Questions to ask a painter before you hire

Getting a few estimates is smart. The hard part is that three painters can walk through the same house and hand you three very different numbers. Usually that’s not because one of them is out to get you. It’s because they’re pricing three different jobs: different paint, different prep, a different number of coats.

The questions below help you see what each painter is actually offering, whether they’re set up properly, and what happens if something goes wrong. They work the same in Greenville County or Spartanburg County, and for one bedroom, the whole outside, or a set of kitchen cabinets.

Check the license and the insurance

Do this first. It takes a few minutes and rules out a lot of trouble.

Look up the South Carolina license

The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) keeps the records for contractors. Painters who work on homes fall under LLR’s Residential Builders Commission as residential specialty contractors.

Ask the painter for their license or registration number. Then look it up yourself with the online license lookup on LLR’s website, llr.sc.gov. Check that:

• The name on the license matches the business on your estimate.
• The license is active, not expired or lapsed.
• The classification covers painting.

Whether a license is required can depend on the size and type of the job. If a painter tells you they don’t need one, ask why. If the answer doesn’t sit right, LLR can tell you.

Ask for proof of insurance

A license and insurance are two different things. Ask for a certificate of insurance, not just a “yes, we’re insured.”

Two kinds matter:

• General liability. Covers damage to your house or your things caused by the work. Think a ladder through a window or a bucket tipped on the carpet.
• Workers’ compensation. Covers the painters if someone gets hurt on your job. Ask whether everyone who will be at your house is covered, including any subcontractors.

The certificate lists the insurance company and the agent. If you want to know the policy is current, call the agent and ask.

What a good written estimate spells out

A price given on the spot, or a number on the back of a business card, leaves too much room for “I thought that was included.” A good estimate is written, and it’s specific enough that you and the painter would read it the same way.

Look for these:

• Rooms or areas. Which rooms, or which sides of the house. “Interior” by itself isn’t specific enough.
• Surfaces. Walls, ceilings, trim, baseboards, doors and door frames, windows, closets. Each one is real work, so each should be listed or clearly left out.
• Prep work. Patching holes and cracks, sanding, caulking gaps along the trim, and priming patches and stains. Outside, add washing, scraping and spot priming. Prep is what makes paint last, and it’s the easiest place to cut corners. If your walls have dents, nail pops or cracks, see what goes into drywall repair.
• The paint. Brand, product line and sheen. A brand name alone doesn’t tell you much, because every brand makes several lines at very different quality levels. Not sure which sheen you want? Our paint sheen guide goes room by room.
• Number of coats. One coat or two makes a big difference in how the color looks and how long it holds up, especially when you’re changing colors.
• Furniture. Who moves it, who covers it, and who puts it back. Some painters move furniture, some expect the room cleared before they arrive.
• Cleanup. Drop cloths, picking up at the end of each day, pulling tape, and hauling off trash and empty cans.
• What’s not included. Wallpaper removal, big drywall repairs, rotten wood, popcorn ceilings, closet interiors. A good estimate says so up front, so it doesn’t turn into a surprise charge later.

If something you care about isn’t on the paper, ask for it to be added. If the plan changes once the job starts, get that in writing too.

Compare estimates apples to apples

Once you have two or three written estimates, lay them side by side. When one price is a lot lower than the others, the reason is almost always in this table.

Compare	What to check
Paint	Same brand? Same product line? Same sheen?
Prep	Does each one include patching, sanding, caulking and priming?
Coats	One coat or two? Primer where it’s needed?
Scope	Same rooms? Ceilings, trim and doors on all of them?
Extras	Furniture, cleanup, repairs, pressure washing on an exterior

A simple trick: write your own list of what you want painted and give the same list to every painter. Then you’re comparing prices for the same job.

Paint level matters more than most people think. A better paint costs more per gallon, but it covers better, cleans up better and lasts longer. A budget paint can look fine the day the painters leave. The difference shows up a few years in, when the hallway won’t wipe clean or the siding starts to fade.

Ask what the warranty covers

Most painters offer some kind of warranty. Ask how long it lasts and what it covers.

• Labor or paint? A workmanship warranty covers the painter’s work, like paint peeling or flaking because of how it was applied. Paint manufacturers have their own product warranties, and those are separate.
• What’s left out? Normal wear, dings and scuffs, and damage from things like a roof leak or moisture coming through a wall usually aren’t covered.
• How do you use it? Who do you call, and what happens next?
• Is it in writing? If it’s only a promise on the phone, ask for it on paper.

Talk about payment before you sign

Payment terms vary from painter to painter, and that’s normal. What matters is that they’re clear and written down before work starts.

Ask:

• Is there a deposit, and what is it for?
• When is the rest due? Many homeowners like to pay the balance after a final walkthrough, once they’ve seen the finished work.
• What forms of payment do you take?
• Is financing available?

Be careful about paying for the whole job before any work is done. Get a receipt for every payment.

Ask who will be at your house

The person who gives you the estimate isn’t always the person holding the brush. That’s fine, as long as you know who’s coming.

• Will the owner be on the job, or a crew? Are any of them subcontractors?
• Who is your contact during the job, and how do you reach them? Call, text, or both?
• What hours will they work, and how many days do they expect it to take?
• Who walks through the finished job with you?

If you have pets, small kids or someone working from home, say so at the estimate. It changes how the days go.

Ask about color help

Picking colors is where a lot of projects stall. Ask whether the painter will help, and how. A color that looks right on a chip under store lights can look very different on your wall in the afternoon. Seeing samples in your own rooms, in your own light, is the surest way to know.

If your neighborhood has an HOA, check whether exterior colors need approval before work starts. It’s better to know before a date is set.

Red flags

Any one of these is a reason to slow down:

• No written estimate. If they won’t put the price and the scope on paper, there’s nothing to hold either one to.
• Cash only. Cash leaves no paper trail. If something goes wrong, you have nothing that shows what you paid.
• Pressure to sign today. “This price is only good if you sign right now” is a sales tactic. A fair price will still be fair next week.
• No license or insurance, or no proof. If a worker gets hurt or your house gets damaged, you could be left to sort it out yourself.
• A price far below everyone else, with no explanation. Sometimes there’s a good reason, so ask. If the answer is vague, the savings usually come out of the prep, the paint or the coats.
• The whole job paid up front. Once all the money is gone, so is your leverage.

How we handle these questions

Here’s where we stand on the questions above.

• License and insurance. Licensed RBS 66117. Insured. You can look up our license on LLR’s website like any other.
• A written price. The estimate is free, and you get a written price before we start. See how we price for what goes into it.
• Paint. For walls, ceilings, trim and exteriors we use Sherwin-Williams in three levels: Essential (SuperPaint), Performance (Duration Home) and Showcase (Emerald). We’ll help you pick a level at the estimate.
• Warranty. A 12-month workmanship warranty on our labor.
• Color help. A free color consult comes with every estimate. See color consultation.
• Financing. Financing is available through Wisetack for eligible customers, and Klarna is an option when you pay your invoice. See financing.

We’re based in Duncan and paint homes across Greenville and Spartanburg counties. See our interior painting, exterior painting and cabinet painting pages for how we prep and paint, then bring us your questions. Call or text 864-800-8275 to set up a free estimate.