How to Find a Painting Pro
Last updated May 2025
Unlike other trades, you don’t need special training or a truck full of tools to paint one room or an entire house. But who does the painting can have a dramatic effect on how well the job is done—and how much you’ll pay for it.
Identify worthy candidates.
Here at Checkbook.org you’ll find reviews from local consumers about painters they’ve used. These ratings were collected from surveys we sent to Consumers’ Checkbook members plus other individuals we randomly selected to participate.
In addition to recommendations on our website and from friends, look for contractors with references from previous customers in your neighborhood for jobs done within the past year, or with other particulars that reach beyond two or three satisfied customers (or relatives). Also ask for references from paint suppliers. A few phone calls will help you determine if the candidate is highly regarded or barely known.
When asking for references from previous customers, give more weight to contractors with long track records of successful projects and more years in business. Experience matters, particularly with a manual skill like painting.
Once you’ve assembled candidates, ask each of them for a cost proposal.
Compare costs.
Get several prices. The figure below shows the bids painting contractors quoted our undercover homeowner for two separate jobs: (1) Paint the siding, soffits, fascia, trim, door frames, and shutters on a two-story, 2,300-square-foot home; and (2) Repaint the walls, ceiling, and trim of a family room, foyer, stairway, hallway, and primary bedroom. For the interior work, prices ranged from $1,250 to $4,175; for the exterior work, prices ranged from $6,556 to $14,479.
The message is clear: Get several price quotes. Because companies that perform top-quality work are just as likely to quote low prices as companies that do shoddy jobs, don’t dismiss low bids.
Ask companies to provide detailed bids on identical specifications. Although that sounds simple, too many contractors submit offers such as “Paint house for $8,000.” A friendly contractor may give you a reassuring handshake and promise that the crew will take care of the details—starting on time, working every day, cleaning up, etc. That’s great, but why not include each point in the proposal?
Other key points:
- Tell bidders you’re getting other proposals. Competition ensures contractors offer their best prices.
- Check whether contractors will supply the paint or if that’s your responsibility. If different contractors propose different arrangements, adjust accordingly when comparing prices.
- To compare more than price, look for a thorough recap of the specs, work area, materials, starting date, and an estimate of how long the job will take. A contractor who sorts out the details and puts them on paper is likely to follow through with those details on-site.
What to get in writing.
Even an airtight contract won’t make dishonest contractors honest or turn sloppy shortcut painters into dependable experts. But by putting all the details in writing, you can eliminate common sources of disputes.
Detailed description of job. Prep work, paint, number of coats, specs for walls and trim, and description of the work area. Include any remaining gray areas, like that porch ceiling or the dingy insides of the kitchen cabinets.
What paint goes where. If many types and colors of paint will be used on the project, simplify things with a spec list: brand name, type, and color (with manufacturer’s product number) for siding, for instance, and the same details for trim, shutters, garage door, and porch risers, as opposed to the treads. Then add a line in your agreement that the job will follow the spec list, which is considered part of the contract.
Insurance. Contractors should provide proof that they carry both general liability and workers’ compensation coverage.
Timing and staffing. Request a firm start date and an estimated completion date. Minimize delays by specifying that “weather permitting, work will be continuous.”
Payments. Minimize the down payment and maximize the final one. The more you can withhold until the end, the more leverage you’ll have to get the job done well. If a contractor demands a large payment up front to buy materials or equipment, you’ve got the wrong contractor. Reputable pros have accounts at suppliers and credit that lets them buy supplies and pay later.
Dealing with lead. If your home was built before 1978, insist that workers follow the law to keep you and your family safe. Add to your contract: “Company will follow EPA regulations for containing the work area and minimizing the generation of lead-paint dust.”
Cleanup. Include the phrases “The work area will be left broom clean,” and “Contractor shall remove and properly dispose of all trash and leftover paint and materials.”
Do your part to keep things running smoothly.
On many home improvement projects that take more than a few days—painting often qualifies—there are things you can do to help the job run smoothly, finish on time, produce the best results, and avoid common misunderstandings:
Prep work. You’re paying for painting, not for workers to clear cabinets. It’s one thing to ask for help moving a large bookcase, but first pack up all the books on it.
Save space. Move your car out of the driveway so the painter can park a van full of supplies near the house, and find them an area on-site for stowing tools and materials.
Bathroom breaks. Either make a bathroom available or rent a portajohn.
Communication. Brief meetings to discuss the job—preferably every day—help quash misunderstandings. Deal promptly with surprises and changes. No contract can anticipate every possibility. Materials may be unavailable. Large chunks of rotten siding may crumble along with the old paint. Exterior jobs may be stopped by weather.
Extras. Changing your mind about a color after the trim is already painted is an extra. The procedure then is to work out a mini-contract with the painter—called a “change order”—that briefly describes what was and what will be, and establishes a price for the extra work. Be mindful that no painter can foresee that a small hole by the gutter is the entry for a horde of squirrels that chewed up your ceilings. When a questionable extra pops up, look for a middle ground.
