Hiring People to Paint Our House - Help! 1st time!
pgs...@lynx.neu.edu
house. This will be the first time we've hired someone on this scale
since moving in.
Any helpful suggestions about:
- How many quotes?
- Things that SHOULD be in the contract?
- Insurance?
- Can a brown, stained house be lightened in color??
- References?
- "Things" to insist on?
You get the idea. The benefit of your experience would be really
helpful. E-mail directly, or post here for others to see. Thanks very
much...
Richard LaRowe
>
> We are in the process of hiring a painting contractor to paint our
> house. This will be the first time we've hired someone on this scale
> since moving in.
>
> Any helpful suggestions about:
>
> - How many quotes?
Get at least 2 quotes and the low one may NOT be the BEST deal.
> - Things that SHOULD be in the contract?
Prep work involved, number of coats, type of paint, is the trim
included?
> - Insurance?
YES, be sure he can furnish "proof of ins" if he get's the job. My ins
company alwyas sent the papers directly to the customer.
> - Can a brown, stained house be lightened in color??
Yes it can.
> - References?
They don't mean very much, could be all his friends. Asking to see some
of his work could be useful. He's not going to tell you about any jobs
that were screwed up.
> - "Things" to insist on?
That list could go on forever but make sure the house gets washed good
before painting. Just think of what your car looks like after a week in
the weather, what do you think is on your house?
It requires more then a rinse and a normal ranch 24' X 42' is an all day
job to do it right.
>
> You get the idea. The benefit of your experience would be really
> helpful. E-mail directly, or post here for others to see. Thanks very
> much...
I was a painting & decorating contractor for 18 years before becoming
disabled, now my wife runs the business.
Good luck,
Dick
Herbert H Farnsworth
: We are in the process of hiring a painting contractor to paint our
: house. This will be the first time we've hired someone on this scale
: since moving in.
: Any helpful suggestions about:
: - How many quotes?
: - Things that SHOULD be in the contract?
: - Insurance?
: - Can a brown, stained house be lightened in color??
: - References?
: - "Things" to insist on?
: You get the idea. The benefit of your experience would be really
: helpful. E-mail directly, or post here for others to see. Thanks very
: much...
Check out the section of our web site "How to hire a reputable contractor
in MA".Should provided you with some answers.
Herb Farnsworth
H.H. Farnsworth Company Inc.
General Contractors
http://world.std.com/~HHFco/welcome.html
Bruno, Thomas A.
>
> We are in the process of hiring a painting contractor to paint our
> house. This will be the first time we've hired someone on this scale
> since moving in.
>
> Any helpful suggestions about:
We had an awful experience when a painter we hired brought two helpers
to the job, one of whom fell from a ladder. There was an ambulance and
several days in intensive care on a respirator. Ultimately he was
released from the hospital no much worse for the wear, about three weeks
and $40,000 later.
We have great homeowner's insurance, with a million dollar umbrella
policy, so we need not worry, right? Wrong. The painter we hired was
"going bare" and had no worker's comp insurance. The injured guy
couldn't get his hospital bill paid. We had done nothing negligent, so
it was no recourse for him to sue us and go after our homeowner's
insurance.
His only avenue was to file a worker's comp claim directly against us,
alleging that we were his employer. Our wonderful insurance company was
willing to defend it, but under a "reservation of rights", meaning they
would not pay if an award was made against us, since we didn't carry
worker's comp insurance, only homeowners.
LESSON LEARNED?
If a contractor brings helpers on the job insist not only on seeing his
proof of general liability insurance, but also his W/C insurance.Any
reputable contractor is not offended by showing proof of insurance,
ideally, it comes in the mail direct from his insurance agency.
--
Thomas A. Bruno; Champaign/Urbana, Illinois
Voice:217.328.6000; Fax 217.328.6765
Visit my web page at http://www.shout.net/~tombruno/