How pricing works
What you pay for, and when you find out
Every house is different, so we do not put a number on this site. We put the reasons here.
What decides the price
Four things move an estimate more than anything else.
How much surface there is, and how high it is
How much prep and repair it needs
How many coats and how many colors
Brick or siding, and how many windows and trim runs
What the estimate includes
Written, with a line for each part of the house.
Surfaces, repairs, coats, colors and sheens
Cleanup, schedule and payment schedule
Repairs found later and extra colors are not included
What happens at the visit
An owner walks the house with you, checks the surfaces and the lot, and talks colors. We do not charge for the visit.
Materials
We buy the paint and the supplies. Premium exterior paint is the starting point, and the estimate names it.
If the job changes
Rot, a color change or an extra door are priced in writing before we do them. Nothing is added without your yes.
When you get the number
In writing, within a few business days of the visit, before anything starts.
The estimate
What a good written estimate states
Ask any painter for these, including us.
| A vague one | A written estimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Surfaces | A vague one"Paint the house" | A written estimateEach surface listed by name |
| Repairs | A vague oneNot mentioned | A written estimateWhat is repaired first, and what happens if more is found |
| Coats | A vague one"A new look" | A written estimatePrimer and number of coats, per surface |
| Colors | A vague one"As discussed" | A written estimateMaker's names and sheens, per surface |
| Payment | A vague oneCash at the end | A written estimateWhen each payment is due and for what |
Questions
Pricing questions
Do you give a price over the phone?
No. We would be guessing. A photo helps us decide who comes and when, and the number comes after the visit.
Is there a charge to come and look?
No. The estimate is free of charge when we come to the house, and you owe nothing if you choose someone else.
Do you ask for a deposit?
Payments are written into the estimate: what is due at signing, during the work and at the walk-through. Ask us to explain any line.
Ready for a number you can read?
We come to the house, look, and write it down.