The Art Provider's FAQs

​A.I.N. is an IT company offering its clients cloud-based services, including database management, project estimation, file sharing, and payment solutions. The A.I.N. program replicates the functions of an installation coordinator at a fraction of the cost. As an information technology company, A.I.N. does not provide installation services, but it does introduce installers who have successfully worked with us in the past. Since A.I.N. invests time and money making sure installers are vetted and trained to A.I.N.'s Standards Of Practice, clients must agree not to contact an installer for future projects without going through A.I.N. first.

AIN maintains a database of the nation's art installers and museum preparators who have registered with AIN. When a project is reserved, an algorithm notifies qualified professionals of the details with the highest rated installer, closest to the job site receiving the first notification. If available, the installer is introduced to the client. If unavailable, the next highest-rated installer is contacted. Most of the process is automated. We understand the value of our introduction of vetted installers. If we are unable to introduce an installer who has personally been vetted or who does not have documented experience in art installation, we will make an introduction with the disclaimer that we have not worked with this company before. We will be unable to guarantee the price or the services. But please keep us in the loop. We want to be sure the installer is working out!

Users enter information about their project, such as the number of pieces, size, elevation, and the hardware used. With this data, a completion time under ideal conditions is determined. Users then enter information about the conditions ("the setting"), including the type of facility, its occupancy status, its wall substrate, the number of floors the installers will traverse, the number of buildings involved, the presence of other contractors, the role of the interior designer, and a few other variables. With this information, the program estimates a longest reasonable completion time. The project's actual completion time falls somewhere between longest reasonable time and the ideal completion time. The wildcards are the designers. Ideally, piece location and elevations are predetermined.

A.I.N. is able to, with a high degree of accuracy, predict installation times. This is, in part, due to the installer's pay being based on the number of pieces hung. Installers tend to hang art quickly. When a project's compensation is based on an installer's time, there's no incentive to hang art efficiently and it's next to impossible to get an accurate quote.

Installers who pride themselves on being fast. Very fast.

Some of them are retired installers who work with A.I.N. on an as-needed basis. Many are former picture framers and installation business owners with decades of experience and excellent work ethics. They work smarter, not harder.

A core of installers were trained and vetted by the company's install coordinator. Others have worked as installers for their previous company, Art Source Online. These installers then trained and vetted installers in other regions. The process continues to this day. There are over 1300 established professionals in the database.

Large projects are our specialty and where the benefits of performance-based pay are realized. In the ranks of registered installers, AIN knows dozens who are able to hang 50% more than anyone else. Given a 10 hour work-day, these professionals are hanging up to 75 pieces each! (From start to finish.) We'll bring in these "super-installers" along with locals (in case return-trips are needed). Large projects are completed quickly . . . at guaranteed prices.

Installers work together to unpack, stage, inventory, place, and perform walk-throughs with the on-site interior designer. Once they have approval to begin the installation, each installer hangs as many pieces as possible. In this scenario, the faster they install, the more they earn. And these professionals work together well, and many have worked with each other previously. To them, installations are bonding experiences. Clients can sense the teamwork.

In most cases, at 6 months from an estimated installation date, the chances are good that the date will be changed. If you're absolutely sure the installation date will not change, then let's get the project on the books! Otherwise, let us introduce you to a specific installer somewhere around a month away. With our large Network of professionals, we have successfully recruited installers on much shorter notice.

Some installation companies are bigger than others, and similarly, some offer more services than others. The basic price includes unpacking, inventorying, staging, placing, installing, cleaning, completing pre- and post-walk throughs, and documenting their work. Some installation companies also have a fleet of vehicles and can also include receiving and delivering the art.

We require installers to be insured with either professional liability insurance (similar to an Interior Designer who hangs art and drapes) or general liability insurance (similar to someone in the construction industry.) If the installer is asked to deliver product, we will search for an installer who carries insurance with an auto-umbrella, but this decreases the pool of available installers. However, if the art is of high value, insurance companies will require that appraisals accompany those pieces and the clients may be expected to pay for the additional insurance. Typically, the clients we work with deal with framed posters, not fine art.

AIN is fully insured as an IT company with a $2M ($4M aggregate) policy. It covers risks related to the IT industry, such as breaches in data security and infringements of intellectual property. Since AIN is not a construction company, its insurance does not cover installation services.

AIN introduces clients to independent providers of installation services. Installers are neither employees nor are they considered sub-contractors of either AIN or their clients.

We pay for their services with credit cards. Scheduling is between the art installer and the art provider. Installer do not receive1099s from us. For more information, Google 1099-K.

The CEO is Maggie Smith, founder and former owner of Art Source Online. The COO is Scott Solda, founder and former owner of Art On The Level and former art installer and install coordinator for Art Source Online.

A.I.N. is a cloud-based IT company providing services such as networking, estimating, notifying, recruiting, file sharing, invoicing and funding. Clients use the AIN software to simplify the process of finding an art installer. Art Installer Network does not install art.

When faced with an emergency staffing situation, AIN pulls out all the stops to get an installer to a site ASAP. Much will depend on the locality, but we've had a few instances where installers made it to a previously unscheduled job site within one hour of the request.

It's important a project is not scheduled too early. When exactly is "too early"? * Hardhats are still required at the job site. * The sounds of electric saws can be heard. * Walls are still being painted and finished. * Furniture has not yet been placed. Ideally, the art should be installed as part of the punch list.

Installers sometime reschedule their existing clientele to help ours. If an installer travels to a site and it is not ready for them, a one-hour minimum of labor will be charged to the client as well as a trip charge for each installer on the team. We feel horrible whenever this occurs. We ask that clients please stay in touch with the site's Project Manager.

AIN works as a middle-man. Knowing that installers want to be paid right away but that most clients have 30 day terms, we step in to pay the installer ahead of the client's payment. That being the case, our terms are net 15, but we're not calling clients about it until that 30 day mark. Ideally, our invoices are paid via credit cards.

AIN's phone number is 414-699-0092. But please do not call us unless it is for scheduling emergencies. As middle-men, we may need to forward detailed information to multiple installers. We are unable to forward phone message. We need paper trails for all of our records.

Yes. Her name is Leah and she has created a short video describing the services offered by Art Installer Network. You will find the video at THIS LINK.