How to Choose a House Painter in Tallahassee: 9 Questions to Ask

There are a lot of painters in Tallahassee. Most of the websites say the same things, and a few of those things do not mean what you think they mean. We have been on the other side of this since 1998. These are the questions we would ask if we were hiring a painter for our own house. Ask them of everybody, including us.

1. Are you insured, and can I see the certificate?

Start here, not with "are you licensed." In Florida, painting is not a licensed trade. Florida Statute 489.117(4)(a) says it plainly: "job scopes for which a local government may not require a license include, but are not limited to, painting; flooring; cabinetry;... pressure washing; stuccoing; caulking; and canvas awning and ornamental iron installation." There is no state painting license to hold and no number to check. So when a painter says "licensed," ask what license they mean. Usually it means a business registration, which is not the same thing.

What does exist, and what protects you, is insurance. Two kinds. General liability covers your house if something gets damaged. Workers' compensation covers the painter who falls off the ladder, so that claim does not land on your homeowner's policy. Ask for a certificate of insurance, and ask them to send you the actual certificate.

Us: insured, general liability and workers' compensation both. Certificate on request.

2. Who is coming to my house?

The person who gives the estimate is often not the person who paints. That is fine. What matters is whether the company can tell you who will be there and how long those people have painted for them. Ask if the crew is on payroll or subcontracted, and whether the same crew stays on your job start to finish.

Us: our own painters, in crews of two or three. Colleen has been with us 25 years and still leads a crew. Salon runs our exterior jobs as project manager. Homeowners name our painters in their reviews more than they name the company, which we take as the highest compliment we get. You can put faces to names on our meet the crew page.

3. How does the estimate work?

A number over the phone from a stranger who has never seen your house is a guess. Ask whether someone comes out, who that person is, whether they walk the whole job with you, and whether the quote comes in writing with the scope spelled out. Ask what is included in prep. Ask what happens if repairs turn up.

Us: free, in person, always. Marshall Parker or Gerard walks the job with you. Marshall has estimated for twelve years and painted before that. Gerard has walked jobs since 1998. You get a written quote that separates painting from any repairs. Repairs, when needed, are billed time and material and explained before anyone touches a board. If you want to know what moves the number, read what house painting costs in Tallahassee.

4. Can I call a few of your customers?

Online reviews are a start. Phone numbers are better. A painter who has been in town a while should be able to hand you two or three customers with a job like yours, and they should not be the same three names every time.

Us: yes. Two or three numbers of customers who had a similar project, and Gerard rotates who he gives out. Our Google reviews are public and you can read them on our reviews page.

5. What is your prep, and what will you not do?

Paint is only as good as what is under it. Ask what gets washed, scraped, sanded, caulked, and primed before color goes on. Then ask the flip side: what will you not paint? A painter who will paint anything, in any weather, is telling you something.

Us: canvas drop cloths on the floors, plastic on beds and furniture, and we do the heavy moving ourselves. We have sliders for it. Outside, we wash before we paint. We do not paint wet wood, and we do not paint over rot. If we find rot at the estimate, we tell you, and it comes out first. Details on how an exterior job runs.

6. Who buys the paint, and what kind?

Some painters quote labor and leave the paint to you. Some bundle it. Either can be fine, as long as you know which it is and what grade of paint is going on. Ask for the product name, not just the brand.

Us: we buy the paint and show you the material cost and labor cost separately. We use quality paint from the major brands. We get a pretty nice discount and we pass it on to our customers.

7. When can you start, and what happens if it rains?

Be suspicious of "next week" in a busy season. Ask how booked they are, and ask what happens when the weather goes bad or a job runs long. You want a straight answer.

Us: we are usually booked out, so we tell you when we can start. If it rains for three days, the exterior crew waits, and you hear the new date from us. Jobs slip sometimes. People call in sick. People change colors. We say that up front.

8. Is the warranty in writing?

Any painter will say they stand behind their work. Ask what that means, in writing, in the contract. What is covered, for how long, and who to call.

Us: we stand behind our work.

9. How long have you been in Tallahassee, and where do I find you?

A company that has painted the same neighborhoods for years has repeat customers, a reputation to lose, and a physical address. Ask for it. Look up their reviews across more than one site. Check the Better Business Bureau.

Us: since 1998, family-owned, on Lake Hall Road in northeast Tallahassee. Gerard lives here, and our crews work across the city, neighborhood by neighborhood. We hold a BBB A+ rating and have been accredited since 2000. We were voted Best Residential Painter in Tallahassee Magazine's Best of Tallahassee for 2023, 2024, and 2025. And we have 4.9 stars on Google. The answers to the eight questions above matter more than that number.

"I can't say enough about their professionalism, quality of work, genuine care and concern, customer service & staff. Gerard surveyed the job, provided the quote and acted as our guide..."

"Marshall came in and assess my home for interior painting and repairs. Jess, Sherry and Jac did an amazing job moving furniture, repairing damaged areas and painting my entire home with care. A big shout out to Jess for her leadership in getting the job done."

What we would not worry about

A fancy website. A slogan. Whether the truck is new. What you want is a certificate of insurance, a name for the person who will be in your house, a written scope, a couple of phone numbers, and a straight answer about the weather. If a painter gives you all five without flinching, you are probably in good hands.

If you want to put us through the same nine questions, request a free estimate and we will answer every one. A few are already answered on our FAQ page, where Gerard takes the questions we hear most. The rest we will answer when we come out to look at the house.