How much do you pay Painting subs?

Question

Hello BP,

Just curious what you guys are paying for your painting subcontractors? I have a great painter who has given me great prices, but I know that he's not making what he should be on some of the jobs. I am trying to systematize some stuff this year so we can do 7 flips and one buy and hold. Last year we essentially did 4, but two are kind of bleeding into this year.

I would like to standardize with him as much as possible so that we both know the price of the house without him having to come out to give an estimate every time. Just based on J Scott's numbers I am overpaying for interior paint but underpaying for exterior stuff.

I am trying to eliminate trips to Sherwin Williams or dragging paint from one job to the next. If there is a way to have him supply all of the paint I think it would be ideal.

Right now we are at $1.25 per floor SF interior and I supply paint and materials. We haven't established numbers for the various tasks outside and other details really.

Thoughts??

Mark Holencik · Answer

If you like the work and the prices, I would leave it alone. That is if you want to keep him. He may only work with the setup the way it is. Different things are easier for different people. He may give you a better price because it is work he likes to do. Charges more for work he does not like.

If you want to standardize your operation and you do not care who does your painting, then move ahead.

If you told me what you were going to pay me that would be fine. I would still come out and look at it before I agreed to your price.