Knowing how to choose a painter comes down to asking the right questions before you sign: is the business insured, will they inspect the job and give you a fixed written quote, what preparation and paint are included, and what guarantee backs the work. A good painter answers all of these clearly and is happy to put the answers in writing.
Here are the 10 questions we suggest every Melbourne homeowner asks, why each one matters, and the warning signs to look out for.
Why does it pay to ask questions before you hire?
Painting looks simple, but most of the result depends on work you can’t see once the job is finished: cleaning, sanding, filling, priming and the quality of the paint. Two quotes for the same house can differ by thousands of dollars because they describe very different jobs.
Consumer Affairs Victoria’s advice for hiring tradespeople is to get more than one written quote, ask friends and family for references and research the business before going ahead. If you want a feel for typical prices first, read our guide to how much it costs to paint a house in Melbourne.
How to choose a painter: 10 questions to ask
1. How long have you been in business, and can I see recent work?
Experience matters because preparation is a skill. Ask for photos of recent jobs similar to yours, such as a weatherboard exterior or a full interior repaint, and for one or two past customers you can call. A painter who has worked on homes like yours will know the common problems before they start.
2. Do you hold public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance covers damage to your property or injury to other people caused by the painter’s work. Ask for a certificate of currency and check the business name on it matches the name on the quote.
3. Does this job need a registered builder?
In Victoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria says people doing plastering, painting, tiling or fencing do not need a registration. The rules change when trades are combined. You must be registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission to do work worth more than $10,000 that involves more than one type of building work, such as plastering and painting. If your quote includes significant plaster repairs, ask who is doing them and how they are registered.
4. Are you a member of an industry association?
Membership of a body such as Master Painters Australia isn’t a licence, but it shows a business has chosen to sign up to an industry organisation and its standards. It is one more piece of evidence alongside insurance, references and a clear quote.
5. Will you inspect the job before quoting?
A price given over the phone or from a few photos is an estimate at best. An in-person inspection lets the painter measure the surfaces, check for moisture, cracking and failing paint, and look at access. That is what makes a fixed price possible.
6. What preparation is included?
Ask the painter to walk you through the preparation room by room or wall by wall: washing, scraping, sanding, filling cracks and holes, spot-priming bare timber and caulking gaps. If preparation isn’t described on the quote, you have no way of knowing whether it will be done. Our guide to what a painting quote should include has a full checklist.
7. Which paint will you use, and how many coats?
The quote should name the brand, the product and the sheen, not just “premium paint”. It should also state the number of coats and whether a primer or sealer is included. Strong colour changes and bare surfaces often need more than two coats.
8. Who will actually do the work?
Some businesses use their own employed painters and others use subcontractors. Both can work well. What matters is that you know who will be on site, who supervises them, and who you call if something isn’t right.
9. What guarantee do you give, and what does it cover?
Get any guarantee in writing and read what it covers. A paint manufacturer’s guarantee is not the same as a workmanship guarantee. For example, Taubmans’ Sunproof Exterior datasheet says its guarantee covers defects in the paint and does not cover the cost of labour. A painter’s own written guarantee is what covers the work itself.
10. How will you handle lead paint in an older home?
The Australian Government’s Lead Alert guide says homes built before 1970 are most at risk of containing lead paint. Many Melbourne Victorians, Edwardians and Californian bungalows fit that description. The guide recommends asking whether a painter has completed a nationally recognised qualification in safe lead paint removal, and asking how they will contain dust and clean up.
How do we answer these questions?
For transparency, here is how AMP Master Painters answers the list. We are a family-owned business that has been painting Melbourne homes since 1998, based in Doncaster East. We are members of Master Painters Australia, carry $10M public liability insurance and use premium Dulux, Taubmans and Wattyl paints. Every job starts with a free site inspection and a written quote, usually the next day, and finishes with a walk-through quality check and a written 7-year guarantee. You can see each step on our process page, or learn more about our interior painting and exterior painting services.
What red flags should make you think twice?
Most painters are honest, hard-working tradespeople. Still, a few warning signs are worth knowing:
- Pressure to sign today. Consumer Affairs Victoria warns homeowners to be wary of anyone pressuring them to sign up and hand over a large deposit.
- A door knock with a “special price”. If you agree to work after an uninvited visit at home, Victorian law gives you 10 business days to cool off, and the trader can’t supply services or take payment during that time.
- No written quote. A verbal price is easy to dispute later.
- A price far below the others with no explanation. Ask what has been left out. It is often preparation or coats.
- Missing business details. A quote should show the business name, contact details and ABN.
When is it fine to paint it yourself?
Plenty of homeowners do a good job on a spare room, a low fence or a garden shed, and there’s real satisfaction in that. DIY makes the most sense for small, low, interior areas in good condition. It makes less sense for second-storey work, heavily damaged surfaces, large exteriors and older homes where lead paint is a possibility. If you do hire a painter, knowing how long a typical paint job takes will help you plan around the work.
The bottom line
Choosing a painter isn’t about finding the cheapest price. It is about finding someone who inspects the job, explains the preparation, names the paint and coats, carries insurance, and stands behind the work in writing. Ask the 10 questions above, compare written quotes on the same scope, and take your time before you sign.
