Hiring a painter sounds simple — until you start collecting quotes and realize each contractor uses different paints, different prep standards, and different warranties. Here's how to filter the 60+ painters serving Hudson and MetroWest down to the 2-3 who are actually worth getting a quote from.
1. Verify the Massachusetts HIC license
Every residential contractor doing more than $500 of work in Massachusetts must hold an active Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration from the Office of Consumer Affairs. Ask for the HIC number and look it up on the MA OCABR lookup tool. If they hesitate or can't produce it, walk away.
2. Confirm $1M+ general liability and active workers' comp
Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) listing both general liability (minimum $1M, ideally $2M) and workers' compensation. Massachusetts law requires workers' comp for any contractor with employees. Without it, an injured painter on your property could file a claim against your homeowner's insurance.
3. Verify EPA Lead-Safe (RRP) certification for pre-1978 homes
About 60% of homes in Hudson, Marlborough, and Worcester were built before 1978 — when lead paint was still legal. Federal law (the RRP rule) requires any contractor disturbing painted surfaces in a pre-1978 home to be EPA Lead-Safe certified. Verify on the EPA Firm Locator. A non-certified painter doing work on a pre-1978 home is exposing your family to lead dust and you to fines.
4. Get a written, fixed-price estimate within 24 hours
Reputable painters in the Hudson area return a written estimate within 24-48 hours of a walk-through. The estimate should include:
- Scope of work by room/surface
- Number of paint coats (always insist on 2 coats over primer)
- Paint brand and product line (Benjamin Moore Aura, Sherwin-Williams Emerald, etc.)
- Prep work itemized (sanding, caulk, primer, drywall repair)
- Timeline with start and finish dates
- Payment schedule (avoid contractors asking for >30% upfront)
Verbal estimates or "we'll figure it out as we go" pricing are non-starters.
5. Read the last 10-20 Google reviews — not the rating
A 4.9-star rating with 200 reviews can hide problems. Sort by Most Recent and read the most recent 10-20 reviews. Look for consistent praise on:
- Cleanliness (drop cloths, daily cleanup)
- Punctuality (start date, daily start time, finish date)
- Communication (responsiveness when there's a change order)
- Repair-not-paint work (caulk, wood rot, drywall patches)
A pattern of any of these going wrong = pass.
6. Ask about the workmanship warranty
Premium painters offer a written 2-year workmanship warranty — meaning if paint peels or fails due to bad prep within 2 years, they come back and fix it free. Cheaper contractors offer 90 days or nothing. The paint itself usually carries a 10-25 year manufacturer warranty, but that only kicks in if application was correct.
7. Confirm paint brand + Massachusetts-specific prep
New England weather is brutal on exterior coatings. The pros use:
- Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior or Sherwin-Williams Emerald Rain Refresh — both rated for the Northeast's freeze-thaw cycle.
- Two coats over primer on bare wood or color changes.
- EPA Lead-Safe work area containment on pre-1978 homes (HEPA vacs, plastic sheeting, dust monitoring).
If a contractor says they use "whatever's on sale at Home Depot," they're not the contractor for a New England home.
Red flags to walk away from immediately
- Door-to-door solicitation ("we have extra paint from a job nearby")
- Asking for more than 30% deposit before any work
- Cash-only payment
- No physical business address (Google their business name + Massachusetts)
- Refusal to provide written contract
- "Today only" pricing pressure
- No HIC number or refusal to share it
What it should cost in Hudson, MA (2026 ranges)
- Interior painting (1 room): $450–$700
- Interior painting (whole house, 2,000 sqft): $4,500–$8,500
- Exterior painting (typical 2-story): $4,500–$11,000
- Cabinet refinishing (typical kitchen): $2,800–$5,800
- Deck staining (typical 12×16 deck): $800–$1,800
Anything significantly below these ranges = expect shortcuts on prep or paint quality. Anything significantly above = ask for line-item justification.
