Massachusetts requires all home improvement contractors to be licensed for work over $1,000 — but many homeowners skip the verification step and end up with an unlicensed contractor who has no accountability if the work fails or damage occurs. Here's how to hire a painting contractor in Boston correctly.
Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) licenses are publicly searchable through the state's HIC registration portal. Before getting a quote from any contractor, search their name or business name and confirm the license is active and in good standing. An expired or suspended license is a red flag. AURA Painting's license number is #193121 — you can verify it directly at mass.gov HIC lookup →
Ask for certificates showing general liability insurance (minimum $1 million per occurrence) and workers' compensation. General liability covers damage to your property if something goes wrong. Workers' comp covers the contractor's crew if someone is injured on your property — without it, you could be liable for medical costs under Massachusetts law. Any reputable contractor can produce these certificates immediately. MA HIC requirements →
Massachusetts law requires a written contract for home improvement work over $1,000. The contract should specify: scope of work, materials to be used (brand and product name), number of coats, prep work included, start and completion dates, total price, and payment schedule. Any contractor unwilling to put this in writing is not worth hiring. The MA Attorney General's office provides guidance on what must be in a home improvement contract. MA contract requirements →
The lowest quote is rarely the best value in Boston's painting market. A quote significantly below others typically means one of: the contractor plans to skip prep work, they're planning to use lower-quality materials than specified, or they'll be asking for more money once the job is underway. Compare what each quote actually includes: specific prep steps, primer yes/no, number of finish coats, specific paint products, and who is doing the work (owner vs. subcontracted crew).
Ask for references from jobs completed in the past 12 months — not 5 years ago. Call them. Ask specifically about prep work, whether the final price matched the quote, and whether the contractor was responsive to issues. Google reviews are also useful but look for volume and recency — a contractor with 50 reviews over 10 years is different from one with 50 reviews in the last 2 years. BBB Boston painting contractors →
Need Painting Contractor in Boston?
AURA Painting Inc serves all Boston neighborhoods. Licensed MA #193121, fully insured, 2-year warranty. Free estimates — most jobs scheduled within the week.
Call (617) 777-7700 ← Back to Painting Contractor in Boston