Are you looking to hire a Lansing Painter for your next interior or exterior project? In this post, we’re sharing a framework and our tips that we recommend all homeowners go through when looking to hire the best Lansing painting company for them.
Really, the framework we’re sharing is applicable to hiring almost any contractor — from drywall specialists, to Lansing junk removal, to plumbers, to painters.
The goal of the framework is to find the best painting contractor for you based on your goals, outcomes, needs, and budget. Your neighbor’s painting company might not be the right fit for you. Or, they might be.
It’s this framework that helps you decide. Of course, we hope that Robinson Painting Co is the right company for you, but we know that we’re not for everybody. And, that’s okay.
Without further ado, let’s go.
Step #1: Google Round Up
The first step in hiring a Lansing painter is to start with a general, basic rudimentary search process. Often Google is a great place to start.
In step one, your objective is to gather as many potential painting companies as possible. For example, you could go to Google and run a quick search for things like, “Lansing Painters” or “Lansing Painting Companies”.
Now, Google won’t pull up all of the possible painting contractors in your area. Instead, you need to use a few additional strategies and it may involve moving offline to find more painters.
To add more painting contractors to your list, you can browse sites like YELP, HomeAdvisor, and Thumbtack. On these sites you will find additional painting contractors that you didn’t find on Google.
Next, go to Facebook and start looking for Lansing painters. On Facebook, you can try a few different methods.
- Post a general ISO request on your wall so your friends and family can see it.
- Browse and search in a local community group. Type in keywords like “painters”.
- Post a general ISO request inside a local community Facebook Group.
Through this, you should have a lengthy list.
If you prefer non-tech options, reach out directly to your friends and family to see if there is anyone they would recommend.
A Hidden Method
A funny thing happens when you’re looking for a house painter. The brain gets primed and starts paying attention to various marketing from Lansing painters.
Yards signs are a perfect example. When you’re not looking for a painting company, these signs are usually ignored. You don’t think anything of them.
However, as soon as you’re in the market for a Lansing painter, you start to notice yard signs that are advertising painting companies.
Generally, you will see yard signs for exterior painters only. If you’re looking for an interior painter, these yard signs might not provide you with potential painters if the painters work exclusively in the exterior painting market.
Step #2: Narrow The List
Great, you have a list. Now comes the filtering part. At this point in the process, do some basic research into the company and see if they are a good fit for you.
At this stage, you’re trying to discover information like pricing, reviews, a website, workmanship, and any negative complaints on BBB, Google, or other places.
Your goal is to ask yourself, “Can they do the painting job I need them to do?”
Only you really know what you’re looking for in a painter. So, if there is an aspect that is important to you, find a way to look for it in your research process so you can filter out the companies and contractors that won’t be a good fit for you.
For example, some homeowners prefer to work with a small solo painting contractor because they feel they will get a better quality for less cost. These homeowners will immediately eliminate any painting companies.
On the other hand, there is another set of the market that wants to work with a company. This way, if an individual painter gets sick, their job won’t get pushed back.
Ideally, you should narrow your list down to about three to five options. Preferably three. Anything more than five is too large. You can keep their names around in case your first three don’t work out, but I wouldn’t contact more than three to five.
Step #3: Estimates
Armed with your small list of potential painters, it’s time to contact them.
Ideally, you will get a hold of every painter on your list, but that might not happen. A certain percentage will go to voicemail, another percentage will answer the phone, and a certain percentage will never contact you back.
Invite these companies out to provide you with a quote or an estimate. Now, there are a few things to expect when you’re getting an estimate.
What To Expect During An Estimate
You can have a wide range of experiences when it comes to getting an estimate. But, I’d say that most experiences are summarized in three different categories.
First, you have the painting contractor or company that impressed you on the phone, but they fail to deliver when it comes to the estimate. They might show up super late, keep you uninformed, or look unpresentable. They can be just one of these or a combination of all three.
Either way, these painting contractors are typically eliminated from being hired no matter the cost of their painting estimate.
The second group is the opposite. These painters are presentable, show up on time and keep you informed. Their estimating process is really quick and easy. They are at your home for about 15 to 30 minutes and then give you a quote.
These types of painting companies or contractors rarely walk you through their process, what you’re paying for when you hire them, and just keep things focused on the quote.
Third, you have painting companies that show up on time, are presentable, and offer guidance during the estimation process. They will take measurements, but also talk to you about the project, like potential issues and the process they go through to complete your project.
If you’re not happy with the Lansing painters you had come out to give you an estimate, go back to your list and pick the next two to three painters. Try again and repeat the process.
Step #4: Book the Job
Lastly, go through and pick the painting contractor that will meet your needs, project outcomes, and is within your budget.
Every so often, you will have painting contractors that come out to give you an estimate, take measurements, and promise to send you a quote, but never do. Understand this is normal and part of the process. These companies are a small minority.
Once you’ve selected Lansing painters, you can expect them to start the job within two to six weeks. In the current market, a four to eight week timeline has become the norm.
There are just too few painters and a higher level of demand.
Hire Lansing Painter
If you’re looking for a Lansing painter, consider getting in touch with us to get an estimate. Our network of vetted painting contractors means you don’t have to do all of the work finding the best painters. We’ve done it for you.
