House painting in Danville involves a lot of important decisions. Do you want to do the painting job by yourself or should you hire a professional? What color will you use? What finish? Let’s tackle the first question about hiring a professional painter.
In case you have decided to hand the work to a professional. But that in itself also brings about a new important question: would you want to choose a professional who is on the pricier side but is otherwise licensed and insured, or someone who offers cheap rates but is otherwise unlicensed? This is a big decision because it can determine the end result after the painting is finished.
One of the first things to know when hiring a professional painting contractor is the legal factor. Most states require contractors to have a license in order to conduct their businesses. When a contractor is licensed, it is a proof that the contractor has been fully educated and trained in this field. Plus, having a license shows that the contractor has not committed any outstanding violations which may prevent them obtaining, holding or renewing a license. Beware of the contractors who claim that they are licensed, as they may have expired licenses or have invalid licenses numbers. To be sure, ask them to show their licenses if they’re not expired and have the license numbers are valid. You can verify the license number by contacting the Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
When you hire an unlicensed contractor, you cannot expect that the quality of work he does will be superior, compared to the high-quality work of a truly licensed and professional painter. Since the contractor has to not only spend but also work on obtaining a license, only true professional contractors who are serious and dedicated in their work to invest in obtaining one. However, there may be people who know little about the trade who can manage to buy a license in spite of their amateur skills. That’s why it’s still important to check references and ratings. You may also need to check the Contractors State License Board’s website (www2.cslb.ca.gov/onlineservices/checklicenseII/checklicense.aspx) for verification if you’re still unsure about the potential contractors you’re considering.
Perhaps the biggest concern that involves licensing is the financial factor. If an unlicensed contractor botches his job and brings financial loss, that loss may not be recovered. That’s because the contractor wasn’t licensed or is not insured. As a result, it may bring financial burden to the homeowner by having his or her insurance increased or worse, canceled. Theft and other crimes done by a contractor who’s not licensed may also not be covered.
An unlicensed contractor may not also be liable in an injury case, and the accountability will instead rest on the homeowners. Since licensing is a proof of insurance in most states, when a professional contractor is licensed he will cover any type of damage — whether it be personal or property — which may occur while the work is in progress. If a worker of an unlicensed and uninsured contractor experiences an accident or an injury while inside your property, he can sue you and demand medical expenses and other types of damages. That’s why you should hire a licensed and insured contractor to avoid these scenarios from happening. You may have hired a pricier contractor but if he’s reputable, licensed and insured, rest assured that both of you and the contractor will be protected.
So in the end, even if your budget is an issue but you know that your home needs a new coat of paint, hiring an unlicensed contractor is not the best financial move. Choose only licensed and insured contractors, speak to their references, and confirm if they have license as well as know if it’s valid. Hiring a professional contractor will make your house painting in Danville easier and even more cost-effective than you think.
