There are hundreds of painting contractors in the Lehigh Valley. Here's a 7-step process for choosing the right one — and the red flags that mean run.
Steps 1-3: License, Insurance, References
Step 1: Verify PA license. Go to the PA Attorney General's website and search the HICPA database. The contractor should be registered with a valid license number. No registration = walk away. Step 2: Request proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation. Ask for a Certificate of Insurance naming you as additional insured — any legitimate contractor can provide this in 24 hours. Step 3: Ask for 3 local references from projects completed in the last 12 months. Actually call them.
Steps 4-5: Get Written Quotes and Compare
Step 4: Get at least 3 written quotes specifying: paint product by brand and product name, number of coats, prep work included, timeline, and warranty. Step 5: Compare apples to apples. The cheapest quote is often using inferior products and fewer coats. A $400 savings on a $3,000 job is meaningless if you're repainting in 3 years instead of 10.
Steps 6-7: Communication and Red Flags
Step 6: Gauge communication. Does the contractor return calls promptly? Show up on time for the estimate? Provide a professional written quote? How a contractor communicates before the job predicts how they'll communicate during and after. Step 7: Red flags — cash-only payment, requires full payment upfront, no physical address, can't provide insurance certificate, extremely low bids (usually means inexperienced labor or inferior materials).
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