Choosing a painter -- what to do...

15 years ago

Kitchen and adjoining vaulted ceiling family room are getting gutted & redone (moving windows & french door), so all the furniture is out. Some base cabs next to the fireplace will be primed and ready to paint. Windows and doors with colonial grills will also need painting. And powder room has wallpaper that will have to be stripped (which we may have pasted directly to walls with only buildergrade paint). I've never hired a painter before - DH and I have always done it -- I'm great at cutting in, he does the rolling. But b/c of timing and kids, we just want to get it done (plus, doors and windows are a pain). I'm leaning toward the cheaper figuring that paint is paint, and I can always retouch. The only thing making me nervous is the wallpaper in the powder room . . . . What would you do? I know this is somewhat silly to post b/c it's so subjective but DH says it's my decision and I need help!

Painter 1 is $3000 (incl. paint) and has worked with our general contractor for years. That's a plus b/c they'll work well together etc.

Painter 2 is $1350 (I buy the paint, probably BM aura or the standard); got the name from a friend of a neighbor.

Both have great references. $1350 seems too good to be true, but his 6 references say he's great.

Is this a no brainer? Go with the cheaper?

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Comments (7)

PRO
Christopher Nelson Wallcovering and Painting
15 years ago
There has to be some difference in what each is going to do.
You need to get more info in writing.
User
15 years ago
You need to know EXACTLY what each bid includes: How many coats? Primer? Cleanup? Wall patching? Wallpaper removal?
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kristinekr
15 years ago
We just had some painting done. We got two bids--one for $1800 and one for $1150. Both bids included exactly the same things. Both had good references.

We went with the cheaper bid. I figured that saving $650 would make me okay with any things that were less than perfect.

I found a wide range in bids for getting floors installed and finished as well as replacement windows. We went with the cheapest bid in both those cases as well. Overall, we are happy. Neither job was perfect, but given the choice, I would not have paid the extra money for the next highest bidder even if I could be assured they would have been perfect--and of course the more expensive bidder may not have done any better.

If the cheaper guy has good references and will do everything you want--why not save the money.
bellacucina
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for your replies - - the price disparity is significant, but the written estimates are not. Actually the cheaper bid states 2 coats on the trim (and everything else), while the $3000 says only 1 coat for the trim.

We had a couple other bids that were slightly over $4000 too, and while those estimates were more detailed, and one of the $4000 painters reportedly is VERY careful and thorough, that price was just too high for me.

It's a bit of a leap of faith for me to pick the lowest bid, but I'm going to ask him a couple more questions to feel assured he can paint during the GC's specified window of time, and that he'll protect the new floors etc. And then I think I'm going for it. Thanks again.
paintguy22
15 years ago
It's really not unusual to have wide ranges in painting prices even if both bids are for the same thing. Many painters are great at what they do but they are bad business people and just simply don't charge enough for what they do. If you can find someone like that, then good for you. Besides, he has 6 more references than I do, which is a good sign. I do always question why painters would let the customers pick and supply the paint though....that just never made any sense to me. Also, don't forget that most normal people don't notice when a paintjob is bad. If you are one of those picky people that demand perfection, then finding the perfect painter and paying more for it may be more important for you.
amysrq
15 years ago
I do always question why painters would let the customers pick and supply the paint though....that just never made any sense to me.

Paintguy, can you expand on this please? Other than the small mark-up, why is it worse for a painter to let the customer provide the paint? I have done it both ways and my clients do it both ways. Would just like to hear your perspective on the pros and cons.

Bellacucina, I understand your wanting to just get it done. I am one of those picky people that Paintguy refers to! :-) I think I would hire the more expensive painter but have him do less of the work....finish what I can myself. JMO.
bellacucina
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for your input paintguy and Amysrq - it's great to have pros in this forum! Actually I'm pretty picky. But I'm also a bargain hunter, lured by the prospect of a great find who I can use later for other rooms. And of course I'm running a risk, but I think I'll have him paint before the cabs go in and that will at least alleviate that concern...

As to supplying or buying the paint, I'm curious too about whether either option would cost the client less... I can get the 'contractors price' at ny local Ben Moore store b/c I've been such a good customer :) and have no problem running over there to pick it up.