How much should you pay a painter?

Professional painters can be costly, but research shows that the cost of painting will nearly always be recouped in added value should you sell your home. Paying a professional painter may very well be a worthwhile investment, then. Finding a reliable painter who does quality work is important, but how much should you reasonably expect to pay?

Paying a painter

In some ways, this is a 'how long is a piece of string?' question, because there are quite a few variables to take into account when deciding on a fair price.

The cost of getting your house professionally painted depends on;

• The size of your house - the area that you want painted, in square metres.
• The type and quality of paint you want used. Some types of paint require up to five or even six coats to really look good; gloss paints in particular. You may also pay extra for features using texture paint, or another type of special effects paint like metallic finish
• The degree of difficulty will determine how long the job takes. Hiring a professional means that you are paying for expertise by the hour. If your painting job requires lots of fiddly bits (such as ornate trim, cornices or other complex decorative touches), working around obstacles such as furniture or stairs, or lots of ladder climbing, this will add to the time and therefore the expense involved
• Where you live - if you live in a rural area you may have to pay for travel as well

Take these variables into account before taking the next step.

Quotes: How much you should pay a painter

The next step is to get quotes. The easiest way to proceed is by using an online quotation service. Either contact the painter through their website to request a quote (these can usually then be provided within 24 hours), or use a professional quotation service. Either way, you will need at least three quotes for a reasonable comparison, and you may find some wild differences in prices.

For an average size home expect to pay at least around five thousand dollars, although this will vary considerably depending on the factors above.

Your painter may need to actually see the house before committing to a final quote, at which point it is important to enter into a signed agreement to ensure that it does not suddenly change at the end of the job.

What you should expect to pay a painter

Exactly what you will end up paying to have your house professionally painted depends on a number of factors. It is certainly an expense, but as research shows that a paint job is the best way to add value to your home, it is well worth the expense. Get several quotes, and protect yourself with a legally enforceable signed written agreement before the work begins.