Pricing Painting Prep: Patch, Sand, Caulk, Prime and Scrape
Painters say a job is 70 percent prep. Estimates rarely reflect that. When prep is folded invisibly into a room price, the bad walls lose money and the good walls overcharge.
List the Prep
PaintingBossPro gives prep its own checklist on the estimate and job: patch and spackle, sand, caulk, prime, scrape, pressure wash, mask and cover, move furniture. Checking them off on the walk-through forces the question: how much of each?
Price Heavy Prep Separately
Normal prep, a few nail holes and some caulk, belongs in the base price. Heavy prep, a wall full of anchors, water-stained ceilings needing stain-blocking primer, peeling exterior trim, is a separate line. The customer sees why their job costs more than the neighbor's.
Primer Is Not Optional Everywhere
New drywall, patched areas, stains, bare wood and big color changes need primer. Note it on the estimate so it is priced and painted.
The Crew Sees the Same List
The prep list carries to the crew app and the painting checklist shows only the prep steps the job calls for. Nobody skips the caulk because they did not know it was sold. See The Painting Checklist on the Crew App.
Learn From Finished Jobs
When the crew records the condition and notes on the checklist, you learn which prep you underestimated. Adjust the service list next season.
More on this topic: the Painting Estimate Software page and the rest of its guides.
Price the Prep You Actually Do
Prep on every estimate and every job.
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