Before You Accept a Low House Painting Estimate, Ask These 4 Questions
Are you planning a home painting project, interior or exterior?
If so, you likely have at least a few estimates in front of you, each with a different number on it. Or, you will soon.
The temptation can be to simply grab the lowest bid. After all, as long as the paint gets applied, why pay more, right? Paint is paint.
In the world of professional painting, however, you truly do get what you pay for. And, while bargain bids may seem like a no-brainer, they can sometimes end up being the most expensive option when all is said and done.
Cheap Painting: When a Bargain Is No Longer a Bargain
There are a lot of details woven in and through your painting estimate, and it’s important to know what isn’t being said just as much as what is.
To clarify what we mean, here are a few concrete questions you can ask your painter to better understand what is being sacrificed in order to make your low estimate possible.
What Should You Ask Your Painter?
What kind of surface prep does my estimate include? - Thorough preparation and making necessary repairs is an essential part of a quality painting project. Otherwise you’re building on a faulty foundation and your finish will suffer for it.
Are you using a high-quality product? - The ingredients in cheaper paint just don’t perform as they should, meaning that your paint will not last as long, look as good, or cover your surfaces as well during the application process.
Can you explain the details of my warranty? - Lengthy warranties look fantastic on paper, but often are full of loopholes that protect the painter but leave you out in the cold. Even if it’s a shorter duration, a clear, concise warranty that really offers peace of mind is much more valuable.
Do you work with subcontractors or employees? - While hiring a subcontractor for a specific task is not always a bad thing, your painter should rely primarily on their own dedicated, invested team. You want to be sure the painters are committed to quality, not just to finishing the job and moving on.
Paying more for a job well done is always more cost-effective than needing to pay extra to correct poor craftsmanship. It’s also more cost-effective to invest in a beautiful, longer-lasting finish (interior or exterior) than frequent, less satisfactory work.
Take the time to get to know your painter: their story,local commitment, examples of work, and reviews. Finding and partnering with a true pro is priceless!
