/ BLOG

The Ultimate Guide to Painting a House for Your Customers

Jun 17, 2022 · 7 minutes to read

A painting paints a house

Painting professionals help homeowners freshen up or transform their houses, inside and out. As a new painting business owner, you might be looking for ways to make a mark in your local area and attract new customers. This house painting guide has got you covered, with helpful hints for impressing your clients from the first coat of paint to the last!

Assess the Project

The first step to taking on any painting project is to assess the situation. While your customer will have ideas about what they want to be done, they’ve hired you for a reason. You should use your knowledge and experience to fully scope out the house painting work you’ll need to do, the tools you’ll need, and how long it will take.

As a painting professional, you might notice additional work that may be necessary that your customer is not aware of. You might also spot other areas of their exterior that could need a new coat of paint or touchups. These items could be added to the current project or help you create repeat business.

Provide an Accurate Quote

Most customers want to know two things when they hire a professional painter: How much does it cost, and how long will it take? It’s in your best interest to provide a quote that is as accurate as possible. This not only gives potential customers the information they want but it shows your professionalism and skill. You know what you’re doing, right down to the last coat of paint!

Of course, things don’t always go as planned. Unexpected rain or an out-of-stock paint color could add time and expense to a job. However, a real painting pro builds some buffer into their quotes to help account for unforeseen issues.

Offer Services Your Competitors Don’t

Standing out from the competition is one way to attract new customers and win their painting projects. Offering services that your competitors do not can help you do this. There are many unique services a painter could offer, such as:

  • Helping customers choose color schemes that work well together on their homes, compliment their neighbors’ houses, or match existing coats.
  • Target a single neighborhood and offer discounts on HOA-approved hues (This strategy may work well if you’re able to book several jobs in the same area and share supplies.)
  • Provide a guarantee for your work, including free touchups for a certain period after a job is finished.
  • Offer discounts on other services, such as 25% off interior painting when you book exterior house painting work.

It may help to study what your competitors are doing and think of ways you might be able to do things better.

Schedule the Job

When it comes time to schedule a customer’s job, you’ll need to consider many different factors. Your current schedule is one. As your painting business grows, you may need to juggle several different jobs and customers at the same time. That might be the time to hire some employees or bring in painting contractors to help with the workload.

Another big factor in when you can paint a house is the weather. Some exterior house painting tips to keep in mind when scheduling jobs are:

  • Avoid moisture – You shouldn’t paint a surface that’s just been rained on. If the forecast calls for rain, you may need to wait a day or two before starting a job. Humidity can also be an issue. High relative humidity (RH) levels cause paint to dry slower and could add days to a project.
  • Watch the temperature – Direct sunlight and intense heat can cause paint to ripple. It’s also not comfortable to work in (and could be potentially dangerous). On the other hand, if the temperature is 34-37° F, the paint will not dry.
  • Consider the time of day – Exterior painting is best done from late morning to mid-afternoon. This gives the morning dew time to evaporate and gives the paint time to dry before temperatures drop in the evening.
  • Think about the season – While most people think about painting their homes in the summer, late spring and early fall may be better because temperatures are generally milder.

Collect Your Supplies

You should have a good idea of what supplies you’ll need after assessing the job and providing a quote. You will have measured walls and calculated how much paint will be needed for the entire project. While you want to avoid overbuying paints, it is wise to order a little extra in case something goes wrong. Leaving a can or two behind with the customer at the end of the job is useful if you’re called back for touchups.

Along with paint, you will also need to check your brushes and rollers to see if anything needs replacing. Regular maintenance of power tools, such as sprayers and sanders, is recommended to keep these items in working order. If anything needs to be repaired or replaced, try to do it before the job starts, so nothing slows down the work.

Get to Work

You’ve assessed the project, provided a quote, scheduled the job, and collected your supplies. It’s time to get to work!

You are the painting pro, so you probably don’t need any exterior house painting tips from us. However, it’s important to remember that your customers might be watching you very carefully. Acting professionally at all times can help set their minds at ease and potentially earn you a customer for life.

