You've decided it's time to hire a professional to paint your house, but how do you find a reliable house painter? There are many things to consider when making the important decision of who should paint your home. While it can be easy to find a painter, it is not easy to know which ones are qualified and trustworthy, so you know the job will be done to last.

Some places to look for a painter:

Ask: Have any of your family members, friends, or acquaintances recently used a local painter? In that case, look at the work they did; there is nothing like seeing it with your own eyes to determine if that painter did a good job.

Verification of announcements in regional and community newspapers.

Get in touch with some local contractors, real estate agents, and your local paint store.

Once you have found them, you will probably need:

Check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints about the painter you choose to hire.

Word of mouth is a powerful thing - ask if anyone you know has heard anything negative about the painter of your choice.

Ask for references - Any reputable painter will be happy to provide contact information for past clients.

Ask the referees or people who referred the house painter if they were satisfied with the work, if the unpainted surfaces were protected and how the painter was coping, were they comfortable, punctual and reliable?

Ask the painter to go out to see the scope of the work and request a quote. Make sure the offer includes details such as which areas to paint and how many coats of paint are provided for the price you are delivering.

Once you've found a few painters that get your original approval and are within your price range, there are some important things to look for.

Your house painter should have extensive knowledge and experience regarding the tools you use, such as brushes, scrapers, tape, and rollers. They need to know how much paint and primer a job requires and what type of paint to use. They should also know things like how to remove wallpaper and how to fill a hole properly.

A responsible painter must have both business insurance and employee compensation insurance. If your painter is uninsured and accidentally breaks something or hurts himself, it would be his responsibility to incur the charges associated with the accident. Ask for proof of insurance before hiring your house painter; it can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Also ask about preparing the area to be painted - will your house painter take all necessary steps to make sure the paint job is done correctly? Do holes need to be filled and sanded before painting? Will your Schilder Landgraaf be able to tell if an area needs to be primed before painting? How many coats of paint should each area be covered with?

Housekeeping is also a good area to ask questions. Will your house painter leave your house as he found it? Will they finish the job with respect for your carpets, roofs, and belongings? Unpainted surfaces must be adequately protected with hinged plates.