How To Find A Good Painter

A house painter becomes a necessity as a house grows older and undergoes wear and tear. There are some ways to find a good painter.

You can start by asking around. Chances are your friends, work colleagues or family members have contacts that you can check out. Regardless of whether they’ve liked the work or not, ask them for help first. If they are unhappy with the standard of the work, then you’ll know which companies to avoid. If they are happy, you will have a reliable reference. Either way, it works out.

Image: pixabay.com/photos/painter-painting-employee-building-2751666/

In case this option is not available to you, go one step back and start with the paper or the magazine. Go online and find painting sites with names for you to call. Check with local vendors and hardware stores to find out if they know people. There must be someone who can help you.

Once you have some information, shortlist your candidates and set up appointments to meet them. It may be best to do this at your place of residence or at the office building that you need painted. This way they can see the site and tell you their thoughts too. It’s important now to ask the right questions. This will help you assess whether the painter is the right person for you. Here are some that you can pose:

1.   Can you give me any references for your previous work?

2.   What’s the kind of experience you have?

3.   What’s your time schedule for the painting assignment?

4.   What kind of paints do you use? Could you tell me the brands you use?

5.   Do you do any sort of treatment for the walls before you paint?

6.   Do you do all the work yourself or do you have a team?

7.   Do you have insurance and licences?

8.   Do you sign a contract for the work or an agreement?

9.   Will I have to clean up after the painting job or is that part of your work contract too?

10. If applicable: Will you be able to come back for touch-ups once I move furniture back and hang up paintings and so forth?

If you’re meeting more than one painter, their quotes for the painting job will give you a fair idea of what to expect for a cost estimate.

The answers you receive will help you understand the work ethic and thought process of the painter. A good painter has lots of experience and can submit references to back up their work. They are professional in all their dealings, and are on time from the first meeting to all the other visits to your house. The materials they use are of the highest quality and they clean up after the work is done. A good house painter carries insurance, permits and the appropriate papers. Most Raleigh NC painters give you a contract and the clear language and transparency of the contract will tell you even more about the reliability of the team.  Do take the time to read through before you sign. 

Home Improvement Advice From HGTV Stars

Home renovation stars like the Property Brothers and Chip and Joanna Gaines sure do know how to transform a house. They take some of the most surprising spaces and turn them into beautiful and cozy living spaces. If you like watching HGTV shows and appreciate a good makeover, you probably have some questions about how these stars do it all.

The secret is there’s a lot of the work behind the scenes. What we see in a 30 minute episode is just the highlight reel of a process that can sometimes take weeks or even months to complete. These HGTV hosts make it look easy but in reality, they do know what they’re doing. Many of these stars have grown their real estate or home renovation businesses far beyond the HGTV network. Many of them are successful business owners with multiple projects going on.

The Zebra created this fun infographic to give you an idea of how these famous home experts take on a project. You’ll see that many of these tips can be applied to any project, from start to finish. When you’re ready to start your next project, keep these lessons on success in mind for your transformation. 

Please include attribution to https://www.thezebra.com/ with this graphic.

Choosing Coveted Secret Santa Gifts

Since you’ve taken the time to decorate your home inside and out for the holiday season, show it off by hosting a secret Santa party. In the invitation, instruct friends to bring one wrapped, but unlabeled gift to give in the exchange. Each guest will have a turn to choose a package and either keep what they’ve unwrapped or swap it for a present that’s already been opened. Consider ideas that will ensure you’re offering the most memorable gift in the game.

image:pixabay.com/photos/retro-gifts-christmas-tree-vintage-1847088

Cozy Touches

 

Choose an item that will keep someone toasty all winter long. Purchase a luxurious throw blanket perfect for a comfortable night watching movies on the couch, a whimsical onesie or a portable electric heater. You can also compile a gift basket featuring thermal socks, fuzzy mittens and a colorful jersey knit scarf, for example.

Delicious Treats

image:www.bisketbaskets.com/cookiebouquets.html

Appealing to someone’s stomach is a great way to ensure the popularity of your present. Offer cookie gift baskets featuring a variety of flavors or a tin filled with baked goods such as muffins, scones and croissants. A bucket that includes a bottle of wine and an assortment of cheeses, crackers and preserves would also be ideal.

Relaxing Activities

 

Compile a collection of activities that the recipient can use to pass the time on a lazy day at home. Consider such items as an adult coloring book and colored pencils, a leather bound journal and a set of calligraphy pens, a gift card to a movie streaming service or a basket of goodies for a spa day like bubble bath, body scrub, candles, slippers and a plush robe.

Family and friends will have a ball stealing the best gifts from one another at your holiday party. Choose something that will appeal to their craving for comfort, relaxation or entertainment to be sure your present is the one that’s stolen and desired the most.