How to Choose a Painting Contractor: A Homeowner's Checklist

Hiring a painting contractor isn't like buying a TV. There's no spec sheet — quality varies enormously between companies, and the bad ones can cause expensive damage. This checklist walks you through what to verify before signing anything.

The one-minute checklist

Before any contractor steps onto your property for a quote, confirm three things:

1. Are they licensed in Idaho? Verify at dopl.idaho.gov. Idaho requires contractor registration for any project over $2,000.
2. Are they insured? Ask for proof of General Liability (minimum $1M occurrence) and Workers' Comp (if they have employees).
3. Are they bonded? A surety bond protects you if the contractor doesn't complete the job. Should be $10,000+ at minimum.

If a contractor balks at any of these, walk away.

What to ask during the walkthrough

About the work itself

• "What products will you use? Why?"
• "How many coats?" (Should be two on siding, two on trim minimum)
• "What surface prep is included?"
• "Will you replace any rotted wood?"
• "What's NOT included that I might assume is?"

About scheduling

• "When can you start, and how long will it take?"
• "How will weather affect the schedule?"
• "Will it be your crew, or subcontracted?"

About payment

• "What's your payment schedule?" (Standard: small deposit, progress payment at midpoint, final at walk-through)
• "Are change orders written and signed before extra work?"

About the warranty

• "How long is the warranty, and what does it cover?"
• "Can you give me 3 references whose warranties are still active?"

Red flags

• "Cash only." Legitimate contractors take checks and cards.
• Large upfront deposit. 25% is industry standard. 50%+ is a warning. 100% means run.
• No physical address. If they're operating from a PO box only, you have nowhere to go if things go sideways.
• No written contract. Even a one-page proposal with scope, price, schedule, and warranty is enough.
• Door-to-door sales pressure. "We have leftover paint from a job nearby" is the oldest scam in residential construction.
• No reviews — or all 5-star with no detail. A 10-year-old business with 4 reviews is hiding something.

The reference check

Always call at least 2 references. Don't just ask "did they do good work?" — ask:

• Did they finish on the schedule promised?
• Did the final cost match the quote? Any surprises?
• Did they clean up well?
• Have any issues come up since? How did they handle warranty calls?
• Would you hire them again?

The "would you hire again" question is the killer. Watch for hesitation.