# How to Choose a Painter in Melbourne Melbourne has thousands of people offering painting work, and the gap between the best and worst of them is enormous — in preparation quality, in what happens if something goes wrong, and in whether the job is still holding up in five years. Here's what actually matters when you're comparing painters. [Call Jimmy — 0432 077 782](tel:0432077782) ## Check Insurance and Business Registration First Victoria doesn't issue a specific trade licence for painting, so the checks that matter are a registered ABN and public liability insurance that actually covers the value of your property. Ask to see proof of insurance before work starts — a legitimate painting business will have this ready to send. Jetblack Painting carries $10M public liability insurance and provides certificates on request. ## Get a Written, Itemised Quote A trustworthy quote spells out the preparation work included (sanding, filling, priming), the number of coats, the specific paint brand and product line, and what's explicitly excluded. A single lump-sum figure with no scope is where most disputes start. Get at least two or three quotes so you have something to compare scope against, not just price. ## Ask About the Guarantee A painter confident in their preparation and materials will back the job with a written guarantee. Jetblack Painting backs every job with a 5-year written workmanship guarantee — ask any painter you're considering what theirs covers, and get it in writing rather than a verbal promise. ## Look Past the Star Rating A 5.0 rating with 3 reviews tells you less than a 4.8 with 100. Read a handful of the actual review text, not just the score, and look for detail — mentions of tidiness, communication, and whether the painter returned for touch-ups if needed. ## Red Flags to Watch For Asking for full payment upfront before any work starts, no fixed address or ABN listed anywhere, reluctance to put the quote or guarantee in writing, a quote significantly below every other one with no explanation, and no examples of previous work or contactable references. ## Questions to Ask Before You Book What preparation is included, specifically, for my surfaces? Which paint brand and product line will you use, and why? How many coats are included in the price? What does your guarantee cover, and for how long? Can I see proof of public liability insurance? ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Do painters in Melbourne need a licence? Victoria doesn't require a separate trade licence for painting the way it does for plumbing or electrical work, so anyone can call themselves a painter. That makes insurance, a registered ABN, and a track record of finished jobs far more important checks than a licence number. ### How much should I pay upfront? Be cautious of any painter asking for full payment before work starts. A reasonable deposit to secure materials and a start date is normal; the balance should be tied to progress or completion, not paid entirely in advance. ### What's a fair amount of detail in a quote? A proper quote itemises surface preparation, the number of coats, the specific paint brand and product line, and what's excluded. A one-line price with no scope is the most common source of disputes later. ### Should I choose the cheapest quote? Not automatically. The cheapest quotes often cut preparation time — sanding, filling, priming — which is where paint failure starts. Compare scope first, then price. **Jetblack Painting** — How to Choose a Painter in Melbourne | Phone: [0432 077 782](tel:0432077782) | Email: [jimmy@jetblackpainting.com](mailto:jimmy@jetblackpainting.com) [Blog](/blog/) | [Interior Painting](/services/interior-painting/) | [Exterior Painting](/services/exterior-painting/) | [Contact](/#contact) ## Suburbs we service - [Painters Albert Park](/painter-albert-park/) - [Painters Armadale](/painter-armadale/) - [Painters Aspendale](/painter-aspendale/) - [Painters Aspendale Gardens](/painter-aspendale-gardens/) - [Painters Balwyn](/painter-balwyn/) - [Painters Balwyn North](/painter-balwyn-north/) - [Painters Bayside](/painter-bayside/) - [Painters Beaumaris](/painter-beaumaris/) - [Painters Bentleigh](/painter-bentleigh/) - [Painters Bentleigh East](/painter-bentleigh-east/) - [Painters Berwick](/painter-berwick/) - [Painters