Start with one brief for every painter
A room name is not a painting specification. “Paint the lounge” can mean walls only, or it can include the ceiling, cornice, doors, windows and skirting. Write down the surfaces you want included and give the same list to every painter. Add the suburb, approximate room dimensions, current use of the rooms and any deadline that matters.
Photograph each room from the doorway, then take a closer image of cracks, peeling, stains or damaged edges. Keep private documents and personal items out of the photos. If some work is optional, label it separately. This lets you compare a base scope and optional extras without confusing them.
For a suitable small job, Pars can review photos, suburb and timing for an initial estimate. Larger or unclear work may need an on-site visit. Kian confirms the final written quote after reviewing the scope, condition and access.
Planning a house painting project · Talk through your scope with Kian
Use this painting quote comparison checklist
Copy these questions into your notes, or download the plain-text worksheet below. Use “not stated” when a quote leaves something out; an empty space is not evidence that the item is included. The worksheet is free to use when comparing any painters.
| Check | What to record for each quote |
|---|---|
| Surfaces | Rooms; walls; ceilings; doors; trim; exterior elevations; explicit exclusions. |
| Preparation | Cleaning, loose coating removal, filling, sanding and priming where required. |
| Repairs | Which defects are included, what needs another trade, and any allowance. |
| Coating system | Product range, finish, colour, preparation coats and finish coats. |
| Access and protection | Furniture, flooring, shared access, equipment and household use. |
| Timing | Proposed start, sequence, drying/recoat allowances and weather contingencies. |
| Price and GST | Total, whether GST is included, optional work and provisional allowances. |
| Changes and handover | Who approves extra work; cleanup; inspection; care instructions. |
Look closely at preparation and repairs
Ask the painter to describe the starting condition they have allowed for. Cleaning a sound painted wall, dealing with flaking coating and preparing new plasterboard are different tasks. A line saying “preparation included” is worth clarifying if your property has visible problems.
A useful distinction is between a small stable surface defect within the painting scope and a recurring problem that needs investigation. Record who will resolve any active leak, unstable material or underlying damage before painting begins. Do not treat a paint allowance as confirmation that the cause has been fixed.
For example, compare “fill minor wall dents and repaint walls” against “repair ceiling cracks and repaint walls and ceiling”. Both may be reasonable offers, but they are not prices for the same job. Ask for revised scope lines before deciding that one painter is expensive.
What crack repairs can include · Primer, undercoat and stain blocker explained
Ask for a coating system, not just a brand
A brand name does not identify the product or finish. Ask which range is proposed for walls, ceilings and trim, and how the painter has allowed for bare patches, staining or a substantial colour change. These may require different preparation or coating steps.
Record the agreed colours and sheen separately for each surface. “White throughout” still leaves decisions about the exact colour, ceiling finish and trim finish. If you are keeping an existing colour, discuss how it will be identified and the limits of matching an aged coating.
The quotation should make the proposed system understandable without turning you into a paint technician. Product application requirements still govern the work; a generic coat count does not replace a specification suited to the actual surface.
Make access and protection visible in the price
An occupied apartment and an empty house can have similar wall area but different access arrangements. Note who moves furniture, who packs small belongings, where equipment can be kept and which rooms must remain usable. In an apartment, confirm building work hours and the agreed access route.
Exterior work also needs a clear access scope. Ask which elevations are included and what equipment or permissions may be necessary. Do not assume that a price includes work reachable only through a neighbour’s property.
Tell every painter the same practical constraints before comparing. A quote based on cleared, available rooms cannot fairly be compared with one that includes staged work around your household.
Preparing an occupied apartment · Floor and furniture protection
Clarify the total and how changes are approved
Consumer Affairs Victoria advises tradespeople to make the scope and timing clear, explain costs and discuss how changes or delays will be handled. Use its current guidance alongside the written quote. This worksheet helps organise questions; it does not replace the terms of your agreement.
Before accepting, ask for the total and the GST treatment in plain language. Keep optional extras separate from the agreed base work. If a repair allowance is provisional, ask what it covers and what happens when the condition is known.
Keep one final version of the scope and quote. When you change a colour, add a ceiling or request another door, ask for the effect on price and timing before approving the change. Save the written clarification with the quote so everyone is working from the same version.
Questions to settle before you choose
Should I always choose the cheapest painting quote?
Compare the inclusions first. A lower total may reflect a smaller scope, different preparation or different access assumptions. If the scopes match, consider the painter’s relevant work, clarity of communication and proposed arrangements alongside price.
Can I compare an initial estimate with an on-site quote?
You can compare their assumptions, but do not assume they carry the same certainty. Ask what is still subject to inspection, which surfaces have been assessed and when the final written scope will be confirmed.
Can I use this checklist for a Fitzroy or Brunswick terrace?
Yes. Record each room or elevation separately and note period details, access and occupancy. The actual condition matters more than the suburb or the age label alone.
Fitzroy house painting · Brunswick house painting · Request a quote for your home