When estimating a painting quote, there are many things to consider. On the one hand, you don’t want to rip people off with an estimate that is too high, as that will reduce repeat customers and destroy your reputation as word-of-mouth spreads. But you also don’t want to rip yourself off by underestimating your hard work.
Essentially, you want to reach an estimate that is fair for the work put in.
A precise price estimate will help you stand out among your competitors and increase your chances of landing the next painting job. This article has six steps to help you provide accurate estimates and keep your business profitable without losing future customers.
1. Understand market rates
Painting jobs in Australia are not all the same. Simpler jobs, which require less skill and experience, will be less expensive than those that require greater skill. The price will also be affected by where you live.
Painting jobs in big cities like Sydney, Brisbane, or Melbourne are likely to be more expensive than those in smaller towns.
However, the average cost for a painter in Australia will generally be $35-$45 per hour, excluding materials.
Some painters charge by the area, with exterior painters charging $12 – $60 per square meter, while interior painters generally is cheaper, from $10 to $30 per square meter.
2. Visit the customer’s house
Visit the customer’s home before you start to discuss the labour and paint costs. You will get a better idea of the job and can talk face-to-face with the customer. It’s also a great way for you to iron out the details and ensure nothing unexpected happens once the job begins.
Ask your customer to show you what they want to be painted. Also, it’s important to give an overview of their expectations and talk about the type and colour of paint they want.
Visiting the customer’s home will also give you a feel for the project’s duration and the supplies required. These details will help you estimate labour costs accurately.
Recommended reading: How to Get More Painting Jobs
3. Calculate the price of the paint needed
After you’ve visited the customer and reviewed the job details, you can begin to estimate the cost of paint. The cost of paint depends on many factors such as whether you need primer, the sheen, and whether it’s for internal or external surfaces.
Hire Trades estimates that primer will cost about $30 per litre. For interior paint, low-sheen paints will cost around $35 per litre, while high-sheen paints can be as high as $40 per litre.
The type of surface that you are painting over will affect the price of exterior paint. The cost of weatherproof exterior paint can add extra costs. You’ll have a better idea of how much paint and cost since you asked specific questions to the customer when you visited the home.
4. Consider Material and Supply Costs
Each job will be different, so you’ll need to choose your materials and supplies carefully for the job. You should have a good idea of what materials and prep work you will need after visiting the customer’s home in step 1.
Knowing the area of your interior house, its condition, and whether trim, windows, or ceilings need to be painted are all important.
These are the most common materials and supplies that you will need for most painting jobs:
- Primer
- Paint brushes
- Paint rollers
- Drop sheets
- Tapes of painters
- Caulking
- Sanding paper
- Paint scrapers
5. Get your business insurance sorted
Sorting out your painters insurance from the get-go is essential for small painting businesses in Australia. A painter could through all of these steps and submit a perfectly reasonable estimate only for the client to ask whether they are covered.
Insurance for painters protects small painting businesses from a variety of risks.
All it takes is for you to be working in a client’s home and accidentally spill paint on their hardwood floors or a customer slips on your scaffolding and you could be liable to pay for a big bill.
Public Liability insurance is especially important for painters as it protects you and your painting company in the event that a customer, supplier, or member of the public is hurt or suffers property damage due to your negligence.
Recommended reading: Painter’s Licence Requirements by State in Australia
6. How to price a paint job
Once you have gathered all the information you need, you can put all the pieces together and create an estimate for your painting project. Include the cost of paint, labour, supplies, and overhead costs. An online estimator calculator is a great tool to help you prepare your final estimate, especially if it’s your first job. You can then send it to your customer once you are done.
It’s also important to consider how much of a mark-up you want to put on the final price in order for you to turn a profit.
After going through these six steps, hopefully, you have some idea of what you should include. You’ll soon be well on your way generating accurate estimates, landing more jobs, and keeping your business profitable for many years.
