House Painting Quote Checklist

What it should state. What's commonly not stated. What to ask before you sign.

You're about to sign a house painting quote — interior, exterior, or both. This page lists what a complete one states, the lines that are commonly not stated, and the questions worth asking before your name goes on it.

This is a reading checklist, not advice. Spend Defense doesn't tell you whether to sign — we make sure you've actually seen what's on the page, and what isn't.

What a complete painting quote states

Paint by name — brand and product line, plus sheen, for each surface.
Number of coats — one coat or two, stated per surface, and whether primer is included.
What is being painted — walls, ceilings, trim, doors, siding, eaves — listed.
What is not being painted — surfaces excluded from the job, listed rather than assumed.
Prep scope — scraping, sanding, caulking, patching, and pressure washing — itemized.
Colors and who supplies paint — how colors are chosen and whether paint is in the price.
Total price and payment schedule — the full amount, the deposit, and what triggers the balance.
Warranty — the length of the workmanship warranty and what it covers (peeling, blistering).

What's commonly not stated

Exclusions — trim, doors, gutters, or garage interiors are often left out by silence rather than listed.
Lead-safe practices — for homes built before 1978, lead-safe work practices may not be mentioned.
Repair of damaged wood — how rotted siding or trim found during prep is priced is often unstated.
Final walkthrough and touch-up — how missed spots are handled before final payment is rarely written down.

None of these gaps decide anything by themselves. They're the lines to ask about before you sign, not after.

Questions to ask before you sign

“Which paint brand and line are you using, and how many coats?”
“Exactly which surfaces are included — and which are not?”
“What prep is included: scraping, caulking, patching, pressure washing?”
“If you find rotted wood, how is that priced?”
“Is there a walkthrough for touch-ups before the final payment?”

Want a second set of eyes on the actual document?

Send us the paperwork before you sign. A Quick Check reads your document and shows you what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask — for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Longer documents: Document Review $19, Premium Review $49.

Check my document →

We don't decide for you. We make sure nothing on the page — or missing from it — surprises you later.

FAQ

How much does house painting usually cost?

We don't price other people's work — cost depends on the size of the house, the condition of the surfaces, prep work, and the paint chosen. What you can check is whether your quote names the paint, the coats, and the surfaces included. If it doesn't, that's a question to ask before signing.

What if something on this checklist is missing from my painting quote?

Ask for it in writing before you sign. A missing coat count or exclusion list isn't a verdict on the painter; it's an unknown in a contract you're about to be bound by. Getting it stated on the page costs nothing and settles it before the first brush stroke.

Can Spend Defense read my actual painting quote?

Yes — that's the Quick Check. Send the document and you'll get back what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask, for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Painting quotes are usually a page or two, comfortably within that limit.

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Spend Defense — we read the paperwork before you sign. We don't decide for you.