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(These are excerpts form MSN House & Home) When interviewing prospective contractors, pay attention to how they answer your questions. A good contractor will listen carefully and not rush you into decisions. |
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Do
you work full time or part time as a contractor? |
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Michael Carlin
Painting is a full time painting contractor.
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How
long have you worked as a contractor?
A minimum of five years of experience is preferable. Most contractors who go
out of business do so in the first five years.
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Michael Carlin
Painting has been in business for 15 years. |
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Is
your contractor's license in good standing?
Also get license
numbers for any subcontractors on your project. Check with the state licensing
board or the Better Business Bureau if you are not certain of a contractor's
certification. Avoid working with a contractor whose license is defective, or
one who has numerous complaints on record. |
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Michael Carlin
Painting is licensed with the State of
Washington License
#: MICHACP016M3.
In addition, we are Bonded.
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How
many projects like this one have you completed?
Gauge a contractor's expertise in the kind of work you want performed. |
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We have painted over 2,000 homes in the
Pacific Northwest
over the past 15 years. Homes ranging in size from 1,000 sq ft to 10,000 sq ft. |
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May
I have the names and phone numbers of your last five clients?
A reputable contractor will give you this information; if a contractor won't
refer you to previous customers, cancel the rest of the interview. If possible,
visit one or two clients to inspect the quality of the work (and verify that
these are legitimate jobs).
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We will be more than happy to supply you with a list of our customers, and we
invite you to call them.
Customer Testimonials,, |
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What
kind of insurance do you carry?
Your contractor should have personal and property liability coverage and
workers' compensation, all of which are required by law. Ask for copies of the
policies for your files and verify that the documents are up to date. |
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We carry all the insurance necessary to make sure you and we are protected for
any liabilities. In addition, laws are very strict in regards to safety
regulations and hazardous waste
disposal. We pride ourselves on
being leaders in this area. Many
contractors are not in compliance and can place your project in jeopardy. |