7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Painter
Painting has one of the lowest barriers to entry in the trades, which is exactly why vetting matters more here than almost anywhere else. Ask these seven at the estimate appointment. Good painters answer them weekly and have the documents ready.
Nationwide · Interior & Exterior Painting · August 2, 2026 · 5 min read
1. Are you insured, and can your agent send me the certificate?
General liability protects your property; workers' compensation protects you if someone is injured on it. Ask for the certificate of insurance to come directly from the agent, not as a PDF from the contractor's phone.
Also ask about licensing where it applies. In Alabama, residential work above the state threshold generally requires a licensed residential home builder, and some cities require a business license on top of that.
2. Who will actually be on my property, and are they your employees?
Sales-and-subcontract outfits are common in painting. That is not automatically bad, but you should know it before the job, not on day one when a crew you have never met arrives.
Follow up with: who is the on-site lead, and are they there every day?
3. What exactly is your prep scope?
Prep is 80 percent of a paint job's lifespan. You want the wash method, scrape and sand scope, caulking, and the primer product used on bare wood and stains — written into the quote.
'Prep as needed' means the crew decides later. Get specifics.
4. What paint, what sheen, and how many coats?
Brand and product line, not just 'premium'. Sheen per surface, and coat count per surface. Two coats is the standard; one coat over a color change will not hold up.
5. What is your workmanship warranty, and what voids it?
A two-year workmanship warranty is a reasonable floor for exterior work. The important half is what voids it and what the process is when you call — and whether the warranty is on paper.
6. Can I speak with two customers from the last six months?
Recent matters more than plentiful. Crews change. A five-year-old reference says nothing about the people who will be at your house next month.
Ask those references one specific question: did the crew show up on the days they said they would?
7. What happens if you miss a scheduled appointment?
This is the question that started Homeowner Henry. A professional has an answer: a phone call, a rescheduled date, and accountability. Someone who has never considered it is telling you how the job will go.
In our network, two missed confirmed appointments means removal. Hold your painter to the same standard whether you find them through us or not.
Common questions
What if a painter refuses to answer these?
That is your answer. Professionals field these weekly and have documents on hand.
How large a deposit is reasonable?
Enough to cover materials, with the balance tied to completion or clear milestones. Be cautious of anyone asking for a large share of the total before work begins.
Does Homeowner Henry check this for me?
We verify license, insurance, and recent references before a painter receives any homeowner request — but confirm the credentials yourself as well.
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