What Should a Painting Quote Include?
A good written painting quotation should make clear what will actually be painted, prepared and checked. This checklist is designed to help you ask for missing items before accepting an offer, especially when quotations appear to cover different surfaces.
Property, areas and surface list
Confirm the address, access details, room or elevation list and whether ceilings, doors, trims, decks or fences are included. A description such as 'paint the house' is not enough if different contractors intend different work. Mark selected exceptions and optional work explicitly.
Preparation and repair boundaries
Ask whether cleaning, loose-paint removal, minor hole filling, sanding, stain treatment, sealers or primers are part of the scope. Significant substrate, structural, waterproofing, mould or hazardous-material work should not be assumed to be routine paint preparation. Record how unforeseen damage will be assessed.
Coating products and finish expectations
The proposal should identify the intended system clearly enough for comparison, including specified primer where needed, topcoat product or performance criteria, finish/sheens and application assumptions. Product suitability depends on existing material, preparation and manufacturer directions.
Safety, site protection and access
Clarify furniture and floor protection, resident access, waste and clean-up, scaffolding or other access equipment where required, building management restrictions and weather-dependent exterior scheduling. Do not assume special equipment or permissions are included unless written.
Total price, GST and the variation process
Ask whether GST applies and is included or excluded in the stated total, and how changes will be approved. Confirm who provides colours, who can authorise additional preparation, when payment is due and what occurs if access changes. The applicable legal requirements depend on the work and circumstances; verify through official NSW sources if needed.
Handover, touch-ups and written records
Define the inspection point, final clean-up, any agreed touch-ups, product/colour record and exclusions. Compare contractors on equivalent items, not only the bottom line. A licence number or insurance claim displayed online should be verified rather than simply assumed valid.
Questions to ask before you book
Should preparation appear as a separate item?
It should be described clearly, whether as an itemised section or an unambiguous inclusion, so the required steps are not overlooked.
Should a quote say whether GST is included?
Yes. Confirm in writing whether the price includes GST and how any applicable tax is treated.
Is a cheap quote necessarily poor quality?
Not necessarily, but first compare surfaces, preparation, access, coating system, exclusions and handover on the same basis.
Related advice and services
General information only. Product instructions, site conditions and any applicable safety or legal requirements must be checked for the actual property before work starts.