The many advantages of hiring a professional painter.
Story by Tracy Dickinson
Featured in Summer 2025
We’ve all done it. We’ve impulsively decided to update a space with a fresh coat of paint. And what should have taken a day turned into a week’s work with multiple trips to the store for supplies, more than one change of paint color, and countless moments of frustration and regret when we discovered our skill did not match our enthusiasm.
In the end, the updated space often becomes a daily reminder of our failure. We can’t help seeing the places where the paint dripped or the brush slipped past the tape onto the ceiling.
If you’re contemplating an inside or outside paint job this year, take some advice from an expert and consider the advantages of hiring a pro.
Experience
Yes, nearly anyone can do an adequate job of repainting a room. But Brad Neff, owner of All Pro Painting in Des Moines says a skilled painter will do the job better with much less hassle.
“We do this every day. Not only can we do the job faster and more efficiently than most homeowners, but we know our products. And we can help you choose the best product for your specific needs.”
Neff says it’s important to do some research before hiring a professional for any home improvement or remodeling project. “Getting recommendations from friends or family who’ve hired a painter is a good place to start,” he says, “but you still want to check them out. Do they have workman’s comp? Do they provide references? Do they have good standing with the Better Business Bureau and the Home Builders Association? Are they well insured?”
He also recommends finding out how long the company has been in business and how much experience the crew has. “Someone who’s been around longer is likely going to be good at their job and good at running their business,” Neff says. “You want someone who’s not just a great painter but who’s accurate on their estimates and knows how to provide a detailed contract so you don’t have any surprises later.”
Efficiency
Because he or she does this every day, a professional can also get the work done much more efficiently than the average homeowner.
“Whole-house interior painting, depending on the size of the home, usually takes our crew 7 to 10 days,” says Neff. “That includes prep, cleanup, and touch-ups.”
Neff advises customers to remove artwork and decor from the walls and move furniture to the center of the room, but his crew handles all other prep.
“We do this every day. Not only can we do the job faster and more efficiently than most homeowners, but we know our products. And we can help you choose the best product for your specific needs.”
Brad Neff, All Pro Painting
“You don’t have to move everything out of the house,” he says. “And if you want to put your artwork back in the same place, we even tell homeowners to leave the nails. We tape over those. Then you can just hang your pictures right back up when we’re done. If you don’t want to rehang things, we’ll patch the holes when we do our prep and taping.”
For exterior work, a crew of skilled painters can tape and protect windows and trim, preserve your landscaping, caulk and repair minor damage, and still have the entire home repainted and cleaned up in a fraction of the time it would take a typical homeowner. And you never have to climb a ladder yourself or replant your landscaping.
Quality
Although retail paint products have improved and some professional-grade paints are available to the public, it’s not a cliché to say that you get what you pay for when it comes to paint. Neff says a quality painter will only work with top-quality products in order to provide the best service possible.
“We only work with the best products on the market,” he says, “because our reputation is on the line. An interior paint job with a top-quality paint applied properly should last a lifetime. The only reason you should ever repaint is because you want to change the color.”
If you’re using an inferior product or applying it poorly and with the wrong tools, that’s not the case. In fact, Neff says many of the products marketed to homeowners simply can’t meet expectations.
“A paint that claims to be primer and paint in one is never going to work,” he says. “Primer and paint have two different purposes and two different jobs. The primer seals so the paint will adhere. If you mix those two, neither one will work well.”
Neff says a professional with years of experience can also offer advice on color and finish selection so you get the best results for your home. “In most cases, washable eggshell paint is best on walls and flat paint on ceilings,” says Neff. “But there are situations where that might not be the best choice. We can work with homeowners to choose the right product.”
He says white with black trim is a huge trend for exterior paint right now, along with deep, dark colors. But he says homeowners should consider the effects of those color choices.
“The darker the color, the more maintenance will be required,” he says. “Usually, top-quality exterior paint lasts 7 to 13 years. If you choose a dark color and have little to no shade, that drops to about 5 years. And the effect of the heat and cold on dark siding can be an issue, too.”
Like most DIY projects, repainting the interior or exterior of your home is something an amateur can do. But wouldn’t you rather be enjoying your free time instead of spending it on a ladder or cleaning paint brushes?
Use a professional for that. •
Resources
- Brad Neff, All Pro Painting
