Get another bid if you don't like this.

On a job that large I'd get at least 3 bids, and would like to see completed projects and check references.

Don't take this quote. Get more quotes from reputable painters and/or use an extension when you do part or all yourself. For me painting is a portion of construction within the scope of many.

It doesn't matter how he arrived at his quote. Maybe another painter estimates the time it will take, and quotes on that basis. It really makes no difference. I have never even wondered how my painters priced their work.

All that matters is the quality of the work in relation to the size of the cheque you will be writing.

Interesting reading the variety of comments. To me the price sounds high. But that might be sticker shock!

I agree with getting more than one quote and also seeing the work of the painter. Our painter was awful. Honestly awful. I'm still now noticing garbage things that happened. We've had a ton redone since but then only those new spots are good. In retrospect we should have had the whole house redone including ceilings by someone we trusted. Lesson learned.

I'm not saying to go with the quote you got at all. But I do think you should get a couple other options, see their work up close, then decide. I disagree that asking for clarity on a quote is bad. That is how life works. You have a question you ask about it. I assume you weren't a total jerk when seeking clarity and just asked about pricing or just asked here and have since gotten backlash. As a consumer we can ask questions about a product we wish to purchase. We shouldn't feel we need to just accept something as is if we have questions.

Once you get another couple quotes you can make an educated choice on who to go with.

Would you have preferred he have a higher per sq ft cost and didn't include the windows but came to the same price? Make sure whatever you do that your painter is experienced with Aura paint. Totally different technique! (I've used it and love it...most painters hate it). Considering I have a similar sq footage to paint, I am sure glad that I am my own painter on our build! :)

This is how diy'ers are born. I learned how to paint.

Hi everyone...thanks for your responses. They were very helpful. I decided to call the local paint supplier for Aura paint from BM and asked which painter was their main purchaser and user of Aura. They gave me the name and had good things to say about him. I obtained a quote from him today and it was $15,000 dollars less. :)

There was one catch - he suggested that I use a self-leveling primer that’s sprayed on and that will give an amazingly smooth finish. That is an extra charge of $12,000. If I decide to go with his regular primer (I‘ll check to see if it’s a high build primer)...I save $15 K. If I use this ”fancy primer” I’m back where I started with a similar price.

Is there such a thing as self leveling primer for walls ? He kinda scared me by saying if I don’t use it that I might not be happy with the finish and it would cost more then to redo walls.

Thoughts??/

That will depend on the Level of drywall finish you had spec'd in your new build; and whether you plan to use darker colors and/or high gloss finishes. We are remodeling our 3rd home in 45+ years. It seems to me that the quality of drywall work has gone down through the years. Either that, or a lot of drywall contractors are expecting the painters to fix things with the high build primer. If it can make a level 4 finish into a level 5, it's probably "cheaper" than the labor to do it by hand.

Like others have said, I would want to see and compare finished work before you select your painter & sign the contract.

Get more quotes. You don't know if it's high or not - I don't care if he charged me $1M per square foot but only counted the portion of wall underneath the light switch covers. That's his price - regardless of how he got there. You can negotiate on the number, but if he's been doing this this long he probably has his way to estimate and you are now arguing with him on how he does his job.

Get another quote and negotiate - but telling someone they don't know how to run their business isn't a good way to get a good deal.

I had a potential customer quibble with me over pricing recently. I withdrew my proposal immediately. I'm nearing capacity and about to raise my rates. Again. Ain't nobody got time for that nonsense.

IMO if the drywall was done right in the first place there would be no need for leveler but from what I read here there are all kinds of levels of drywall finish in the US I have never had issues in my business but all drywall done for me is the same finish , smooth and perfect. I would need to know if you have textured walls an totally agree to get 3 quotes but they need to comparing apples to apples not all over the map. In my experience the price of the home from the builder usually includes painting so not sure what the deal is you have. I have to say usually when a client starts quibbling over every charge I step back , it spells trouble . I do my own painting of my house and use either F&B or C2 paint both of which painters cahrge more for since they get no kick back . Do some homework and for sure talk to references.

Thanks for the responses! I have come to realize there are some subcontractors that simply don’t like to be questioned and feel they can charge whatever they like and continue to go about their business and find the next guy that will pay their rates. Other subs seem to have some basis for their rates, can explain them, and are comparable in the market. This is true across all fields not just construction.

Nothing wrong with making profit. My contractor builds high end homes and his subs also charge accordingly. I am apparently not the high end client and the builder new this in the beginning. Too many subs have charged 100% above what another outside sub would so I’m clearly sensitive to pricing. Even the contractor was at times embarrassed.

