Choose a painter who is insured, puts the whole job in writing and can show you recent local work. Price comes after those. Michigan does not issue a state license for painting, so the checks that count are insurance, references and a clear contract.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
How do I find a good painter?
To find a good painter, ask neighbors with houses like yours, read recent reviews and look at finished jobs nearby. Then meet two or three in person. A good one walks every room or every wall, asks about colors and sheen, and points out the prep before giving a number.
How many quotes should I get?
Three is a good answer to how many quotes. It is enough to see the going rate and to spot a quote that leaves something out. Give each painter the same list of rooms and surfaces.
What should a painting estimate include?
A painting estimate should include everything needed to finish the job, in writing.
- The rooms or walls, and the surfaces in each: walls, ceilings, trim, doors.
- The prep: washing, scraping, patching, sanding, caulking, priming.
- The paint by product line and sheen, and the number of coats.
- Who moves furniture and how floors and plants are protected.
- Lead-safe work if the house was built before 1978.
- Start date, expected length and clean-up.
- The price, the deposit and when the balance is due.
What should be in a painting contract?
A contract should repeat the estimate and add the terms: the company name and address, proof of insurance, the payment schedule, how changes and extra work are priced and approved, and any warranty in writing. Both sides sign it before work starts.
Does a painter need a license in Michigan?
No. A painter does not need a state license in Michigan for painting alone. Painting and decorating used to be one of the trades under the state's maintenance and alteration contractor license. The Legislature removed it from that list through House Bill 4608 of 2018. The current list from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) does not include painting.
A license is still required for the other listed trades, such as carpentry, siding, roofing and masonry, on residential jobs of $600 or more. So a painter who also replaces siding or rebuilds a porch needs one for that work. Ann Arbor Painters is licensed and insured. Ask us for the paperwork.
How do I check a painter's license and insurance in this state?
To check insurance, ask for a certificate of insurance sent to you by the painter's insurance agent. It should show general liability cover and, if the company has employees, workers' compensation. To verify a builder or maintenance and alteration license, use the license search on the LARA website.
For homes built before 1978, also look the firm up on EPA's list of lead-safe certified firms.
How much deposit should I give a painter?
A modest deposit to book the date and buy materials is normal. We know of no Michigan law that caps a painting deposit, so the amount is whatever you agree in the contract. Keep it small and tie the later payments to progress.
A painter wants half up front in cash. Is that a red flag?
Yes. Half up front is high for a paint job, and cash only leaves you with no record. Pay by check or card, get a receipt and make sure the payment is written into the contract.
Should I hire a painter who wants all the money up front?
No. Do not pay all the money up front. Once the full price is paid you have nothing to hold back if the work stops or is poor. The last payment should come after you have walked the finished job.
What are the red flags?
- No written quote, or a one-line price.
- Cash only, or a large payment before any work.
- No insurance certificate.
- No local address or references.
- Pressure to sign today.
- No mention of prep, or of lead on an old house.
- A price far below every other quote.
A painter says they can start tomorrow. Is that a red flag?
Not always. A painter who can start tomorrow may have had a job move, especially in winter. In the middle of the exterior season it is worth asking why the calendar is empty. Check the references and insurance the same as you would for anyone else.
What should I ask a painter before hiring?
- Are you insured, and can your agent send me the certificate?
- Who will be on site, and are they employees or subcontractors?
- What prep is included?
- Which paint, which sheen and how many coats?
- How do you handle a house built before 1978?
- How long will it take and when can you start?
- What is the payment schedule?
- What do you do if I find a problem afterward?
Do painters give a warranty, and what should it cover?
Many painters give a written workmanship warranty. It should cover peeling, blistering and flaking caused by the prep or the application, and say for how long. It normally leaves out damage from leaks, rot and ordinary wear. Paint makers give their own warranty on the product. Ask us what we put in writing for your job.
What if a painter damages my floors or furniture?
Tell the painter at once, take photos and ask in writing for the damage to be put right. This is what the painter's liability insurance is for, and why you ask for the certificate before the job.
Where do I complain about a painter in Michigan?
Start with the company, in writing. If that fails, the Consumer Protection team of the Michigan Department of Attorney General takes consumer complaints. Complaints about a licensed builder or maintenance and alteration contractor go to LARA. Small claims court at the district court is the other route for money disputes.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (734) 399-4198.