My Expensive Painting Contractor Mistake

by Caitlin T.
(Virginia)

I had a friend of mine recommend a local house painting company to help me repaint the exterior of my home. The gentleman was prompt in showing up to my house, gave a very cheap estimate compared to other companies I had thought of going with, so I thought I was getting a great deal.

A house that should have taken a maximum of three days to paint ended up taking three months, and it still isn't completed. The cost was initially supposed to be around twenty-five hundred dollars, but I'm now out of pocket more than seventy-five hundred dollars. This man is a complete rip off.

The best advice I can give any homeowner looking to have anything painted is to make sure that you get a contract with the painting contractor, completely stating any and all costs you will have to pay, and exactly how long the job should take.

There should be a clause in the contract stating that if the contractor cannot complete the job in said amount of time, that a refund or partial refund will be given back to you. I made a definite mistake in not getting a contract with this company. I was assured by a friend that they were legitimate and trustworthy, and now my house is half painted blue and half white, and I’m out a ton of money.

Do a lot of research before going with any painting contractor, and beware of those offering to do a job extra cheap, compared to other local companies.