The moment you decide to paint, the question arrives: who do I call? It's the right question, and it deserves a better process than picking the biggest ad.
Start with referrals from people you trust — neighbors, friends, and trades who see painters' work up close. Pay attention to names that come up more than once; repetition is its own reference.
Pre-screen before you meet
In California, all contractors doing home improvement work such as painting are required to hold a valid contractor's license. Before anyone visits your home, ask three questions:
- Do you hold a valid contractor's license? (Get the number.)
- Do you carry current general liability insurance?
- Do you carry current workers' compensation insurance?
Then verify — don't just ask
Check the license with the Contractors State License Board at 800-321-2752 or cslb.ca.gov. If you use an unlicensed contractor, the CSLB may not be able to help you when something goes wrong. Ask for insurance certificates sent directly from the carrier, and note how long the license has been active — longevity under one license number says a lot.
Watch how they behave
Reliability shows before the contract is signed: how quickly calls are returned, whether meetings start on time, how clearly questions are answered, and whether the written proposal arrives when promised — accurate and complete. A contractor who is careless in the courtship will not become careful on your scaffold.
Finally, close the loop: review their record with the Better Business Bureau, talk to previous clients, and for exterior work, ask for addresses you can drive past. Paint speaks for itself a few years on.
Ready for a written scope of your own?