Whether you want to stain your deck or to repaint your home, the last thing you’d want is for your home improvement project to fall into the wrong hands. Falling prey to scammers is a complete buzzkill. Not only is it emotionally draining but also it is financially damaging because you have to fork out extra money for the makeover of shoddy paint jobs.
This article will focus on how you can avoid bad exterior and interior home painting contractors so that you do not end up kicking yourself in the long run. That said, let’s delve into the specifics of painting scammers so that you don’t fall into their trap. The following are some of the telltale signs of painting scammers.
Lack of Licenses and Qualification Credentials
Reputable exterior and interior home painting companies have proper credentials. Their details not only include their highly trained employees, but they also can provide proof of other essential information such as workers’ compensation, insurance, bonding, and licenses. Bonded painting companies assure their clients that not only will they finish the job on time, but also will do so to their customer’s satisfaction. At C.E.T. painting, we don’t just promise that we will do a good job. We put it in writing with our “Make-It-Right” Guaranty.
Homeowners are advised to ask for the above credentials. When an interior design or painting firm hesitates to provide them, the chances are high that you are dealing with scammers. Do not fall prey to scammers who try to use other forms of insurance such as vehicle insurance policies. Always ask for insurance certificates and bond numbers. Reputable painting firms will always produce these documents without beating around the bush.
Lack of Valid References
Before hiring a painting contractor that you are unfamiliar with, do some background research. You can also ask for the numbers and names of past clients and talk with them. Ask about the quality of their services. Another way of finding out about the reputation of a potential painting contractor is by reviewing their file with your area’s Better Business Bureau. Our website includes a gallery of previously completed jobs as well as testimonials by our customers.
Suspicious Contract Details
Scammers are fond of not providing their clients with a contract; when they do, the contract is usually vague and open to interpretation. This deception enables them to fleece clients by asking them to pay extra for hidden charges. Reputable interior design and home painting firms don’t try to trip customers up on technicalities or force clients to pay twice for the same service. Instead, they take their time to make things clear and have everything in the open before they commence any paint job.
Lack of Quality Product
Scammers like using reverse psychology on their clients. They exploit the fact that no one wants to pay more for services. They offer low prices by substituting inferior material or poorly trained labor. They might not follow the proper painting process. Instead, they take shortcuts such as not sanding completely or applying one coat of paint instead of two. Others are known to use low-quality paints which wear very fast. These paints are not suitable for your home’s location (because of the climate), and they flake and peel off soon after the painting process is over. Suffering such conditions will have you looking for new house painters within a few months due to their low-quality paints and shoddy work.
Suspicious Payment Requirements
When it comes to payment requirements, you should be on the lookout for several red flags. Like most professionals, most interior home painting firms charge a consultation fee, which is perfectly normal. However, the scammer will charge a lot of money upfront before painting your home. Beware of contractors who ask for the payment of the whole painting project before commencing the task. Never work with people who always change payment requirements. Working with them will likely result in you paying for more than you bargained.
Now that you are aware of scammers and how they operate, you should be able to make wise choices when you want to hire professional interior design and home painters for your project. Legitimate house painting contractors like C.E.T. Painting are always ready to answer your questions. We focus on customer service because referrals are our lifeblood. We don’t take shortcuts, and we have highly experienced staff members. For consultations, reach out by sending a message through our website or by calling (914) 615-1415.