tips for hiring a painting company and not get scammed

Below we will discuss 3 searches you can do before you call a painting company. Every week, I see someone getting scammed by a painting contractor, mainly on social media chatters. I want to help put a stop to this.

As someone who served in law enforcement for over two decades and now owns a painting company. I’m deeply disturbed by home improvement fraudsters and our goal is to provide tips for hiring a painting company in your area and not get scammed.

That’s why I’m here to share three valuable resources with you for vetting any painting contractor. Follow this guide before you even call for painting estimates.

Let’s first talk about finding painting contractors on social media chatters first.

Social media chatter is risky:

• Verification Challenges: Administrators of these groups may lack the ability to verify or validate making it difficult to confirm the identity and background of service providers or painting contractors.
• Scam Potential: These channels are often targeted by scammers who pose as legitimate providers to deceive people.
• Quality and Reliability Concerns: Without reliable vetting mechanisms, it’s hard to assess the quality of work or professionalism offered.
• Lack of Legal Protection: Transactions may not be backed by safeguards such as the Google Guarantee.
• Security Risks: Sharing personal or financial information on unsecured platforms can expose individuals to data theft or fraud.

Before hiring a painting contractor, relying solely on community referrals may not always be enough. While word-of-mouth recommendations can lead to quality companies, it’s important to ask yourself: Do I really know the person giving the referral? In many cases, the answer is no. To ensure you’re working with a legitimate and trustworthy painting company near you, there’s a better way to validate their credibility before you call.

Do Not Pay For The Entire Service Before A Company Starts Working!

Check out a painter near me

Is this information available to the public? Absolutely – this information is available as public record. Keep in mind #1 and #2 are specific to Indiana. However, your State should have similar free website resources.

1. Indiana Business Search  Businesses must renew their registration every 2 years. In Indiana, if a business undergoes administrative dissolution, it loses its LLC or corporation status, thereby forfeiting the protections associated with these structures. An “active” status indicates that the Indiana business is in good standing. Indiana does not currently have licensing requirements for painting company’s.

2. Indiana MyCase  This is a resource provided by the Office of Judicial Administration and anyone may search for public non confidential criminal and civil cases. Including businesses. If you have never used MyCase, you can find information with these search tips.

3. Google and the Google Guarantee: The Google Guarantee badge is available for businesses that pass a Google screening and verification process through Local Services Ads or its partners.

Google has implemented the “Google Guarantee” for several years now, denoted by a green checkmark next to the business name on a Google search.

This certification involves a very thorough validation process for contractors, including verification of business insurance, location accuracy, business owner identification, meeting minimum review standards, and having a diverse and established presence on social media platforms. 

“If a customer is not satisfied with the quality of your work, Google may, in its absolute and sole discretion, reimburse the customer up to the amount on the job invoice for the initial services provided by you, up to a lifetime limit.” Click on the link for a full description.”

Learn More: The Google Guarantee – Google Assistant Help

In summary…

Safety in hiring a painting company in your town is crucial for your peace of mind, especially with the risk of home improvement scammers very high. A high percentage of people rely on Facebook chatter and Nextdoor and this can be risky unless you use these 3 checks to verify.

The Google Guarantee offers assurance and reliable reviews and you can search #1 and #2 to give yourself a piece of mind before you call a contractor.

Just as I protected communities in law enforcement, I aim to safeguard homeowners. While most contractors are trustworthy, a few bad ones can tarnish the industry. Remember, knowledge is power, and using these resources helps ensures a safe and trustworthy experience. (I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice).

About us:

Integrity in Blue Painting has grown into a local trusted name, known for delivering quality work that consistently meets or exceeds expectations. By adhering to our core values, we aim to build lasting relationships with our clients, grounded in trust and mutual respect.