One painter includes the garage door. Another leaves it out. One allows for scraping loose paint from the fascia; another has priced a wash and repaint. Both estimates might say "exterior painting" at the top.
Before comparing the totals, check whether you're being offered the same work. A low price can be a good deal. An incomplete description makes it hard to tell.
Start with the areas included
Read the estimate as though you're walking through the job with the painter. For an exterior, can you tell whether it includes the walls, trim, soffits, fascia, shutters, entry doors, and garage door? For an interior, are ceilings, closets, baseboards, and doors listed separately from the walls?
You don't need every surface painted. You do need to know which ones are in the price.
For example, "bedroom walls" doesn't tell you whether the closet or ceiling is included. A few extra words in the estimate can settle that before anyone moves the furniture.
Make the preparation specific
"Prep as needed" deserves a follow-up question. Ask what the painter has seen and what they intend to do about it: remove loose paint, sand rough edges, repair particular cracks, replace failed caulk, or prime exposed areas.
Also ask where painting preparation ends and additional repair work begins. Replacing rotten trim is different from sanding it. If more damage appears during prep, agree on how the extra work will be priced and approved before it starts.
An omission may just mean the estimate needs rewriting. Get the clarification added to the document rather than relying on the conversation alone.
Look for a product name and an application plan
"Premium paint" isn't specific enough to compare. Ask for the manufacturer, product line, and sheen, along with the primer where one is needed.
The coat count should also be written down. Two finish coats are common, but a one-coat specification isn't automatically a shortcut. For example, Sherwin-Williams lists Duration Exterior for one-coat repaints and two-coat new work. The proposed application needs to fit the product instructions, existing surface, and color change.
If an estimate only promises "full coverage," ask what that means in practice and whether additional coats would change the price.
Check the details you'll care about during the job
Before accepting, make sure the paperwork answers these questions:
- What will be covered or moved, and what do you need to move yourself?
- How will floors, plants, furniture, and nearby surfaces be protected?
- What is the expected schedule, and how will weather delays be handled?
- When are payments due?
- What happens if you change a color after approving it?
- What cleanup is included?
- Is there a workmanship warranty? If so, what does it cover and exclude?
These details don't have to fill pages. They do have to be clear.
How to judge a price that stands out
If one total is much lower, ask the painter to explain the scope. It might cover less work, use a different product, or reflect a different business's pricing. The number alone doesn't establish the quality.
A price based on photos also deserves a question: is it a preliminary estimate or a firm price, and what assumptions could change it after inspection? Photos are useful, but they may not reveal the condition of every surface.
Be cautious if someone won't answer straightforward questions or insists you commit before the scope is clear. Check any stated expiration date rather than assuming the price will remain available indefinitely.
Our estimates are free and written, with the areas, preparation, products, and coats listed. Request an estimate for your project, or see our exterior and interior painting services.