

painter shouldn't be stressful.

You don't have to know everything about paint or products or processes.

You don't have to worry about asking too many questions.

A professional painting company should expect those questions.

That's part of the job.

The end result is more than just a paint job.

It's about helping the homeowner care for one of the largest investments of their

life.

When everyone communicates well and everyone takes pride in the work, the

process can be much easier than most people expect.

And somewhere along the way, that nervous homeowner standing in the

driveway can stop being nervous and start being excited.

That's when we know everything is going to be just fine.