You probably never expected that your condo would need a painter. You’re not living in a log cabin, after all. It’s not like wood paneling or anything; it’s just walls, right? Wrong! As it turns out, even concrete and steel can get moldy. And when you add water to the mix, things can get pretty gross really fast. If you’ve ever lived in an apartment building, you can probably imagine the mess that painting services can cause on any given day. It’s something that almost every condo board dreads having to deal with. Fortunately for you as a homeowner, painter services for your condo are offered as part of your monthly maintenance fees. If you plan and get in touch with the right people before they go on vacation (usually around mid-June), painting shouldn’t be too inconvenient for you. Here are some tips and tricks to help find the right condo painter:
Finding a Painter in Condo Buildings
If you’re the president of your condo board or if you happen to be the one in charge of hiring the painting services, the first step is to find out who the other condo buildings in your area recommend and then eventually contact a condo painter in Toronto. It’s not uncommon for there to be an informal network between buildings, especially if the same company manages them. A quick Google search for “apartment painting services” followed by your city name should give you a good idea of who’s in your neighborhood. If you’re not the person in charge of hiring the painting services, you can still get in on the information flow. Ask around and see if anyone else on your floor has used any painting services or knows of any recommendations. You may find someone on your floor who has done the hiring for the board before, which makes them a great source of advice.
Ask Your Condo Board Who They Think is the Best Painter
If you’ve been able to get in touch with your condo board, one of the best places to start your search is with them. It’s not uncommon for condo boards to list preferred vendors, especially if they’re the same ones they’ve used in the past. If you’re lucky, your board has already hired the painting contractor for your building, meaning you’re already all set. They might have some names to recommend if they haven’t hired anyone yet. If not, you can ask them how they go about finding the painters. You might even ask them if you can have a say in who they hire.
Check the Ratings on Services and Contractors
There are plenty of rating services for services and contractors out there. Just make sure you’re using one that’s specific to the contractor you’re looking for, not just general contractors. You can usually find these websites by searching for “painter contractor ratings” or “painting contractor ratings.” Some of them might even have a “condo painting” category. When you check these sites, you should be looking for two things: reviews from the general public and information on how many years in business the contractor has been. Some of these sites will also give you an idea of the contractor’s pricing, but usually, it’s more helpful to know how long they’ve been in business and what kind of reviews they have. You can also use these sites to see if the contractor has any public advertisements. These can sometimes be a good source for pricing and information, too.
Find Recommendations from Other People You Know
If you have friends in other condos or in the same building, see if they have used any painting services in the past. You can ask them if they’d recommend the company, but you should make sure you don’t come across as pushy. If the painting contractor you’re inquiring about also happens to paint their condo, it might be a good idea to ask them for a recommendation. This might lead you to a contractor already familiar with your building. You can also ask around on social media. It’s probably best to keep it off Facebook since only your friends will see it. You might want to try Instagram, Twitter, or even LinkedIn.
Don’t Forget to Ask for Pricing and Warranties
You want to ensure that the contractor you hire is reputable and that they will do a good job. If you get a recommendation from someone you trust, you’re probably in good hands. However, when you’re searching for a contractor on your own, you will want to make sure you ask them about their experience and qualifications, as well as pricing and warranty information. You should also ask about the contractors’ availability for your painting job. You don’t want to hire a contractor who’s too busy to fit you in.
Conclusion
Even if you find the best contractor, you should still have a backup plan in case they can’t make it. You should also have a backup plan in case the contractor you hire turns out to be a bad one out of the bunch. It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially regarding your condo. Having a backup plan can help you avoid a lot of headaches.