The rare subs that simply walked away when asked about pricing, in hindsight, inflated their prices way above the local market. Very interesting. I’m learning lots.

As a surgeon, if a patient asks me questions I don’t walk away but apparently in this field folks can be quite sensitive.

We will probably skip the self leveling primer as the drywall guys are amazing with the level 5 finish. I’ll ask him to use a high build primer just in case.

Ill keep all posted.

Thanks Again!

Doofy I agree with you so much. Let the ones go who won’t clarify. Clarifying and asking questions is totally acceptable. I would never work with someone unwilling to explain their methodology

A S:

I have no problem explaining my methodology, in fact that explanation sells most of my jobs. What I will not tolerate is potential customers figuring out my expenses and time and arbitrarily deciding that my rates are too high.

You don't go into a restaurant and say "Hey, I can buy a pound of ribeye steak at Publix for $4.99 a pound and you guys want $25.00!" Somehow, reverse engineering contractor time, material, and profits are acceptable, but restaurants get a pass.

Just like the restaurant, it's take it or leave it. Don't let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out, but we are never, ever negotiating.

You ever negotiate with a surgeon? Yeah, me neither.

Funny, I've never bargained with trades, let alone submerged myself in their complicated minutiae of measurements. I decide based on competitive quotes coupled with an inspection of their previous work.

(My Dad was an M.D. When he went big-ticket shopping, he'd be sure to leave his car at a distance to avoid the premium price. "MD" plates are now often eschewed as they attract druggies with bad intent.)

I assume that Doofy didn’t say exactly what was posted above to the painter and asked questions to understand the process. I’m not sure why it would be a secret how someone comes up with a price and what is involved in that process. If it is then that makes me wonder what they are hiding? You shouldn’t just be guessing. If you aren’t guessing you should be proud of your process and be able to say how you a certain a quote. Be proud of that and go with clients who also accept it.

You have very right to educate yourself and ask questions regarding an estimate. A contractor/painter should be able to explain to you their charges. Yes, if you see a $25 roll of tape you should ask why?

Older contractors are set in their ways but today anybody can research pricing as you are very quickly. What would be wrong with a client seeing a mis charge and it being corrected?

What I dont like is somone telling me what or how to do something as if they are not comfortable with the work they should be using some one else.

I see the who cares attitude and will tell you that will only get worse when issues have to be corrected. Just think how they will be to deal with if the work hasn't even started yet and they are being confrontational. I am shocked that people promote themselves like that on here with the high flow of traffic. Nobody is that good and there is always better.

Aura is a waste of money. Ask the painter what they recommend. Also do not nickel and dime a painter just use somone else. I really ever negotiate a sub because i make it 100% clear that i am not and i expect perfection. This way they can never say well I cut this or that.

Go see their work in person not pictures and then decide what price you like and don't worry about every line entry. Seeing their work and work ethic might more than justify the higher price. Getting paint on new floors, tile, etc can cost a lot more in the end.

Does your quote include the paint?

Our contractor built into the budget $25,000 L&M for painting our new custom home We have used our builders before and they, as well as their subs, are very good!

To compare, we have 3,700 sq. ft., plus two large porches. I feel sure that our paint quote is for SW paint. I prefer BM. I imagine that the cost of painting will go up slightly, because it is a paint quote based on our square footage, after-all.

Although neither my husband and I are MD's, we do understand the inflation of services, etc., Because of my husbands profession, and the neighborhood that we lived in, we often encounter high quotes.

Hi nhb22 - Yes the quote includes paint

Location is important, a huge driver of labor costs. You may have already answered. Probably high for my area, low for the SF Bay area. Bay Area labor is easily double. Interior only? Full exterior with real wood siding and beams or painting stucco or hardboard?

I expect my customs are 2-3x per foot more costly to paint vs a tract home. Neighborhood matters as some neighborhoods we build in have more detailed exteriors, not to mention higher expectations beyond industry standards (more interior details, more work in general). Does it include drywall prep? a few dollars. Stain grade doors? Lots of variables.

As jobs get larger & more complex they take longer on an exponential scale. Window walls take more labor than painted walls, less cost of paint adding cost of masking.

(not a pro) Do you have multiple paint colors? How about finish? In my admittedly limited experience (2 times painting ~3200 sq feet): each color change had an associated fee (I had several colors the first time around and was kind of appalled at the fees) and eggshell cost more than matte, as matte is easier to lay (according to the painter I hired most recently.) Also FWIW all my quotes were pre-COVID, and when I finally got a crew in when things opened up a bit, paint costs had gone up. (I was happy to pay more for paint to finally get the crew in!)