Tips on How to Reduce Your Painting Costs

Best Tips to Save Money on Painting

• For significant savings, get your indoor painting done between October and March.
• Compare prices by getting several quotations from painters until you observe price clustering.
• Get much more quotations than above until a painting company makes an outstanding low quote. This can occur from substantial error, from desperation or by seriously low living costs. If you do luck out, it becomes critical to verify the painter will complete all job detail with quality at the agreed price within a deadline and without extra costs. This type of search can be time consuming.
• Perform some of the easy painting yourself. I can provide some effective training and lend equipment during the paint job.
• Bump out the middleman. Hire a painting company directly instead of through a renovation/construction contractor.
• Hire a healthy looking painter. They can get more done with less labour time.
• Wait for the HST to change back to GST. It's expected to change before 2014.
• Ask me for more strategic painting tips.

To Reduce Interior Painting Costs

• Move furniture and delicates out of the way. Totally empty rooms are cheapest.
• Remove and put back electrical cover plates.
• Clean soap residue off washroom ceilings and walls.
• Hire a drywaller if the drywall needs lots of improvement before painting.
• Cover new rugs with rug protector plastic
• Remove and reinstall door knobs.
• Avoid drastic colour changes and/or many colours.
• Choose trim and wall colours with the least amount of contrast.
• Skip on painting closets.
• Clean up after painting. (Dry-fall paint and dust from patches.)
• Specify the quality level in all areas.
• Check to see if it's cheaper to replace than to paint it. (ex. French doors)
• Choose the lowest priced line of paint from a paint company. Paint can range between $25/gal to $80/gal.
• Select areas seen the most to be painted.
• Skip items that require precise brushing and masking. Ex. Stair spindles.
• Prep surfaces for painting such as vacuuming, cleaning, scraping, sanding, hole filling or wall paper removal.
• Wash wall paper glue off the walls.
• Paint during the off season. Painters in Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford may drop prices during December, January or February.
• Schedule your painting away from holidays, weekends, special events and hot weather.
• Hide the lamborghini and speed boat during quote time.
• Hire a close painter. Sometimes painters far from Surrey, Langley or Abbotsford may cost more.
  (I'm in Langley.)
• Try cleaning the surface in case it doesn't need painting.
• Ask painters for a requote at a later time.
• Say before the quote 'I can refer you to my many friends, relatives and aquaintances.'
• Get an estimate for 1/2 the job and then later on get an estimate for the rest for a chance at a repeat customer discount.
• Move to a place with a better paint job. However, that's not always an option.
• Hire tall painters. Tall painters can reach everything faster (long arms too) and therefore less labour time and cost.
• Offer gratuities during the paint job such as coffee, water and snacks. Then ask for a quote on more painting.
• Let your supermodel get the quotation. Most painters get stupified by attractive women and may quote lower. Works on all trades.
• Don't tip the painter. It's not customary to tip trades in BC.

To Reduce Exterior Painting Costs

• Prep surface such as cleaning, scraping, sanding and hole filling.
• Remove all vines off walls and cut back bushes.
• Clean off organic growths such as mold, algae or moss.
• Pull off door weather seals. Replace and/or reinstall after painting.
• Relocate wasp nests.
• Move all obstacles at least 10ft from exterior walls.
• Repaint with nearly the same colour.
• Pick up dog poo in the yard. It gets on my sprayer hose.
• Take down Christmas lights and anchors.
• Remove and re-install door knobs and handles.
• Avoid requiring painting during hot weather.
• Check the painters address. Painters away from Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford may cost more. (I'm in Langley.)
• Use less expensive paints instead of top brand which can be 3x more expensive.
• Request painters to estimate again at a later time.
• Hide the ferrari and private helicopter during quote time.
• Get an estimate for 1/2 the job and then later on get an estimate for the rest for a chance to get a repeat customer discount.
• Before the quote say 'I can refer you to my many friends, relatives and aquaintances.'
• Offer donuts, pizza, cookies, muffins, coffee or water during the job. Then ask for a quote for extra painting.

To Reduce New Construction Costs

• Produce a final painting plan/blue print copy for me ready at quote time.
• Arrange sufficient lighting, ventilation and regulated temperature (~20C )
• Grant a dedicated parking spot.
• Ensure there's water, hydro and a washroom nearby.
• Make floor free of obstacles during painting.
• Schedule interior painting during the Winter.
• Dodge setting tight deadlines.
• Provide on site scaffolding or lifts.
• Avoid scheduling painting after 6pm.
• Allow cross-matches to the nearest paint supplier. It's easiest for painters to find paint in Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford.
• Before the estimate, say 'I have many projects for you if the price is right.'