I finally made my debut into radio. It started with me being a guest on Snaptech’s radio show discussing the success of our online marketing strategy. Anyone that knows me, knows I love to talk.

Radio and me were meant to be.

After my first guest spot, I had the bug. So this I took the plunge and became the voice for Warline Painting on all of radio commercials running on the local Vancouver radio station, AM 650.

AM 650 used to be known years ago as CISL 650 and was an oldie station. Times have changed. The new AM 650, owned by Astral Radio, is now All Time Favourites and is the only remaining music/talk radio left on the local AM airwaves. And I have to admit, when I listened to it, I knew every word to every song they played.

In addition to our commercials, I am also doing a weekly, two-minute segment on Wednesday mornings called Info-Chat, where I talk about how to hire the right painter. I believe that one of the best ways to raise the bar in the painting industry is to educate homeowners on some best practices when it comes to hiring a paint contractor. In truth, most of these tips apply to hiring almost any contractor.

Each week I focus on one area of the hiring process. So for all of you that have missed my spots on AM 650 radio, here is a summary of the first three of my radio Info-Chats.

Week One – The Parts of An Estimate

I cover the basics like painting estimates need to be done in person, not over the phone. A quality paint contractor will insist on seeing a job before providing a price. And of course all estimates need to be in writing. Beyond that a painting estimate should include the contractor’s full company name, address, telephone number, WorkSafe number, etc. You can read more about what should be included in a painting estimate by clicking here.

Week Two – Making Heads of Tails of the Estimate

This is where I explain the importance of the scope of work and the products being used. You need to make sure you are comparing apples to apples. It is also where a lot of homeowners get hung up. You might be looking at three estimates with three varying prices but when you compare the products being used and the scope of work to be done (such as how many coats of paint), you might find the cheapest price is not the best value. If you are really having a hard time making heads or tails of the estimates, I recommend you sit down with the contractor you had the best feeling about to ask him to help you compare and break down the estimates. Click here to read more about this subject.

Week Three – Doing Your Due Diligence

Ask for references and check them. But I discuss something few contractors are willing to. Nobody is going to give you a bad reference.

I recommend that in addition to checking references carefully, you check with the BBB and make sure the company is an accredited business. Check third party online review sites like Homestars and now Google Places. Check with Worksafe and make sure the contractor’s account is active and in good standing. I wrote more on this subject in this article on how to check out a good painter.

So, if you are looking to hire a painting company in Vancouver for any type of residential or commercial painting project, give us a call or send us an email. We will be happy to set up an appointment.