When people get three painting quotes and one is dramatically cheaper, the natural assumption is that the cheap one is a better deal or the expensive ones are padded. Occasionally that is true. Far more often the quotes describe different amounts of work, and the difference is in preparation, which is the part you cannot see once the job is done.

What a complete estimate should tell you

  • Exactly which surfaces are included. Walls only, or walls, ceilings, trim, doors and closets?
  • How many coats. Two is standard. One coat over a similar colour is sometimes legitimate, but it should be stated, not assumed.
  • What preparation is included. Washing, scraping, sanding, filling, caulking and priming should each be named.
  • What products will be used. Manufacturer and product line, not just “premium paint”.
  • What is excluded. Just as important as what is included.
  • A realistic timeline. Start date and number of working days.
  • Payment terms. Deposit, if any, and when the balance is due.

Preparation is where the money goes

On an exterior job, preparation is commonly the majority of the labour. Washing, scraping back every failing edge, feathering those transitions, spot-priming bare substrate and re-running caulk lines takes far longer than rolling the finish coat. A quote that is half the price of the others has almost always shortened that list.

It is entirely fair to ask a painter directly: what preparation is in this number, and what happens if you find bare wood? A straight answer is a good sign.

Questions worth asking every bidder

  • Who is actually doing the work, your own crew or subcontractors?
  • What happens to the price if you find rot or damage once you start scraping?
  • How do you protect landscaping, floors and furniture?
  • Do you clean up daily or at the end of the job?
  • Will you walk the finished job with me before you leave?

On deposits

A modest deposit on a large job is normal, particularly where materials have to be ordered. A demand for a very large share of the total before any work begins is not. Be cautious about paying substantially in advance regardless of how the request is explained.

Get it in writing

A verbal number is not an estimate. Everything above should be written down before work begins, so that both sides are working from the same description of the job. That protects you, and frankly it protects us too.

Amaya G Painting works throughout Little Rock and Central Arkansas. Call (501) 453-3565 for a free estimate.