Some things to consider:

  • Always clean up at the end of the day – Even if a project is still in progress, tidying up each day can help prevent accidents, such as trip and fall injuries or spilled paint.
  • Keep phone use to a minimum – If a customer sees you on your phone all day, they might start to worry about the job going overtime. Consider leaving your phone on mute and responding to voicemails and messages before and after project hours.
  • Respect your customer’s home – Treat each client’s home and belongings as if they were your own. Remove dirty boots when entering, take care when moving furniture, and be mindful of fragile items.

Follow Up After the Job’s Done

A business owner’s job doesn’t end as soon as the paint has dried. You should follow up with your customers to make sure they are happy with the work you have done. If yes, you might want to ask them to leave you an online review or refer you to their family and friends.

If a customer is not satisfied, you should try to fix the situation. There may be ways you can turn things around and still earn a good review.

Finally, you might also consider ways to create repeat business. Collecting customer emails is one way to sell additional services and offer discounts. Though, if you’ve done your job right, your customers may already be thinking about the next paint job they can hire you for!

Is your painting business protected?

Business insurance, such as General Liability* coverage and a Business Owner’s Policy*, could help you protect your growing painting company. These policies cover common risks that painters may experience in their line of work. Instead of paying compensation and legal fees from your own pocket, your business insurance does it for you. You can even get coverage for the tools and equipment needed to do your job.

Compare insurance for painters online with BizInsure – Start now.

*As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording. The information contained on this web page is general only and should not be relied upon as advice.

Get Free Online Quotes and get coverage instantly

The coverage you need for your business.

Business insurance is divided into different policies. We offer 4 types so it's easy to design the coverage that fits your business.

