Can you imagine having your entire house painted without knowing how much your painter will charge you once the job is complete?
No matter how big or small the painting job, it’s very important to get a written estimate before the work begins.
You never want to get into a situation where you think you will be responsible for paying a certain amount, but then you are presented with a bill that is much higher than you originally thought. A written estimate can help you to avoid this type of unpleasant experience.
An estimate is a good idea for several reasons…
First, an estimate allows you to clearly understand how much you will owe. A painter expects payment in full when a job is complete – unless other payment arrangements were made ahead of time.
Second, an estimate allows you to compare the cost of different professional painters. It’s always a good idea to ask more than one painter for a price quote so you understand your options before making your final selection.
Finally, an estimate should specify the exact work to be completed. It’s always a good idea to understand what specific goods and services you are purchasing from your painting company.
A painting estimate should include the following:
- Type and number of gallons of paint to be used
- Cost of painting supplies that will need to be purchased for your specific job
- Cost of repairing damaged interior walls, rotten exterior wood, etc.
- Extra fees that may be charged for large rooms, tall ceilings, and otherwise difficult spaces
- Cost of extra labor if additional painters are needed
- Notation of any coupon or discount that will be applied to the final cost
Different professional painting companies will each use a unique form when providing prospective customers with a cost estimate. If you would like your written estimate to contain specific or detailed information, make sure to ask the person who completes your estimate to add that information to the document. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to estimates – especially for a job that might cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Multiple Estimates
Even though it might be more time consuming to get multiple estimates from various house painting companies, it’s important to understand price differences. One company might provide you with an estimate that is considerably lower than another company. Your instinct might tell you to choose the lower-priced company.
Before you choose a company, make sure all of your estimates contain similar paint quality and services. In other words, the lower estimate might include only one coat of paint and no repair to damaged walls. The higher estimate might include two coats of paint and any necessary repairs.
Getting cost estimates from different professional painting companies allows you to meet (or talk with) a representative of each company. This gives you a chance to decide which company seems more trustworthy, professional and competent.
Having the interior and/or exterior of your home painted is a big deal. You certainly do not want to pay too much for the work, but you also want to make sure that you get what you are paying for and that you will be happy with the results.
Call us today to schedule your house painting estimate!