Comparing painters: “Why are the prices from painters so different?”
Posted on March 10, 2021
You’ve done your homework and have 3 bids for painting your home. How can you go about comparing painters? And why are the prices to paint your home so wildly different?
There are a few things that might cause you to have trouble comparing painters and the quotes they give you: Here are the most common ones:
Each painter may be bidding on a different scope of work:
The first painter to your door usually has the opportunity to help you set the specifications for the job – this is great, especially if you write down the specifications and pricing assumptions to give to subsequent painting companies. Apples-to-apples price comparisons are the only way to accurately compare painting companies.
For example – all of these factors can affect the price of painting your home:
-Does the painting bid call for 1 coat of paint or 2 coats?
-Are the carpenters replacing the rotted wood with PVC or wood?
-Will the preparation on the walls include feather-sanding?
Not having these seemingly minor details locked down will result in different painting quotes and, ultimately, a different execution of your vision by the painter.
Easy solution: Set the specifications of the project upfront. This means writing down and handing each painting company:
- Exactly what you’d like painted
- How many coats will be painted on each surface
- Colors if you know them
- Any carpentry you’d like the company to do before painting
If you change your mind about what you want to be quoted after you’ve locked down your specs and you already have some quotes (it happens), have subsequent contractors bid this “new scope of the job” as a separate option with its own price. This way, you can still compare painting quotes based on the original scope.
When comparing painters, ask if the painting company has insurance.
Many smaller painters don’t have insurance, which places the burden of insurance for the job site and worker injury on the homeowner. Make sure you choose a painting company with both General Liability Insurance (which protects the job site, your family, your home, and your belongings) and Worker’s Compensation insurance to protect you from being sued if a worker injures themselves on your property. Since painting is inherently risky and physical, you should always insist upon an insured painting contractor even though you will pay more for an insured painter in the price to paint your home or business.
Easy solution: Ask your painting contractor to add you as an “additional insured” to their insurance policy. This ensures that they have insurance and that it is in force.
Are services like free color consultation included in the painting quote?
Some painters do charge more, but more likely, you may be getting more value than having to buy services “a la carte.” For example:
- Is free color consultation included in your quote? If you have to add this on yourself, this will run about $100/hour in Boston.
- Is the paint included in the price of the quote, or is it just the labor? Good paint will add about 12-15% of the cost of the painting job.
- Will there be a dedicated supervisor on the job?
- Can the painter meet your July 4th Party deadline, or is that unclear?
- Does the painting company have carpenters on staff to replace rotted wood on your home before painting, or will you have to hire your own carpenter?
Some painters bid a painting project very low and make up for their low price with expensive add-ons during the project:
If you don’t have a detailed, written quote that includes photos from your painter, you may have wildly different assumptions when it’s time to start painting. If you think your shutters or bathroom ceiling are included in the price, and the painter’s written quote doesn’t specify those items, you could find yourself with expensive add-ons during the project. Comparing painting companies is almost impossible if the details are not written down.
Contractors often give a vague quote and once they start the project, explain that the extra coat or painting of the trim you though was included is actually an add-on for which they’ll need to charge you more.
Easy solution: Insist on all details in writing, including:
- Number of coats of paint
- Surfaces that will be painted (i.e., shutters, ceiling, door trim, soffit)
- Brand and grade of paint – i.e., Sherwin Williams, (brand) Resilience (grade of paint)
- Things excluded from the quote (i.e., shed, ceilings, garage doors).
What if the scope of the project changes, and I already have a few painting quotes?
Have each contractor bid on the original scope and price the additional items as separately priced options. This way, you’re able to compare quotes.
Compare estimators:
The feeling you get during the bidding process often indicates how the rest of the painting project will be delivered by that company.
When comparing painters, ask yourself these questions:
- Have you had to chase the painter for a quote, or was it emailed to you within a day?
- If you’ve had questions, has the estimator called you back quickly?
- Was the estimator polite?
- Did the estimator write down important details, like if your dog can be let out? The last thing you want is a great paint job but a lost dog!
Online reviews help you compare painters easily:
It’s easy for painters to email you good references. It says a lot more when the references are unsolicited online reviews. Do a quick Google Search with this formula: “XYZ Painters reviews South Shore” to pull up online reviews from Google, Yelp, Angie’s List, and Facebook.
Don’t just look at the number of stars, read the reviews, and look at the month and year they were written.
You’ll want to see many online reviews posted over a long period (that is, the reviews go back years, not months) to ensure that the painting company has been in business and plans to stay in business.
If there are lots of decent and recent reviews, the painter is more likely to be someone worth hiring. And someone who will stand by their work.
Games painters play with paint:
When you receive your written quote, you’ll want to see the following:
Brand of paint: Like “Sherwin Williams,” “Benjamin Moore,” “Farrow & Ball”)
Grade of paint: For example: “Sherwin Williams Resilience” or “Benjamin Moore Aura”
Often a painter will write “Benjamin Moore White Paint” on your quote, which likely means the cheapest level of Benjamin Moore paint. Insist on knowing the grade of paint so you’re not stuck with a cheap grade paint that doesn’t hold up.
I hope this sheds some light on how important it is to understand what to look at when comparing painters’ bids, so you are more educated about the painting quotes you get. If you have any questions, email [email protected].
< BACK TO OUR INDEX OF ARTICLES, TIPS, AND ADVICE
You might also like:
Why the paint you use on your home matters
Our 20-second quiz: Does my exterior need to be painted?
Our portfolio of painting projects
