Why do painters charge such different prices
for the same job?

For any new painting project, the first step is often getting quotes from local painting companies. Getting multiple quotes is a great way to make sure that you get the best deal. So many quotes can become confusing however when the prices are so different. How can the same paint job have such varied costs? Learning how painters calculate their pricing will help to choose between the many options.

Your painter should have a system for creating quotes.

 A professional painting company will have a system for coming up with their prices. While there are various ways a painter can arrive at their price it is not enough for the painter to just “eyeball” the project. That is when they quickly look at the project and guess what the price should be. The price should be the result of some kind of formula that is customized to your home.

It should be a red flag if the painter does not have any kind of measuring device with them when they come to give you their quote. A quick look at a project can be deceiving. It is much easier to quote a project poorly if you don’t have measurements and a system.

Not all painting companies are the same.

Some companies carry insurance and others do not. Some companies have sought out certification and ongoing training for their workers and others do not. There are not two painting companies that are identical. Having insurance or training programs improve the safety or quality of the work you receive but they also usually mean that the company has to charge more to cover their cost.

It should be a red flag if the painter does not have any kind of measuring device with them when they come to give you their quote. A quick look at a project can be deceiving. It is much easier to quote a project poorly if you don’t have measurements and a system.

Not all paint jobs are the same.

Just because you showed the painters the same areas to paint doesn’t mean that they plan to do the same job. One painter may plan to use a primer before they paint while the other does not for just one example. The best solution is to get a detailed estimate from the painters. They should specify what preparation they plan to do and what products they plan to use.

Some of the ways a paint job can be different include:

• Different qualities of paint can be used.
• A different number of coats may be applied.
• The Preparation may not be the same.

It should be a red flag if the painter does not have any kind of measuring device with them when they come to give you their quote. A quick look at a project can be deceiving. It is much easier to quote a project poorly if you don’t have measurements and a system.

Not all painters have the same estimating skill.

Estimating how long a project will take and how much product will be used is a skill that must be learned. Some painters will be better at this than others. One price may be cheaper than the other because that painter simply underestimated what the job would take. The opposite could be true on the higher-priced quote.

It is a bad thing from the homeowner’s perspective if the painter underestimates the job? In that case, you will simply wind up paying less and the painter learns a hard lesson. While it might be tempting to think that this situation works to your advantage, this may not be the case. The painter will have to resist the urge to hurry the project or use faster but less effective techniques. It is always better for the project to be estimated correctly before it begins.

Conclusion

The simplest answer for why different painters don’t all charge the same price for the same job is that there is no identical job. No two painting companies are the same and no two painters will approach a job the exact same way.

If you have more questions about painting in Oklahoma City or would like a second opinion about your painting project, you can call Hometown Painting LLC at (405) 202-7945. Or reach out on our contact page.