Why do prices vary?

We are constantly amazed at the range in prices when quoting on the same job. There are a few areas where over-heads are kept low, but at what cost?

Home Warranty Insurance - It is a legal requirement that all work over $12,000.00 in NSW have Home Warranty Insurance. For a $50,000.00 job this should be no more than $400.00 and based onto the owner anyway. A recent report mentioned that there are over 4000 licenced painters in NSW but only 14 have applied for Home Warranty Insurance eligibility.

Workers Compensation - Workers’ compensation is a system of compulsory insurance for all employers in Australia. The cost of Workers Compensation Insurance is basically the same between insurers. Some painters fly under the radar by using sub-contractors and don’t carry Workers Comp.

Materials – Paint consumption on a job is the same no matter who does the work. All painters pay basically the same price for the same products. Where there is a cost saving on materials is using cheaper, inferior products. Normally materials would be around 10% of a job, using cheap paint will save about 1% on the total job. Cheap paint breaks down faster, doesn’t stand the test of time and in most instances requires a lot of preparation when maintenance is required next time.

Safety – We have a moral and legal obligation to ensure the health and safety of our staff, the general public and the environment. Thankfully the good ole’ days of sticking a ladder up three storeys to paint a window have gone. This is cheaper than setting up proper scaffolding but carries a significant risk.

Preparation – It all comes down to preparation and the number of finish coats. Two thirds of the time of works should be spent on preparation alone. Many cheaper quotes might fail to overlook this, however, it is possibly more important than the final colour coat when considering the longevity of the painting works.