When Bob McGowan needed his garage painted, he made one phone call. Rafael Hernandez told him the crew would arrive at 8:00 A.M., and at 7:58 his doorbell rang. Rafael and painter Carolina had already unloaded the truck and were ready to begin. That precision runs through the entire operation at Five Star Painting of the Villages, a Neighborly franchise locally owned and operated by Rafael Hernandez out of Tavares, Florida.
The company handles residential and commercial projects across The Villages, Leesburg, Mount Dora, Inverness, and 17 additional communities in the Lake and Sumter County area. Services range from whole-home interior and exterior repaints to cabinet refinishing, deck and fence staining, pressure washing, drywall repair, and epoxy garage floor coatings. Rafael personally conducts estimates with itemized written proposals and leads final walk-through inspections at project completion.
The fully insured team operates under GR Premium Services LLC, a Florida limited liability company active since February 2018. Five Star Painting of the Villages backs all residential and commercial work with a two-year workmanship warranty and a 30-day touch-up promise. The company uses premium Sherwin-Williams and Behr paints on every project.
Updated: 04-14-2026
Multiple reviewers note getting several quotes before choosing Rafael's team. Chris Dickerson found them "right in the middle of several others" but says "they were definitely the best." Kaylee R compared several companies and concluded Five Star offered "the best price and warranty." Customers consistently describe pricing as competitive and transparent, with no surprises after the initial estimate.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Robert Stresen describes how the crew "took us on a walk around the house upon completion" to inspect every detail. Yvonne Mautner had a similar experience, noting the team "walked me around the house to inspect the work" and required no deposit upfront. This end-of-project review gives homeowners the chance to flag any touch-ups before the crew leaves the property.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Pati Monaghan praised the crew by name, saying "Sonia, Jorge, and Alejandro treated our home like it was THEIR own." Bob McGowan singled out Carolina as "a professional machine" and "the hardest worker I have had the pleasure of hiring." Kathy Martin credited George and Sonya for being "hard working from the moment they arrived in the morning until they finished for the day." Named crew members appear across dozens of reviews, suggesting a consistent in-house team.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Carol Isles was out of state during her project and Rafael "kept me informed throughout with text updates, photos, and videos." Paul Kurzawinski had a similar experience, noting the team "sent pictures every day while we were out of town." Corrie Griffith, who was working during her project, received "continuous updates and photos" from Rafael throughout the process.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Cabinet projects draw some of the most detailed reviews. Pati Monaghan wrote that the result was "better than we could gave hoped for" and her cabinets "FINALLY look like they should have 8 years ago." Patricia Frank praised the crew for being "meticulous about the preparation of my kitchen cabinets prior to painting." Chris Dickerson hired them for kitchen, bathroom, and laundry cabinets and says "the cabinets look amazing."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
The single 3-star review from Poppa described missed areas and sections painted incorrectly. Rafael responded promptly, offering to return immediately to correct the work. His response stated "we will be more than happy to go and do our job correctly" and asked the customer to share contact information so the crew could address the issues. The tone was professional and solution-oriented rather than defensive.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Cleanup is one of the most frequently praised aspects. Jackie Green noted "not a drop of paint on the floor or anything else." David Gallentine reported the crew "went above and beyond after painting to clean up and even vacuumed." DOLL Sheehan echoed this, saying there was "not a drop of paint anywhere" and that "things were put back in place." Multiple reviews confirm furniture is moved and returned to its original position.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Florida does not require a state-level painting contractor license. Five Star Painting of the Villages operates under GR Premium Services LLC, a Florida limited liability company filed on February 7, 2018, with Document No. L18000035225. The entity status is Active per the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz). The registered agent is Guerra, Rafael, with a principal address at 16716 Point Rock Dr, Winter Garden, FL 34787.
-Verification Sources: Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), FL DBPR
Updated: 04-14-2026