A Pacific Northwest homeowner hoping to freshen up a small, smoke-damaged house before selling received a staggering estimate of $26,000 for interior and exterior painting.
Commenters said the quote seemed extremely high for a home of that size.
Here's what to know
The discussion began in a post on Reddit's r/HomeImprovement, where the owner described a bid for a 1,100-square-foot house from the 1960s — $16,000 for the interior and $10,000 for the exterior. The seller said the home's previous owner had been a heavy smoker, so the painter expected substantial prep work.
To address smoke residue, the contractor said a shellac-based primer would be used to block odors and staining. According to the homeowner, the interior price covered one wall color plus white ceilings and doors but no trim, while the exterior quote included one siding color, white trim, and a separate color for the front door.
The homeowner acknowledged this wouldn't be a typical paint job, writing, "We're just trying to get the home spruced up to sell, but damn my eyes are watering at this quote."
Several commenters said the estimate sounded inflated. "That's crazy. On the high end to use [Zinsser] BIN, I'd say $4-6k on the interior," one wrote.
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More background
Users agreed that remediating smoke damage is serious work. Walls may need to be cleaned with trisodium phosphate, sanded, patched, and properly sealed before painting begins.
At the same time, commenters argued that prep work should be included in an estimate rather than used to justify a dramatic price jump.
A user from Denver said they paid $13,000 for an exterior job on a similarly sized but taller home with high eaves and three paint colors.
What can be done?
A second or third estimate can reveal whether a contractor is charging for a difficult job or pricing the customer out.
Cleaning, sanding, patching, priming, painting multiple coats, and product type can all significantly affect the final cost. Without details, two quotes with the same total may actually reflect very different scopes of work.
As one commenter put it, "You got ripped off."
Where can I learn more?
These articles look at HOA repainting rules, expensive yard projects, special assessments, and landscaping disputes.
• Some homeowners faced strict limits on repainting after an HOA allowed only one color.
• In Phoenix, one homeowner got a sky-high quote to replace backyard artificial turf.
• Homeowners in one neighborhood weighed a proposed $30k assessment to repair a shared pond.
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