How to Compare Painting Quotes (and Spot the Traps)

Three quotes for the same repaint can read $6,000, $8,500 and $11,000 — and the cheapest can be either a bargain or a disaster. Here's how to tell.

The must-be-itemised list

• Prep, step by step: wash-down, sanding, priming, gap filling, crack and timber repairs — vague "preparation included" is the #1 red flag
• Products by name: brand and product line, not "premium paint"
• Coat count: two topcoats is standard; "one coat" pricing explains cheap quotes
• Scope by element: walls, ceilings, trims, doors, windows, exterior faces listed explicitly
• Access equipment: scaffold/tower hire itemised for two-storey work

Credentials to verify

• ABN and public liability insurance (ask for the certificate)
• Written workmanship warranty — 3–5 years is respectable; "lifetime" verbal promises are worthless
• Recent local references or reviews you can actually check

Questions that expose corner-cutters

"How many coats on ceilings?" "What primer on the bare patches?" "Who moves and covers furniture?" "Is the deposit refundable if weather delays exceed a month?" Confident professionals answer instantly; hesitation tells you everything.

Then choose on value, not price

Cheapest wins only when scopes are identical. Normalise every quote against the checklist above, and pay for the prep — it's where the lifespan lives.

Ready for real quotes?