As a homeowner it is up to you to protect your most valuable possession. You invest in a contractor either to protect the surfaces of your home or to make it more attractive. Regardless of the objective, it is up to you to choose a contractor who is confident and knowledgeable about the services and products he will use to give you a top quality job. By recommending top quality paints and products rather than the less expensive ordinary paints, we provide better protection of the surface not to mention a job that will look great and hold up for years to come. In addition to quality products, there are numerous applications and preparation techniques.

When obtaining bids be sure to ask the contractor how he plans to achieve the results your are seeking. Have him spell it out in a contract, exactly what he plans to do. Notice his attention to detail. Compare all of your bids to make sure that all the contractors are bidding the same work and that all bids ensure proper preparation. The lowest price may not always be the best choice. You can save a lot of money by paying a little more now for a top quality job, rather than having to call someone out to fix what was not done right in the first place. Quality should be more important than price. Choose a contractor that you feel comfortable with building a relationship with. Someone you can call time and time again to take care of all of your needs, because let's face it, the upkeep on a home is a continuous effort.

Consider these points when choosing a contractor:
• Does he have insurance? Will he be able to protect you and your home from unforeseen accidents?
• How is his reputation? What percentage of his business is from repeat customers?
• Does he have references? You should call on at least 2-3 references to find out if other homeowners are satisfied not only with the contractor, but with the quality of the job.
• Do not pay a contractor up front for his labor. If you are not satisfied with the job, you have no recourse except to see him in court.
• How much preparation will the contractor do prior to beginning the job?
• Will he apply paint samples and obtain approval prior to painting your house?
• Will he protect your personal belongings? Will he have enough drop cloths to cover shrubs and bushes; will he cover windows, furniture, carpet, ect.?
• Will he use top quality materials, or will he use the cheapest materials he can buy in order to increase his profit on the job? Did he bid the job so low that he has to use less expensive materials in order to make a profit?
• How is his appearance? If he is clean and neat in appearance, then he will likely have clean and neat work habits.
• Will he stay on your job until it is complete? Will he be leaving your job to go out and bid other jobs? Will he have to purchase materials prior to starting your job, or will he start and leave several times a day to go purchase materials?
• Will he honor his warranties? Should something not hold up will he come back and repair or replace it? So many contractors now a days offer you a verbal warranty just to obtain the job, then if you have a problem you can never seem to get them back over there to take care of it. Remember when choosing a contractor, the lowest bid is not always the best deal.