Painters w/o Insurance

[Michael Gloss]

First time poster, long time researcher/reader.  I just had a GC repair all the rotten wood on our exterior trim and now need to hire a painter to scrape and paint the exterior trim.  42 windows, so big job.  We own and occupy this duplex (buy and hold, not flip).  Homeowners insurance plus $1m umbrella policy.  A painter I received a quote for said she didn't have any insurance (liability or workmans comp).  The painter would use a helper, so two people working the job.  

Do I need to only look at painters with insurance and what type/amounts?  Finally, should i ask for a copy of proof of insurance?

[Linda Weygant]

For the vast majority of contractors, I am usually the first one to say that they must be insured.  However, painting is a bit of a different story.  It's not like plumbing or electricity where either the worker or somebody later on could suffer some seriously bad effects from poor work or being careless on the job.

For your painter, if they are climbing ladders up to a second story, I'd be more concerned about insurance.  If it's all ground level, I wouldn't be quite as nervous.