We just received 2 bids on painting our new (previously owned) home. We had 3 bids lined up, but one painter cancelled at the last minute. We don't have time to get another estimate because we have less than 3 weeks to have the home ready to move in. My husband lives near the new house and I'm 600 miles away until I make the move with the children and pets in 3 weeks. What I know about the house is based on pictures as I have not been inside the home. All walls are brown so I knew if we got the house it would be a two coat job. I also saw streaky ceilings so I figured a few ceilings would need paint. My husband kept saying the house doesn't look as bad as what I seeing in the pictures, but yesterday he told me that the one painter had an eye for detail and I should hire him when he gives me the bid.

The difference in each bid was 7k, which is a lot of money for us. The bid was about $4500 more than I could have imagined. I had 5k put aside for painting and was hoping it would go much over that. The lower bid was too cheap for what the house needs... 2400 sq ft, all walls, ceilings, trim, closets, kitchen cabinets, spackle nail holes, calk joints. Some ceilings are high and a few rooms have box ceilings.

I asked the painter how large he thought the home was because I wondered if part of the paint job was based on size. He estimated the house to be 3000-3500 sq ft, the upstairs is actually 1400 sq ft and down is another 1000 sq ft. I wish it was 3000 sq ft, heck I wish it looked like 2400 sq ft because I may have to store some furinture. My husband told me I had to settle on a house I could live in for up to 5 years so I did. I compromised and bought the one I knew he wanted. However I warmed him on more than one occasion that the house had a bigger paint job then what he realized.

So, how do painters price jobs? Why would there be a 7k difference? Did the other painter not understand the job? Have we been over priced? Is there a painter on this board that might have some insight into what it should cost for what I have listed? I didn't sleep well last night. The 10k we saved on the cost of the home has to go to painters just so I can move in. Painting dark brown walls a nice light neutral is no easy task, that I do know. I wish I knew how to show you pictures. Thanks!

carmenjames_2007 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

A pianter who mistakes a 2400 s/f home for a 3500 s/f home should be out the door. Most painting bids are based on s/f plus materials and any repair. Depending on your color selection one guy may be thinking he can get away with one coat, he should be out the door too. There are painters in the yellow pages and I can't picture how you can't get two more bids, I sure would so I could sleep tonight.

In my area, fair would be about 1.75/sqft = $4200 for a 2400sqft That includes all supplies and labor. I would think add just a little extra for your extra work (I would think around 5k for the whole job.

Try to Google and see if you can find someone in your area that has had work done.

Thank you rpg219! We are moving to Alabama, originally from there. Just talked to my husband and he is very nervous and upset about this whole ordeal. I'm about to call out for more bids.

We closed last Friday 12/14, the people weren't out on time so we really took possession of the property yesterday 12/17. That's when the painters were asked to come in, at different times of course.

My husband comes home this Saturday 12/22 and will be here until Jan 6th when we drive to Bama, so this week is all we have to hire and get on the painters books. The house has to be ready by Jan 7 when the trucks arrive with our furniture. Maybe I can get another bid or two in the next day or so, but this is a new job for my husband that has been very difficult for him to work and shop for homes and painters. Every time he leaves the office it causes him to have to work late. He hasn't had a day off since Thanksgiving including Sundays. So that's why it's hard for most people to believe that we can't get other bids in time. He's suppose to be managing a factory and I'm 600 miles away. Not an easy task and very stressful for him in a new position with a new company.

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

A pianter who mistakes a 2400 s/f home for a 3500 s/f home should be out the door. Most painting bids are based on s/f plus materials and any repair. Depending on your color selection one guy may be thinking he can get away with one coat, he should be out the door too. There are painters in the yellow pages and I can't picture how you can't get two more bids, I sure would so I could sleep tonight.

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A flag went up when he said that to me over the phone. AND he mentioned how high the ceilings were which I quickly stated never count in square footage.

I appreciate these responses.

Actually Carmen, tall ceilings do increase the cost and s/f. If you have 8' ceiling in a 10x10 room you have 800 s/f. If the room is 10' tall the s/f jumps to 1000 s/f. It would cost at least 25% more.

Interesting, thank you. Yes, wall space not floor space. I can see how ceilings and box ceilings could increase the cost, but 7k? We have a painter who has fallen into the price range that rpg219 mentioned above. He is less than this estimate, but he knows that if anything comes up, or there are areas that were overlooked, or difficulty in covering the brown walls, then I would expect the price to go up. I have 5k in the budget, it seems like that should cover everything.

Glad I found you all today! This was good therapy too!
Merry Christmas!

Great Carmen. Welcome back home :) BTW: I love the colors that are in there... love browns and blues.

This is a true story, just to show you how some painters set their prices.

About 15 years ago, I needed an extra job, and a guy I worked with asked me to be his assistant. He said if I lined up some tools, he had the painting job all lined up. So, I got tarps, ladders, rollers... the works...

He picked me up, as well as my tools, to go help with the house. The owner left, and that is when the guy revealed his pricing secret to me...

He actually asked me if I wanted to know how to set the price... When I said yes, he pulled out a large bag of weed, and says it depends how much of this you want to buy, and how much your wife wants...

Well he smoked the rest of the day as I did all the work...

The next morning I packed up my tarps, tools, and all and never painted with him again.

Well, he was ready to fight me and all kinds of baloney... very paranoid about it... I did get my pay from him... but I know my $40 was nothing compared to what he got... plus I brought all the equipment... boy was I dumb.

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Originally Posted by oneguyinohio

This is a true story, just to show you how some painters set their prices.

About 15 years ago, I needed an extra job, and a guy I worked with asked me to be his assistant. He said if I lined up some tools, he had the painting job all lined up. So, I got tarps, ladders, rollers... the works...

He picked me up, as well as my tools, to go help with the house. The owner left, and that is when the guy revealed his pricing secret to me...

He actually asked me if I wanted to know how to set the price... When I said yes, he pulled out a large bag of weed, and says it depends how much of this you want to buy, and how much your wife wants...

Well he smoked the rest of the day as I did all the work...

The next morning I packed up my tarps, tools, and all and never painted with him again.

Well, he was ready to fight me and all kinds of baloney...very paranoid about it...I did get my pay from him... but I know my $40 was nothing compared to what he got... plus I brought all the equipment... boy was I dumb.

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What a bummer!! Some people are just sleazy like that.

oneguyinohio! Talk about being used! I'm sorry to hear this. These are the things that stay with us... where we learn our greatest lessons. You learned fast enough and got of there! I was a single mom a long time, I know all about working for nothing, over paying for repairs, and people taking advantage of you because you need work. Makes you wonder where he ended up though. No real work ethic gets you know where fast.

Totally agreed on those comments... sometimes with all of the people that are willing to do stuff like that, I have to wonder if I have a target on my back?