Help please: Tradie quotes for painting. Why such a huge difference?

[sam_d]

Any tradies on here able to help me with a quick question / shed some light on why I have such a huge difference in quotes:

Basically we've just bought a house and want the whole thing painted internally. We've had 4 quotes come in now - all detailing the the same work and methods. However, the quotes vary hugely - the lowest two being just shy of $7,000 and most expensive being approx $14k & $15K.

Can anyone here help me understand why there might be such a difference? I do follow the the old adage of "you get what you pay for" but also don't want to overpay for what I'm getting.

TIA!

[vnx205]

Perhaps some of the higher quotes are their way of saying," I already have more work than I can handle and don't really want the job, but if you are prepare to pay this ridiculously high price, I will fit you in somehow."

[DiscoMick]

Same number of coats?
Small or large painting team?
Are you moving out while they paint or do they have to cover everything and work around your domestic chaos?

[DiscoMick]

Also, are you supplying the paint or letting them inflate their bill with it?

[sam_d]

Perhaps some of the higher quotes are their way of saying," I already have more work than I can handle and don't really want the job, but if you are prepare to pay this ridiculously high price, I will fit you in somehow."

I thought that initially but one of the cheap ones and one of the expensive ones said they can start straight away and the other two said it would be 2 or 3 weeks before they can start so that put that theory to bed.

Also, I didn't approach anyone for a quote - they all responded to an ad on hipages and FB so if they already had too much work on then they wouldn't have offered to quote.

[sam_d]

Also, are you supplying the paint or letting them inflate their bill with it?

No. In all cases the quote includes all materials and labour, prep work, plastering and filling of holes etc so no difference there.

[sam_d]

Same number of coats?
Small or large painting team?
Are you moving out while they paint or do they have to cover everything and work around your domestic chaos?

Same number of coats. Everything identical (some use Dulux, others Taubman). The house is empty and the floors are all being replaced after the painting is done so no covering is required.

The two cheaper quotes have been from a couple of younger independent guys, the others are from older guys with a team but that would still only be the same number of manhours to do the job.

[RANDLOVER]

Watch out for contractors supplying the paint, as I knew a guy in the handyman business and he reckoned the paint shops have empty Dulux, etc tins, and guys would buy the cheap stuff then decant it into the primo tins!

[Bigbjorn]

Watch out for contractors supplying the paint, as I knew a guy in the handyman business and he reckoned the paint shops have empty Dulux, etc tins, and guys would buy the cheap stuff then decant it into the primo tins!

A rep for a paint company told me their is a grade known in the trade as "Gold Coast Glug". Covers well, easy to apply, looks good for a year or thereabouts, then you can virtually see through it. Thin as boarding house stew but cheap. Made for use in new unit blocks and high volume house and land developments. Needs repainting in two years.

[Lemo]

It’s just how things are! One company may think it’ll take longer then the other? Profit margin higher etc?
Recently had 7 odd contractors quote to replace all my piers and new foundations, of the four that actually quoted the prices range from $35k to $102k!!
I went with the one that I feel would do the best job, really knew what he was talking about and was timely with corresponds etc, wasn’t the cheapest one!
Maybe ask for some references?
Cheers Lemo

[austastar]

Hi,
If you trust the cheapest quote, go for it. You can also now afford to offer him a bonus if, on completion, you are really pleased with the result.
A little encouragement for a thorough job.
Win - win.
Cheers

[DiscoMick]

If you let him supply the paint make sure it is genuine.
When we had our interior painted last year we supplied the paint to ensure it was good and the quote was just for labour. Got it cheap, but had to call him back to fix one area.

[DiscoMick]

Make sure they do actually apply two coats, and not just one thick one. And make them clean up their drips too.