Professional Liability Insurance

Get a quote

General Liability Insurance

Get a quote

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

Get a quote

Workers Compensation Insurance

Get a quote

Let's find

The coverage you need for your business

Professional Liability Insurance

Get a quote

General Liability Insurance

Get a quote

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

Get a quote

Workers Compensation Insurance

Get a quote

BizInsure has really come through for me on some really hard to place risks. Andrew takes the time to understand the risk and work through how we can make it work, rather than looking for ways to say no. Thank you for your help!
Carlos T.
18:06 16 Mar 23
Very helpful and explanatory on the policy line of the policy
Josua V.
17:30 14 Mar 23
Worked with Tevin. Amazing customer service. Was very patient with me in figuring out the best insurance coverage for business. Thanks Tevin for making it easy.
Faisal O.
16:23 14 Mar 23
No complaints, Always a fast response when a need arises.
Dan F.
13:56 10 Mar 23
Very good information patience was shown. Much help from Kaled, satisfied with the amount of insurance and good coverage. Affordable is what you need with starting a small business until you grow. Old saying is go as you grow.
Jacquelynn W.
21:53 20 Jan 23
Professionals at what they do! easy to navigate and very good people to lead to to the best coverage!
Magnifier 2.
20:37 17 Jan 23
I have been shopping for business liability insurance for several months. I am happy to share that BizInsure ranked #1! The representatives were polite, patient, and empathetic. They accomplished what most companies struggle with achieving: they did what they said they were going to do, they were on time, and they had empathy. They delivered a policy for 25% less than the closest competetor, and even included $50k of cyber security at no additional cost! I only write reviews when I receive exceptional experiences- highly revommended; keep up the great service BizInsure!P.S. I own a professional referral service in Hawai'i and I am going to see if BizInsure offers an affiliate program.Aloha!
John S.
05:51 23 Nov 22
They respond quickly and give you quotes immediately ...
Regean K.
23:55 09 Nov 22
The agent that I spoke to was very experienced and could tell that I was new at this and was very understanding and took the time to explain everything to me.
lotanga J.
00:04 15 Oct 22
Easy to work with and very responsive. Glad to have them as my broker.
Edward G.
18:54 13 Sep 22
We’re very happy with BiInsured LLC. VERY AFFORDABLE
Paul A. F.
19:20 11 Sep 22
Jasmine Q was on the spot professional, she knew where to direct me and explain to me my concerns and request; she delivered my personal information within minutes of me asking policy questions.That young lady is a true ROCK STAT!!!
Shaka 3 Z.
23:09 15 Aug 22
For a small non-profit, the package I was given was affordable. The representative was polite, patient, understanding, and knowledgeable.
Gertrude R.
18:06 15 Aug 22
Asked for a specific venue to be place on our certificate of insurance and it was done within one business day. Yay! Bizinsure!
Melinda S.
17:02 01 Aug 22
The process was fast and easy and the professional staff was very knowledgeable with any questions that I had and ready to help
VALERIE M.
06:40 31 Mar 22
Friendly agents. Timely replies. Fair pricing. This is a good fit for my business! Thank you, Noah, for all your help.
Beth Anne V.
19:27 28 Mar 22
They are awesome
Tony H.
00:41 07 Jan 22
Noa made sure I had all the information I needed for a first time business owner . He helped me understand what I needed to secure a quality policy and he was super helpful when explaining how the policy would serve its purpose to my company. I was very satisfied and had an Awesome experience, I think people like that make the company look good!
Wayleen O.
04:36 15 Oct 21
I was in need of WC, GL and PL coverages for my business and was able to shop, discuss, confirm and purchase all the coverages in two days! This was a great experience, especially when "Time is Money". Noah Bowman was very professional and knowledgeable. Thanks!
AmeriCreed 1.
15:42 23 Sep 21
MOVING FORWARD, I WILL BE SENDING ALL OF MY BUSINESS TO THIS COMPANY !!!! Incredible customer service!!! Thanks
THEODORE W.
19:49 09 Sep 21
Their representative clearly explained different kinds of policies to help me select the one appropriate for my needs and then helped me enroll by phone painlessly. By the end of the call, I had a policy in place.
Dissent D.
22:21 02 Sep 21
Eugene was Awesome!!!!
Lakesha G
17:19 21 Jul 21
Excellent solution for writers and authors professional liability policy as well as coverage for copyright and trademark infringement. Service was prompt and excellent.
Lane
18:22 22 Jun 21
Done in less than an hour!
William O.
00:30 02 Jun 21
Efficient, and great value. The agent was able to give us a quote and a new policy in a short period of time. Thank you
Brenda J.
20:30 24 May 21
I had a great experiencing obtaining several of my insurance needs as a landscaping company here in Northern Colorado. BizInsure's team took care of my needs and was very responsive to help with paperwork needed to secure a potential client account!
Arik S.
16:34 10 May 21
Very efficient they were able to help me out with my request promptly....highly recommend this companyI am very happy to have them
Elba P.
18:50 26 Apr 21
I need a help getting errors and omissions insurance along with general liability. Jose was very friendly informative and was very patient with me during the process. He found me some of the best rates for the coverage that I needed. Highly recommend
Casper M.
19:51 20 Apr 21
I had numerous conversations with several business insurance agents over a month's time. I also had several conversations confirming the policy inclusion/exclusions and asked many questions. My BizInsure agent was professional, knowledgeable and most important—detail oriented. Even after having an initial conversation a month earlier he knew and *remembered* all my personal/professional insurance needs. When I asked for additional information on the third call he was able to provide me with details very quickly. He was also VERY patient. That is a big plus in my opinion. It illustrated a high level of respect for my needs. I also found when I called back and asked to talk with the initial agent, the person who answered the call was able to get in contact quickly and my agent responded and returned the call within 5-10 minutes. The transaction was smooth, and I think it's a good sign should I ever need to make a claim. I highly recommend BizInsure.
