5 Things to Look for When hiring a Commercial Painting Contractor​

5 Things to Look for When hiring a Commercial Painting Contractor

It’s important that the commercial painting contractor you hire is experienced and knowledgeable about jobs of various sizes. You don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t have the experience in the type of work you are asking them to do, and you don’t want to waste your money on a contractor who hasn’t done the kind of work you need to be done. Here are five things to look for in a paint contractor:

1. Determine the Scope of the Project

Before you start to look for a painting contractor, it is crucial to determine the project’s scope, which you are about to undertake. Take some time to determine which parts of the building you would like to paint, whether it is just the interior walls, ceilings, floors or the exterior. This information is helpful for both yourself and your contractor as they will be able to give you a more accurate quote based on this specific scope of the project. There are also a few other things that should be considered internally before starting your research.

Determine the Right Time to Paint

Painting is usually a disruptive job, as it requires your entire staff to be out of the area for the duration of the job. Take some time to determine a period when business is slower, so that your paint job can take place with minimal disruptions. This period is different for every business, so take some time to determine what works best for your company.

Adhere to High Safety Standards

The health and safety of your staff and customers are of utmost priority. When selecting the type of paint you would like to use, pick one that causes minimal health risks to people present in the space. It may be a wise idea to give preference to paints that are odourless and rated zero VOC to avoid problems for people who enter the space during or immediately after the project is completed.

Pick the Right Colour

Picking a good colour can help make the space look more spacious, grand and inviting for potential customers. If it is important to stick to a specific colour scheme based on the area or the company colours, have the colour swatch prepared and ready for your contractor. Remember, you will see this wall colour often at work to make sure you spend some time picking the colour that is right for your space!

2. Do your Research

In this era of digital media, any painting contractor is likely to have an online presence. Take some time to visit their social media pages, google pages and take a look to see their customer reviews and recent projects. It is important to see what the ratings of these companies are, as this can be a good indicator of their quality of work. If there have been consistent or significant complaints against the company, this may be a red flag that is worth looking into more. This is also a good time to get quotes from the different companies which you are looking into. Getting quotes from multiple companies will give you a good indication of the ballpark amount you should expect to pay and help rule out companies that quote either too high or too low prices!

3. Reviews and References from Previous Clients

As you complete your research for a painting contractor, it is vital to ask for references and take the time to contact past clients of the company. This will give you a good idea on the quality of their work, their commitment to customer satisfaction, and if their customers would recommend them for future projects. Remember, a good painting contractor will be more than happy to provide you with references and their contact information. If your contractor is unwilling to provide this information, it may be a red flag which you should watch out for.

4. Work with a Licensed Professional

A professional commercial painting contractor should generally have adequate public liability insurance and have the province’s workers compensation coverage (WSIB) needed to operate in the province. This is a good indicator of whether or not the company is legitimate and willing to comply with local laws. People often go with an unlicensed painter to save on costs. However, this can open your commercial business up to a lot of liabilities. Your company will also lose the right to report the company or request a refund should the paint job fail to meet your expectations.

5. Sign a Written Contract

Once you have selected the best painting contractor for the job, it is essential to get the job details in writing. This will ensure that expectations are clear for both parties, and the accountability will ensure that you get a quality job from your contractor. A written contract will also protect you against future liabilities and provide protection in case anything should go awry. There have been all too many horror stories of disappearing contractors, but a written contract can provide peace of mind for you.

Final Takeaways

There you have it, our top 5 tips for hiring a commercial painting contractor. It is important to keep in mind that a quality contractor will be more than happy to answer your questions, provide detailed quotes and quality references. Beware of contractors who are vague, evasive or just take ages to get back at you. If you are looking for a reliable and professional commercial painter offering competitive rate, be sure to check out our portfolio at Paintagonc.ca. We guarantee total satisfaction and personalized service so your commercial space can look as good as it can be. Give us a call today, and we are more than happy to walk you through the process and provide a written contract so you can have complete peace of mind for your next commercial paint project.

6 UNBEATABLE VALUES OF A SMALL COMMERCIAL PAINTING COMPANY VS. BIG COMMERCIAL PAINTING COMPANIES

6 Unbeatable Values Of A Small Commercial Painting Company Vs. Big Commercial Painting Companies

There’s a reason Sir Richard Branson reportedly tries to run each of his companies as a ‘small business’. Smaller companies are simply more customer-focused and he knows that’s what people want.

When you’re hiring a commercial interior painter/painting company, you’ll want everything to go your way. Only a customer-focused company is going to ensure that happens for you.

Choosing to go small can have lots of other palpable benefits, too. Here are six of them.

1. MORE RELIABILITY & DEEPER COMMITMENT

A lot of talented people work at the larger interior and exterior commercial painters around Toronto. The problem? The larger the firm, the less likely it is that everyone working there understands how decisions get made. That can lead to a lot of distrust and unhappiness. That’s not a good recipe for maintaining a committed workforce! When it comes time to make important company decisions, smaller companies are more likely to involve everyone. That leads to employees feeling vested in their jobs. As a result, they’re more committed to seeing their company do well. That translates into reliable service and a deeper commitment to you.

2. EASIER ACCESS TO EXPERTS

By definition, smaller companies have fewer employees. That means everyone is more likely to wear multiple hats at work. No matter whom you’re dealing with at smaller firms, they’re more likely to be experts in their field and be more willing to deliver beyond client expectations.

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4. NO EXCESSIVE & ADDITIONAL CHARGES

The bigger-size commercial painting service providers often have more leverage at the bargaining table. The result can be excessive and additional fees for the client.

For example, big companies always charge more for even minor additional work.

A small team knows they have to work hard at the bargaining table to compete against the big guys. And even after the contract is theirs, they’re more willing to go the extra mile to make their clients happy.

In fact, Paintagon does this all the time. Clients know we’ll always make things right with no additional charge.

5. FAIR & SIMPLE MARKETING & SALES TACTICS

Bigger companies tend to have squads of salespeople and huge marketing budgets. In fact, they spend 13% of revenue on marketing compared with just 10% spent by smaller firms.

Their aim with all that spending is to get leads and then win contracts. And because of the slick tactics many of them use in the wording of those contracts, clients are locked in no matter how they feel about the results.

We call this the ‘lure them in and then lock them in’ approach.

Like most small companies, Paintagon uses simple contracts with no hidden clauses. Our approach to marketing is based on communicating the commitment, responsibility, and expertise of everyone on our team. Like most small firms, our marketing budget just couldn’t handle a constant leakage of unhappy customers!

6. A FOCUS ON GREAT END RESULTS

Any business owner knows it costs more to gain a new customer than to please and keep an existing one (six to seven times more, in fact!). That’s why smaller companies tend to take a long-term view of the client relationship.

Paintagon knows the value of pleasing clients because that’s how lifelong customers are made. We stay with our commitments by over-delivering. It’s the complete opposite of making big promises up front and then offering lower quality workmanship when it comes time for the deliverables.

SMALLER COMPANIES DELIVER ON ALL FRONTS

From up-front marketing practices and simple contracts to better responsiveness and stronger commitment, the way smaller companies do business provides extra value in all kinds of ways for the commercial painting services client.

If you’re in the areas of Toronto, Markham, GTA, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Ajax, or Newmarket, call Ajay Burman.

He’s not only the owner of Paintagon, he’s also a consultant. Like everyone who works at the company, he’s always happy to answer your calls right away. If you’d like to experience the Paintagon difference, call today!