Which areas are included, by name
A quote should list the areas it covers, not just say "interior" or "exterior". For an interior that means each room, and within each room whether walls, ceilings, doors, door frames, skirting boards and windows are included. For an exterior it means walls, eaves, fascia, gutters, downpipes, window frames, doors, and any fences, decks or outbuildings.
If a line just says "paint house exterior", ask what it covers. Eaves, fascia and window frames are the parts most often left off a vague quote, and they are also the parts that make a repaint look finished.
What preparation is in the price
Preparation is where most of the labour in a good paint job goes, and it is the easiest thing to leave out of a cheaper quote. Look for the specific steps: washing, scraping loose paint, sanding, filling cracks and holes, sealing and priming bare or repaired areas, and caulking gaps.
A quote that says nothing about preparation is not telling you it is included. It is telling you nothing at all. The question to ask is simple: if a section of paint is flaking when you start, what happens, and is it already in this price?
Coats and products
The quote should state how many coats each surface gets, and whether a primer or sealer is part of it. The right number depends on the surface and on how far the new colour is from the old one, so there is no single correct figure. What matters is that it is written down, so every quote you compare is quoting the same thing.
It should also name the paint range and the sheen for each area, such as low sheen on walls or a gloss or semi-gloss on trim. Without that, two quotes can look identical on paper while one assumes a far cheaper product.
Access, protection and clean-up
On a two-storey or sloping block, how the painters reach the high work changes both safety and cost. A quote should say whether it allows for ladders, a mobile platform or scaffolding. A price that assumes a ladder where the house really needs scaffolding is not cheaper. The difference comes back later.
The same goes for protection and clean-up: covering floors, furniture, gardens and paving, moving furniture and putting it back, and removing rubbish at the end. If it is not written in, ask.
Exclusions, variations and the guarantee
A good quote is as clear about what is not included as about what is. Common exclusions are rotten timber replacement, major plaster repairs, and areas you may want added later. Seeing them listed up front is a good sign, not a bad one.
Ask how extra work is handled if something unexpected turns up, such as hidden timber rot behind old paint: is it priced and agreed in writing before it is done? Finally, check what guarantee comes with the work and that it is written down. Our quotes are itemised and in writing, and every job carries a 5-year written workmanship guarantee and public liability insurance of 10 million dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are painting quotes for the same house so different?
Usually because they cover different work. One quote may include full preparation, every trim surface, the right access equipment and clean-up, while another leaves those vague or out. Compare the areas, preparation, coats, products and access line by line before comparing totals.
What should a house painting quote include?
The areas covered by name, the preparation steps, the number of coats and the paint range and sheen for each surface, the access method, protection and clean-up, what is excluded, how extra work is approved, and the written guarantee.
Is a cheaper painting quote always worse?
Not always, but check what is missing. If a cheaper quote leaves out preparation, trims or proper access, the gap tends to return as extra charges or as a finish that fails early. If it covers the same scope in writing, it is a fair comparison.
How quickly does Jetblack Painting send a written quote?
Every job is looked at on site before we quote, and the itemised written quote is usually sent within 24 to 48 hours of that visit.