Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers
1. "Who is actually doing the work in my house?"
This is the question cheap bids are hiding from you.
A shockingly large share of low bids around Indy are one person quoting the job and then showing up with whoever answered their text that morning. Sometimes that works out fine. Sometimes the person cutting in around your grandmother's china cabinet has never held a brush before.
What a good answer sounds like: a real name or small crew, people the painter has worked with for months or years — and an owner who stays involved long after the estimate. That's how we run Bear Necessities: the Alexander Brothers work on the jobs ourselves, and as our calendar has grown we've brought new painters on — but they're trained our way before they ever set foot in your home, and we stay close to the work on every project. Family name on the truck means family reputation on the line.
Red flag: vague answers, "a crew," or "I'll figure out scheduling."
2. "Are you insured — and can I see the certificate?"
Anyone can say yes. Few can produce a certificate in thirty seconds.
If an uninsured painter's ladder goes through your bay window, or a helper gets hurt on your stairs, guess whose homeowner policy is suddenly involved? Yours.
What a good answer sounds like: "Yes — general liability, here's the PDF, text me if you want it again." Real companies carry this and are proud to show it.
Red flag: hesitation, "we don't really need it for painting," or a certificate that looks suspiciously photoshopped.
3. "What does your prep include — specifically?"
Here's the painting industry's worst-kept secret: the paint is not what makes a paint job last. The prep is.
Ask them to get specific. Caulking gaps? Filling nail holes and drywall dings? Sanding glossy surfaces? Priming stains and repairs? Covering floors and furniture?
Skipping any of that saves the painter hours — and costs you years. Paint over a glossy surface or an uncaulked gap starts failing fast, usually right when the warranty you can't find anymore is "technically" still valid.
What a good answer sounds like: they can rattle off the prep steps for your specific project without pausing. Prep is most of the hours in a professional quote — which is also why professional quotes cost more than fly-by-night ones.
Red flag: "we just cut in and roll it, two days and you're done" — for a whole house, that's not speed. That's skipping.
4. "What paint are you using, and is it in the quote?"
There's a huge difference between the contractor-grade paint some crews use to protect a low bid and the premium stuff that still looks good in year seven.
You don't need to become a paint nerd. Just ask what brand and line, and whether it's included in the written quote. We use premium paint on every job — because the $30 difference per gallon is nothing next to the cost of repainting a room two years early.
What a good answer sounds like: a specific brand and product line, stated without you having to ask twice.
Red flag: "we use whatever the job needs" or "paint's included" with no brand mentioned. "Included" sometimes means whatever was on sale.
5. "What happens if I'm not happy with something?"
Every painter alive says they do quality work. The question is what happens on the rare day when they don't.
Punch-list policy. Touch-up visits after the job. A phone number that still works a month later. This is where family-owned local companies quietly earn their reputation — we're not disappearing to the next zip code. Our name is on every door we paint in this city, and we'll still be here next year when you notice a nick behind the couch.
What a good answer sounds like: a specific process — "walk through with us at the end, mark anything, we fix it before we pack up, and call us if you find anything after."
Red flag: "you won't need to worry about that" — that's not an answer, that's a hope.
The pattern to notice
Every one of these questions costs a cheap painter money to answer honestly. Insurance costs money. Prep costs hours. Premium paint costs dollars. Standing behind work costs time.
That's why the honest answer to all five costs more — and why it's worth it. The cheapest bid and the best value are rarely the same number.
If you're interviewing painters around Indianapolis and want a bid from a crew that'll welcome all five questions, call the Alexander Brothers at Bear Necessities: 317-622-8895. Estimates are free, pressure is zero, and we'll hand you our insurance certificate before you finish asking.
Related reading: [Wallpaper Removal: Why DIY Turns Into a $2,000 Mistake] and [The Real Reason Cheap Paint Jobs Peel in 2 Years] — coming to this blog soon.