Hiring a painter should feel simple. A look at the walls, a sensible quote, a tidy job, everyone happy. If your gut is telling you something feels off, pay attention. The wrong hire costs time, money, and a lot of stress.
Use this guide to spot the early warning signs and protect your project.
1) They quote without a site visit or give a vague scope
If someone throws a number at you after a quick phone call, expect surprises later. Good pricing depends on the substrate, access, repairs, and your timetable.
What to look for in a proper scope
- Surfaces listed room by room or elevation by elevation
- Prep steps, primers and number of coats
- Inclusions and exclusions, for example repairs, scaffolding, access equipment
- Start and finish windows, plus how they stage works
Planning a home job and want a sensible sequence that avoids delays. Read Plan the perfect timeline to paint your Brisbane home.
2) The price is far lower than the others
A bargain can hide corner cutting. That might mean budget paint, one coat over glossy enamel, or no prep at all. Cheap now often means a repaint in a year.
How to sanity check
- Ask which product line they will use. This comparison of paint brands for Brisbane helps you see the differences
- Confirm coat counts and film build, not just “two coats if required”
- For exteriors, make sure the spec suits our sun and storms. See best exterior paints for Brisbane homes that last
3) No proof of licence, insurance or recent references
In Queensland, you should see a QBCC licence and a certificate of currency for public liability. If they cannot provide both, walk away.
Ask for
- QBCC licence number and legal entity name
- Public liability insurance, current dates
- Two or three recent customers you can ring, ideally jobs similar to yours
If you manage offices, towers or clinics, choose teams used to live sites. Our pages for office and tower painting and painting medical clinics show how we handle staging and compliance.
4) No clear prep plan, or they dismiss primers
Prep is where quality lives. If a painter waves away sanding, filling and primers, your finish will fail early.
Minimum you should see in writing
- Cleaning, degreasing and mould treatment where needed
- Sanding or deglossing glossy trim before any water based enamel
- Crack and gap repairs, patching, spot priming
- The exact primer and topcoat system
Curious about systems. Start with oil and water based paints.
5) Slippery answers on warranty and aftercare
A professional gives a written workmanship warranty and care notes. If you only hear “we will look after you”, expect a short memory later.
What good looks like
- Workmanship warranty term listed on the quote
- Brand and product names, so the manufacturer warranty applies
- Care instructions and cure times
Roofing and cabinets need special handling and cure windows. See roof painting and cabinet painting for how we specify both.
6) Poor communication and no plan for working around you
Late replies, missed calls, and vague dates are early signs of on-site headaches. For businesses, you also need a plan for after hours work, clean handovers and safe access.
What to ask
- One point of contact from quote to completion
- How they stage floors, dining rooms or treatment rooms
- Daily clean up and protection standards
For high-traffic sites, see restaurant painting and why regular commercial painting saves money.
7) No safety, cleanliness or environmental process
Paint on the pavement, thinners in the garden, or sanding without dust control are red flags. You want safe work, tidy sites and proper disposal.
Non-negotiables
- Drop sheets and masking on every job
- Dust extraction for sanding where practical
- Low odour choices when people are present
- A plan for waste and wash water. Brisbane has rules, so use this guide to dispose of paint in Brisbane
What a professional quote should include
Use this as a checklist before you sign.
- Business name, ABN, QBCC licence number
- Detailed scope by area, including prep, primers and coat counts
- Brand, product range and sheen levels
- Repairs, access and protection methods
- Work hours and staging plan, including after hours if needed
- Workmanship warranty term and product data sheets available on request
- Price, payment schedule, start window and realistic duration
Two quick examples that save headaches
Example 1: Exterior refresh in Manly
A very low quote used interior acrylic outside. It chalked within months. The fix cost double. A proper spec would have used a UV stable exterior acrylic from the list in best exterior paints for Brisbane homes that last.
Example 2: Office level repaint in the CBD
The contractor had no staging plan and blocked lifts for tenants. We now schedule floors overnight, protect assets, and use low odour systems. See the approach in office and tower painting.
When to walk away
- The price is half the field and the scope is thin
- No licence or insurance on request
- They refuse to list products or warranty terms
- They push for cash only
- You feel rushed to sign today
There are plenty of good painters in Brisbane. Trust your checklist and your gut.
Need a second opinion
If you have competing quotes and want a quick sense check, send them through and we will point out the gaps, no pressure. If you are still deciding on products, these deep dives can help. Try best paint for commercial properties in Brisbane and choosing the right white paint for your home.
Ready to get your scope right from the start. Tell us your deadline, access constraints and the look you want. We will map a clean plan, then deliver it.