Black Rock](/painter-black-rock/) - [Painters Bonbeach](/painter-bonbeach/) - [Painters Boroondara](/painter-boroondara/) - [Painters Box Hill](/painter-box-hill/) - [Painters Braeside](/painter-braeside/) - [Painters Brighton](/painter-brighton/) - [Painters Brighton East](/painter-brighton-east/) - [Painters Brunswick](/painter-brunswick/) - [Painters Camberwell](/painter-camberwell/) - [Painters Canterbury](/painter-canterbury/) - [Painters Carlton](/painter-carlton/) - [Painters Carnegie](/painter-carnegie/) - [Painters Carrum](/painter-carrum/) - [Painters Casey](/painter-casey/) - [Painters Caulfield](/painter-caulfield/) - [Painters Chadstone](/painter-chadstone/) - [Painters Chelsea](/painter-chelsea/) - [Painters Chelsea Heights](/painter-chelsea-heights/) - [Painters Cheltenham](/painter-cheltenham/) - [Painters Clarinda](/painter-clarinda/) - [Painters Clyde](/painter-clyde/) - [Painters Clyde North](/painter-clyde-north/) - [Painters Collingwood](/painter-collingwood/) - [Painters Cranbourne](/painter-cranbourne/) - [Painters Croydon](/painter-croydon/) - [Painters Dandenong](/painter-dandenong/) - [Painters Dingley Village](/painter-dingley-village/) - [Painters Doncaster](/painter-doncaster/) - [Painters Donvale](/painter-donvale/) - [Painters Dromana](/painter-dromana/) - [Painters Edithvale](/painter-edithvale/) - [Painters Elsternwick](/painter-elsternwick/) - [Painters Elwood](/painter-elwood/) - [Painters Endeavour Hills](/painter-endeavour-hills/) - [Painters Fitzroy](/painter-fitzroy/) - [Painters Frankston](/painter-frankston/) - [Painters Frankston South](/painter-frankston-south/) - [Painters Glen Eira](/painter-glen-eira/) - [Painters Glen Iris](/painter-glen-iris/) - [Painters Glen Waverley](/painter-glen-waverley/) - [Painters Greater Dandenong](/painter-greater-dandenong/) - [Painters Hampton](/painter-hampton/) - [Painters Hampton East](/painter-hampton-east/) - [Painters Hampton Park](/painter-hampton-park/) - [Painters Hastings](/painter-hastings/) - [Painters Hawthorn](/painter-hawthorn/) - [Painters Heatherton](/painter-heatherton/) - [Painters Highett](/painter-highett/) - [Painters Hughesdale](/painter-hughesdale/) - [Painters Kew](/painter-kew/) - [Painters Keysborough](/keysborough-painters/) - [Painters Kingston](/painter-kingston/) - [Painters Lyndhurst](/painter-lyndhurst/) - [Painters Malvern](/painter-malvern/) - [Painters Malvern East](/painter-malvern-east/) - [Painters McKinnon](/painter-mckinnon/) - [Painters Mentone](/painter-mentone/) - [Painters Monash](/painter-monash/) - [Painters Moorabbin](/painter-moorabbin/) - [Painters Mordialloc](/painter-mordialloc/) - [Painters Mornington](/painter-mornington/) - [Painters Mornington Peninsula](/painter-mornington-peninsula/) - [Painters Mount Eliza](/painter-mount-eliza/) - [Painters Mount Martha](/painter-mount-martha/) - [Painters Murrumbeena](/painter-murrumbeena/) - [Painters Narre Warren](/painter-narre-warren/) - [Painters Northcote](/painter-northcote/) - [Painters Oakleigh](/painter-oakleigh/) - [Painters Ormond](/painter-ormond/) - [Painters Parkdale](/painter-parkdale/) - [Painters Patterson Lakes](/painter-patterson-lakes/) - [Painters Port Melbourne](/painter-port-melbourne/) - [Painters Port Phillip](/painter-port-phillip/) - [Painters Prahran](/painter-prahran/) - [Painters Richmond](/painter-richmond/) - [Painters Ringwood](/painter-ringwood/) - [Painters Rosebud](/painter-rosebud/) - [Painters Rowville](/painter-rowville/) - [Painters Rye](/painter-rye/) - [Painters Safety Beach](/painter-safety-beach/) - [Painters Sandringham](/painter-sandringham/) - [Painters Seaford](/painter-seaford/) - [Painters Somerville](/painter-somerville/) - [Painters Sorrento](/painter-sorrento/) - [Painters South Melbourne](/painter-south-melbourne/) - [Painters South Yarra](/painter-south-yarra/) - [Painters St Kilda](/painter-st-kilda/) - [Painters Stonnington](/painter-stonnington/) - [Painters Templestowe](/painter-templestowe/) - [Painters Thornbury](/painter-thornbury/) - [Painters Toorak](/painter-toorak/) - [Painters Wantirna South](/painter-wantirna-south/) - [Painters Waterways](/painter-waterways/) - [Painters Wheelers Hill](/painter-wheelers-hill/) - [Painters Windsor](/painter-windsor/) [Privacy Policy](/privacy/) | [Terms of Use](/terms/)