Poetic F.
21:00 07 Apr 21
The rep was extremely helpful actually lowered my quote and made sure I was covered to fit my needs with my growing business! 5star!!
Franklin B.
19:04 16 Mar 21
Excellent service and prices.
Cassiopée V L.
23:13 09 Mar 21
Mr. Daniel Scott was very responsive to my professional needs.
Stephanie W.
17:38 18 Feb 21
Eugene deserves a raise! First time purchasing insurance and he made the process so simple for me. His patience and attention to detail left me feeling confident in my decision to choose BizInsure. Gracias Eugene!
Esined P.
23:32 17 Feb 21
The customer service provided by Jose was outstanding. He explained everything in a very clear/logical way and answered all of my questions. After providing all the information to obtain general liability insurance, Jose sent me the declaration page of the insurance for review. All of the information matched what I provided over the phone and there were no typos. The next day I called back to purchase the insurance which was easy and fast. Overall, my experience with BizInsure including the customer service by Jose exceeded my expectations.
Joe W.
03:29 12 Dec 20
Hiscox/BizInsure made getting Liability Insurance very easy and reasonable.I expected it to be a long and complicated process and it was a nice surprise that they made it so uncomplicated. Thank you. Lisa
Lisa W.
21:51 24 Nov 20
Eugene was incredible. I called 4 other brokers before him who were impossible to get any help.
rhonda H.
23:26 12 Nov 20
Very quick to get in touch with you and good with follow up. Had some trouble retrieving my quote to log into my account initially but Daniel assisted me and the changes were made to get me into my account. Great value for the money.
Fran S.
16:34 20 Sep 20
Very happy to be insured with this company. Professional, Timely, very helpful. Thank you Juan, you made it so much easier for me to understand.
Aileen D.
19:55 15 Sep 20
This company responded when I needed them to respond while facing a deadline. They are an excellent choice for business Insurance.
Michele H.
01:52 12 Sep 20
Jose Quintero took such great care of me and was very patient explained everything I did not understand and got me set up quickly. Fabulous customer service
Christina R.
02:41 27 Aug 20
I can't say enough good things about Daniel Santos kind and effective communication skills as an insurance agent. Daniel was so pleasant, friendly and efficient with helping me obtain insurance as a teacher. If I were to give Daniel a grade, he has earned an At . He made the process easy to understand, it was far easier than what I anticipated. Nancy S.
Nancy S.
00:47 26 Aug 20
I was in need of professional liability insurance for my sole proprietorship. A friend referred me. Everythng was quick and simple and AFFORDABLE!
hope J.
20:31 25 Aug 20
If you need Private Home Care Provider insurance for your company, BizInsure, LLC can get it for you!
Pamela C.
16:45 24 Aug 20
Great and fast service!!!! The representative was very professional!!!!
Tanya S.
19:51 14 Jul 20
I was tryi9ng to find commercial liability insurance for my new comp-any and BizInsure was easy to use and very affordable which is great for me as a new business.
Jimmy S.
19:01 14 Jul 20
Great service insurance prices are great for professionals looking to get insurance for businesses....
Rhonda G.
22:34 22 Jun 20
The provided very professional service and made the process easy.
Paul R.
21:51 04 Jun 20
Bradley Hoyle from the Biz Insure team was excellent to work with. Everything was quick and smooth. Great service, much appreciated!
Kristene S.
02:03 04 Jun 20
Anthony Spencer was great!! Very quick response time!! He was very Professional! I would suggest him because he helped me find a affordable rate and explained all the technicalities..
Fre H.
16:38 28 May 20
I was referred to Bizinsure by a industry trade group that I am a member of. It was easy to get a quote online and then received excellent customer service from Bradley H. to complete my policy purchase over the phone. I have shared this company information now with other business owners for their policy needs.
Dawn T.
22:11 08 May 20
This company was very precise with explaining services and made sure I chose the right business insurance coverage, great customer service at purchasing.
Nekeisha B.
01:30 05 May 20
Amazing
Jasmine Q
14:31 02 Dec 19
Trish is the most patient, professional and understanding insurance agent I’ve ever worked with. Trish has taken care of all my business insurance needs for the last couple years. I am really happy that I found an insurance agent that I know will take care of me & all of my concerns. I feel like a valued customer & I appreciate the great customer service that I get every time!!THANK YOU!
Dr. Youssef C. A.
17:21 14 Nov 18
Tricia helped me get insurance for my business. The task of obtaining a quote was really starting to frustrate me until I was referred to BizInsure through a different agency. Tricia got me a quote fast, and even took a down payment over the phone and issued the proof of insurance the same day. a+ service, would do it again in a heartbeat!! Thank you!!
Josh M.
18:07 22 Jun 18
BizInsure was a great find! I did not have to fill out applications, and Tricia was able to quote and bind business insurance for me within half an hour.
Allison Y.
17:28 21 Jun 18
Started doing business again and needed a policy fast. Ramez was reasonable, helpful and the rates are OK. Buyer beware? Sure, for me it turned out OK this time. Worth a call.
Mark W.
23:42 13 Nov 17
Great customer service. I've been very inpressed with my dedicated representative that had helped me navegate my insurence needs. Thanks so much!
Graham B.
22:12 23 Jun 17
js_loader

Popular Searches

Google Rating
4.4
Based on 89 reviews
×
js_loader