There’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint to increase the value breathe new life into a property. When you’re getting your house or office painted, there’s usually a sole decision-maker or consensus is easily reached, it’s typically exciting times. But when it comes to strata or body corporate painting, it becomes a little bit more complicated.
This article will discuss why body corporate painting is a bit more complicated than other painting projects and how to choose the right painting contractors to make the process as harmonious as possible.
Different Strokes for Different Folks
Since there is more than one property sitting on a collectively owned piece of land, and each owner has their say on things, it’s hard enough to get everyone to agree to undertake a large-scale panting job, let alone choose the colours for the new façades. There will always be a diverse set of opinions among residents, management and other stakeholders. Despite the variety of viewpoints, you can earn everyone’s complacency by having your painting project managed by experienced professionals—not just experienced in painting, but experienced in managing large-scale, complicated tasks, like body corporate painting projects.
Choosing the Right Painting Contractors
Even before the actual work can begin, a body corporate committee should carefully select the right service provider. This crucial first step will determine how well the residents receive and react to the painting project and set the tone for similar future endeavours.
Here are some tips for selecting suitable candidates for your next body corporate painting project
Look at the Credentials
Like any other service provider, your chosen team of professionals should be able to demonstrate the technical skills needed to complete the job efficiently. Ask for their licences and certifications, as well as the equipment they use; this will quickly weed out fly-by-night companies that may not be able to deliver your expected results.
Also, a company’s values will say a lot about how they deliver their work. For example, Leisuretex adheres to a Zero Hazards Policy that ensures that workspaces are safe for everyone.
Contact Professional Trade Bodies
Any reputable professional commercial painters will belong to at least one professional trade organisation. Some of the most prominent institutions include the Master Painters Association, the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, the Accommodation Managers Industry and the Smart Strata database.
Reach out to these trade organisations to learn if your prospective painting services provider is a good-standing member. If they don’t belong to any dependable trade organisation, you might be better off looking for other options.
Evaluate their Reputation
Outright, you can search for the company online and check on their online reviews. You can reach out to other body corporate committees and ask whether they have done business with any of your prospects and ask for first-hand feedback. It will also be a good idea to ask for the painting company’s references for additional feedback.
Ask for their Portfolio
Most reputable professional commercial painting companies will have a well-functioning website that showcases their past works. Check whether they’ve done previous strata and body corporate work on their portfolio and visually evaluate their output. You can also request that they bring along their collection when they meet you for a site visit or ask for it when you meet them in their office.
Other things to Look for:
Do they Present Themselves Professionally?
Having the painting services done in a residential environment, some residents may find the task’s duration intrusive and obstructive at worst. You can soften the blow by ensuring that your hired contractors are visually aesthetic, courteous towards residents and respectful towards set boundaries.
For example, Leisuretex teams come in brand-marked trucks, clean uniforms and use well-maintained equipment. Leisuretex also prides itself in promoting values, such as respect, relationship-building, open communications, orientation towards achievement and consistency in quality.
Do they Have a Clear Chain of Command?
From the get-go, it would be beneficial in the long run if you need to talk to only one person during the entire project. Whether for updates, process changes or complaints, you don’t want to find yourself being passed around several people because nobody wants to be held directly accountable. Leisuretex allocate you one point of contact for you and your project, this gives you peace of mind knowing you can get in touch with the right person, without the fuss.
Look for a company with a well-defined team structure, so you know who you should deal with for whatever reason you’ll need to. Most importantly, they should assure you that there will always be a manager on site. You don’t want to be left with a team of workers who can’t answer your management-level enquiries because they simply don’t have the information you need.
Make it Easy for the Residents
As they will be receiving both the benefits and downside of the painting project, the dwellers must be kept in the loop. This inclusion could help them adjust their activities and set expectations during the whole process, and how they will see your skills, as a body corporate committee, towards handling large-scale ventures.
Prepare Every Resident for the Coming Work
Almost everyone will be welcome a fresh coat of colour for and around their homes, but it comes with a certain degree of inconvenience. Both owners and tenants will appreciate it if you inform everyone beforehand. You can post announcements through your social media group and email list, but a physical letter to every dropbox will do well if you want to maintain a personal touch.
Let them know the entire scope of the work, which areas and specific surfaces will be worked on, when, how long each stage will take, and the duration of the whole project. It will also help if you let them know the name of the contractor you’ve hired and a bit of information about their company.
Ensure Regular Updates
Because body corporate painting takes a significant amount of time, residents will appreciate it if they’re constantly updated as to where the project is at the moment. Let them know which stages have been completed, what’s currently in progress, and which areas are yet to receive action.
It would also be helpful to include logistical information, such as parking areas delegated to equipment, walkways being closed off or a certain amount of noise during certain times. Lastly, encourage feedback from the stakeholders—let them express how they feel about the ongoing project so you can talk to the project manager if some adjustments are needed.
Strategically Schedule Areas for Minimal Disruption
Highly experienced body corporate painting management services will work with your organisation to devise an action plan for minimal residential disruption. This strategy can include scheduling certain areas at strategic times when foot and car traffic is least a factor and when noise levels should be kept to a minimum.
Licensed, Certified and Experienced Project Management
The Leisuretex point of difference is its attention to planning and preparation. Even before we touch the first surface, we make it a point to ensure a seamless process from start to finish. Our project planners visualise the project as a whole, long-term effort, and not play each part by ear.
We invite comparison and see for yourself why we are the go-to professionals for residential, industrial and commercial painting projects. From contracts to surfaces, we stand by our belief that preparation is always the key to success. We know all the work that needs to be done even before we get to your site.
You won’t find any other team of professionals as easy to work with as us—one name, one number, one contract from start to finish.
